The Steamboat Springs City Council is close to finalizing an agreement with Steamboat Ski & Resort Corp. pertaining to impacts of Ski Corp.’s new paid winter parking program announced in March.

At the end of Tuesday’s regular meeting, council went into executive session for roughly 1 hour and 15 minutes to discuss both tenant negotiations regarding the Campbell property — now known as the Stockbridge Campus housing project — and the repercussions of Ski Corp.’s forthcoming paid parking program on the local community. 

Participating in the session were six City Council members (with Councilor Dave Barnes absent), City Attorney Dan Foote, Assistant City Attorney Jennifer Bock, City Manager Tom Leeson, Deputy City Manager Kelly Romero-Heaney, Finance Director Kim Weber, Deputy Finance Director Sarah Briones, Transit Manager Jonathan Flint and Public Works Director Jon Snyder.

“We have given direction to the negotiators to finalize an agreement with Ski Corp. around the winter paid parking program,” said Council President Steve Muntean following the adjournment of the executive session. Muntean did not provide specifics. 

Representatives from the city of Steamboat Springs and Ski Corp. have met on several occasions since the March announcement to discuss a collaborative path forward to mitigate the potential consequences of paid parking. 

The resort announced the changes for next season on March 10. Skiers and riders will find no-cost parking in the Meadows lot on Monday through Thursday, but will have to pay for parking on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, and during peak periods, unless they arrive after 1 p.m. or have three or more people in their vehicle.

Paid parking will apply at both the Upper Knoll and Lower Knoll lots on both weekdays and weekends, though the Upper Knoll will remain free after 1 p.m. Visitors with three or more people in their vehicle can park at Upper Knoll for free at any time but must reserve a spot in advance. 

At the first meeting between the two entities on April 13, city leaders warned resort representatives that the paid-parking policy could shift traffic patterns, parking demand and transit pressure into nearby neighborhoods and downtown.

Ideas that have been tossed around since include utilizing the Haymaker Golf Course parking lot as free parking targeted to locals coming from south of town, with Ski Corp. agreeing to provide shuttle service for free, as well as the possible use of the Stockbridge Transit Center lot for those west of town. 

Ski Corp. has also agreed to provide free signage at no charge to business owners with parking lots around the base of the mountain. This signage aims to increase compliance with parking restrictions and reduce unauthorized skier parking that could negatively impact businesses.

Resort officials have also previously expressed an openness to exploring a way to quantify the cost of additional ridership to Steamboat Springs Transit caused by paid parking to offset potential impacts to the city.