Steamboat Springs City Councilor Bryan Swintek is continuing to push his fellow elected officials to consider a lift-ticket tax proposal for the November ballot in response to Steamboat Ski & Resort Corp.’s March announcement of a paid-parking program beginning next winter.

Frustrated by what he called the “old, tired script” of Ski Corp. “bringing Council into private conversations, paying us lip service, telling us that we’re partners” and “dragging it out,” he urged his colleagues to not “waste time” ahead of an upcoming Monday meeting between the two entities, stating that moving forward with ballot language is the sole effective solution available. 

Near the close of Tuesday’s City Council meeting, Council President Steve Muntean reminded council that city representatives and Ski Corp. officials were set to meet on Monday, May 11 for another discussion on the impacts of the parking program to local residents and businesses, and to what extent those impacts can be mitigated. 

Per the new program, skiers and riders will find no-cost parking in the Meadows lot Monday through Thursday, but will have to pay for parking on Fridays, weekends 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. 

Next week’s meeting follows an initial conversation on April 13 between the two entities, where city leaders warned resort representatives that the policy could shift traffic, parking demand and transit pressure into nearby neighborhoods and downtown.

Muntean noted that the city intends to raise a few potential solutions at the meeting, including Ski Corp. compensating the city for future increases in ridership on the already-strained Steamboat Springs Transit system, and Ski Corp. providing a free shuttle from the Haymaker Golf Course and/or Emerald Mountain. 

Unlike the April 13 meeting, which was livestreamed to the public with no public comment taken, the Monday meeting will be held privately. 

Swintek questioned the purpose of the meeting, to which Muntean responded that it was a continued conversation about how the city and the ski area can work together to diminish repercussions of the paid-parking program, particularly for local residents. 

“I will say based on my experience with them, they slow-walk this to push this out,” said Swintek. “The only conversation I think we should be having is, they can tell us if they’re going to be doing anything, and if not, the conversation we need to have is about a lift ticket tax, and pursuing that aggressively to get it on the ballot this year.”

“There is no other solution here unless someone is able to point that out to me,” Swintek added. “They have shown their true colors.”

Muntean underscored that because the program won’t go into effect until next season, it is not yet possible for the city to know the full extent of the consequences. 

Swintek, however, held firm, noting that the implementation of the program is representative of broader trends among ski resorts across Colorado. 

“Please take the wool off your eyes and see it for what it is,” he added, advocating again for the pursuit of a lift ticket tax. “We’ve seen this so many times already.” 

Swintek voiced his concern that Ski Corp. may continue to push discussions through the late summer, at which point it would be too late for the city to put a lift ticket tax on the November ballot. Councilor Gail Garey noted that the city has until July to pass an ordinance for ballot language. 

“I hear what you say, but I also am a firm believer in, we want partnerships, we want win-win solutions to things, and we fight for those and we fight for the locals and we fight for the community,” said Muntean. “So if those meetings come to zero impact or zero results, I hear you. But I still think it’s worth the effort.”

Councilor Dave Barnes warned that treating Ski Corp. as a “hostage” would be a poor move on council’s part. 

“I think turning the ski resort into a hostile partner, or a hostage here, is the absolute worst thing we could possibly do,” said Barnes. “I’m not saying we got to kowtow to them, but … the money rolls down from the gondola into this town … I just urge caution in putting the screws to them.”

“But we have no benefit now, that is my point. All we’re doing is being taken advantage of,” Swintek responded. “I just think you’re waxing nostalgic for a Steamboat that no longer exists.”

According to City Attorney Dan Foote, should the city refer a lift tax to the ballot — and if voters pass it — the resort’s contribution to the Yampa Valley Regional Transportation Authority of $1 million per year for three years, as well as its $2.75 million annual contribution to Steamboat Springs Transit for 20 years, would terminate. 

The RTA pledge would terminate automatically, said Foote, while the SST pledge would end upon Ski Corp. giving notice of termination. 

Last year, council considered a lift tax, but ultimately killed it after the resort agreed to contribute $2.75 million annually to SST through 2045.