IFDDC puts paid parking plan on hold following outcry from downtown business owners

UPDATE:

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — A plan to start paid parking in downtown Idaho Falls has been put on hold following a major backlash from local business owners.

The Idaho Falls Downtown Development Corporation (IFDDC) announced plans last week to implement a new app-based parking system this October. However, during a packed meeting on Thursday, August 7, more than 30 downtown merchants voiced their concerns, saying they were "blindsided" by the decision.

In response, the IFDDC staff and Board of Directors formally requested that the Mayor and City Council postpone the proposed on-street parking rates on its upcoming fee schedule hearing scheduled for Thursday evening, August 14.

"We believe it is crucial to pause and take additional time to engage with the business community, share more information, and facilitate more productive dialogue before moving forward," IFDDC Executive Director Kerry Hammon said in an email to downtown merchants.

"We were thrilled to see that there's been a little bit of a halt put to the app for parking that I don't think a lot of people were happy about the thought of having to download an app to be able to park in the downtown," said Cindy Napier, Sales Manager and building owner at Idaho Mountain Training.

"We're going to have some more talks and negotiate more and find a better solution than an app for paid parking in the downtown, said Richard Napier, owner and General Manager at Idaho Mountain Trading. "One, we want to keep it free. And two, we don't want to have an app. We still live in a rural area, and we're a regional hub, and we don't want to turn anybody away from the downtown. The downtown’s a special place. It always has been, and we want to keep it that way."

Terri Ireland, owner of the downtown metaphysical store "Healing Hands," has launched a petition to completely halt the city's new paid parking plans. As of 2 p.m. Friday, August 8th, the petition has already garnered over 1,800 signatures. For more information, click HERE.

In the press IFDDC release, Hammon added that they are committed to working with downtown businesses to develop a parking solution that "serves the best interests of our entire downtown community." The corporation will communicate with business owners through its IFDDC Downtowners Private Facebook page and Mailchimp distribution list.

"We appreciate your understanding and support as we work toward this goal," Hammond said in the email.

For more information or to be added to the email list, contact Kerry Hammon directly.

ORIGINAL:

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Downtown Idaho Falls Development leadership got an earful Thursday afternoon, August 7, over a plan to start charging for parking. About 30 merchants from the downtown area spoke their minds at a packed meeting this afternoon.

The meeting started at the Downtown Development Corporation's office but had to be moved to the nearby Samoa Club, due to the number of merchants who wanted to voice their concerns about a plan to charge for parking.

The majority of the business owners and building owners expressed they felt "blindsided" by the announced plans and "would love to have had conversations before it got to this point."  

The Idaho Falls Downtown Development Corporation announced plans last week to implement a new paid parking system to increase turnover and parking availability downtown, using an app called PARK SMARTER. They planned on bringing the system to the Business Improvement District in two phases. The first phase is scheduled to start in October 2025.

Today, they seemed to walk things back a bit.

“Nothing is law yet. We are an agent of the city, and so we receive information and cannot do anything without permission of the city.  So we are an advocate and an ally first and foremost, and we want to hear you," Downtown Development Corporation Treasurer Brandi Newton told the gathered merchants.

Business owners brought up numerous reasons they think parking fees would be a bad idea, ranging from difficulties with technology and fears that the change would drive people away from the downtown area.

But the overarching sentiment was simply put by Amanda Poitevin, owner of Winnie & Mo's Bookshop: "Business owners should have been consulted about this a lot more."

As for the Downtown Development Corporation, Executive Director Kerry Hammon stated that the communication with business owners was "what we needed." Moving forward, Hammond says they plan on addressing business owner concerns over the next several days.

“We are going to talk to the board members next... continuing our conversations, our board of directors have been out on the street going into the businesses and talking to them, over the last week getting additional input, we're going to continue those communication meetings and whatnot," said Hammond.