ROCKLAND — Rockland City Council agenda items regarding parking will be revisited at a special meeting Wednesday, April 15, a meeting that had already been scheduled for other items.

The parking items were postponed during the April 13, 2026 regular meeting of Rockland City Council. Live stream video of the April 13 meeting was not available as of noontime April 14.

Discussion during the March 9 meeting ultimately came down to tiered side-street pay options for employees of the downtown district, exemptions for Rockland-registered vehicles, and an urge to make further considerations for Buoy Park.

Councilor Nate Davis paraphrased that the City is creating a tiered system for seasonal permits. For employees who don’t mind walking from free parking in the outskirts; employees who don’t mind walking a little bit can have the modestly-priced street parking; employees who want the most convenience can have the permit parking for the parking lots.

Following a reading of a Public Comment letter, Councilor Penny York clarified that the original request to increase parking permits does not go up to $100 for street parking (Ordinance 2). The Council meeting discussion also clarified that there will still be free parking on other streets. Employers can also pay permits for shorter time spans, such as per three months.

The letter, by local business owner and manager Jen Rockwell expressed strong opposition to seasonal permit fee increases. Rockwell employs between 50 and 75 employees each year. Rockwell said that over the past few years, she’s done everything she can to reduce the burden to her employees when it comes to parking downtown. Two years ago, she purchased a large number of permits for employees and guests to share. Last year, permits were $30 and required individual license plates.

“To see that proposed cost rise to $100 for the season is simply unreasonable,” wrote Rockwell. “This increase doesn’t reflect the reality of our workforce and hospitality.”

Employees work odd hours. They work rotating shifts and sometimes borrow different cars. Some work only one shift per week, or per diem. And, there’s regular turnover.

“So how can we expect someone who might work just a few shifts to pay $100 for a parking pass through October?” she wrote.

Rockwell said employers are already facing significant hiring challenges, and affordability for the workforce is critical.

Davis noted that the proposed order for Ordinance 2 seems to treat each street separately.

“This ordinance here allows permit parking for employees on the side streets west of Main Street, and also in the parking lots,” said City Manager Tom Luttrell. “But the fee changes depending on where you are (street or parking lot).”

All of the side streets are the same fee. This allows them to park anywhere they want, with a decal that says ‘side-street permit parking only’ or something to that effect. For permits to Thorndike or Winter Street parking, it will be employee parking, with decals specific to those locations. Employee parking is only during hours of operation of that business. Based on Council discussion from prior to March, Luttrell understood that it was desired to move the employee parking to the side streets as a way to open up the parking lots for the visitors of rockland, where the metered parking will take effect.

“There’s supposed to be no overnight parking, but we know that there are some businesses that come in at 2 a.m. down on Main Street.

As for metered parking, Councilor Kaitlin Callahan proposed an amendent: Any Rockland resident that registers their vehicle in Rockland is eligible to obtain a $2 decal that would allow the vehicle to park in a metered space for up to two hours per day without paying the current metered parking rate. The resident parking decal shall permit up to two hours of free parking in the following metered parking areas: Custom House parking lot, Thorndike parking lot, Winter Street parking lot, Elm Street, and others. Decals shall be issued by the City Clerk’s Office with proof of vehicle registration within the City. Fees for decals shall be set by order of the City Council.

Callahan said the latter statement is to remove the barrier for the free parking, like not having to use one of the kiosks or an app.

Mayor Adam Lachman urged further analysis for the time limits suggested in Ordinance 8. Concerns were raised in regards to employees at Buoy Park and the day-cruise ship Morning on Main. Would the 2-hour time limit be sufficient? As of March, Buoy Park was not a recognized permit location. Councilor York was in agreement, thinking about the Makers Market, which will be there on cruise ship days.

Councilor Nicole Kalloch requested that Order 2 be postponed for an extra month to give business owners an opportunity to review the measures. Lachman agreed. However, Callahan said she’s tired of postponing.

Said Lachman, “Employees are hurting right now, and there are employers that are hurting right now. I think we really have to think hard about making sure that we don’t create an adverse impact. It’s one thing for us to increase paid parking. It’s another thing if the jump-up from $30 to $100… I know we are addressing that in part by the side-street parking, but I think not a lot of people have really looked at the side-street proposal yet, so I think it’s prudent for us to postpone this and have a discussion.”

Callahan pointed out that while parking lot fees are increasing from $30 to $100, side-street parking is still fairly affordable. And the City is creating around 46 free parking spots near Rankin Street Center (Leland and North Main street area) and at Harbor Park around the stage (28 and 18). Other places are being looked at for more free parking spots.

Lachman called the decal for residents a game changer.

“We want to make sure that the [paid parking program] works well,” he said. “But we also want to make sure that we minimize the impact on residents and employers and employees.”

Reach Sarah Thompson at news@penbaypilot.com