Recently there have been articles and letters to the editor about paid parking in downtown Port Townsend. I understand that charging for parking seems an untapped revenue stream to city leaders, especially given the volumes of tourists who flood into downtown throughout the year.

To achieve this, there would have to be some infrastructure to support implementation and enforcement. The idea of parking meters, or prominently posted QR codes, seem anathema to the historical seaport town we love and cherish. There is some charm to streets without extraneous signs. For a downtown core to thrive, local residents must regularly use the services of downtown restaurants, stores, salons, galleries, theaters, etc. It is a good concept to encourage people to easily access local goods and services by making parking simple.

There is another way to gain a similar revenue stream to parking meters or app-linked QR codes. I suggest that we create and sell annual parking passes, similar to the Discover Pass that is in use for Washington State Parks. People could buy an annual pass for a sum, say $100. Potentially, the city would receive a yearly $100 from every person who lives locally, or visits frequently. In addition, the city could make available limited period passes (1 -3 day passes at $10/day) that could be purchased at local hotels and stores so visitors could participate.

Kathleen Woods-Smith

Port Townsend