The Poulsbo City Council voted unanimously on November 4 to temporarily suspend the municipal paid parking program across the Anderson Parkway downtown waterfront parking lot, returning the facility to three-hour free parking through May 31, 2027.
Stern acknowledged that municipal leaders must maintain responsiveness when policy initiatives generate unintended consequences for community stakeholders, stating that the primary objective of municipal governance is supporting the economic vitality of established commercial corridors.
Reversion to Three-Hour Free Parking and Contract Termination Costs Terminating the paid parking system requires the city to settle financial commitments and manage an interim enforcement vacuum while contractual obligations expire.
Prior to the suspension, Anderson Parkway served as the sole testing ground for municipal meter revenue, with the remaining 63.5 percent of city-owned spaces scattered across secondary street parking and peripheral surface lots remaining free.
A substantial percentage of daytime shoppers in North Kitsap are senior citizens and rural residents who expressed vocal resistance to smart-device applications, digital account registrations, and cellular transaction fees.
Poulsbo City Council votes unanimously to pause paid parking in Anderson Parkway through May 2027 and cancel vendor contracts after merchants report steep revenue drops.