In the two summers since the town of Frisco implemented paid parking at the marina and upped enforcement of free, three-hour parking on Main Street, turnover has increased and overcrowding has been reduced, according to a recent report from town staff.

After minor modifications to the parking program in 2023, the Frisco Town Council members have continued to talk about how to best accommodate the different marina users — from beachgoers to slip holders — and keep tickets reasonable.

At a meeting last Tuesday, Oct. 10, Town Council appeared in agreement that the deadline by which a $75 parking ticket must be paid before it doubles should be increased from 10 days to 30 after receiving the ticket.

But the council was divided on whether or not those who pay for a season parking pass or mooring slip should have access to 10 designated parking spots closer to the water on weekends and holidays. The council members decided to resume that conversation at another time.

Paid parking is enforced at the Frisco Bay Marina during the summer months from Memorial Day to Labor Day, according to a memo to the town council. The first 30 minutes of parking is free. Monday to Thursday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., it costs $0.75 an hour with a $10 maximum. Friday to Sunday it costs $0.75 for the first three half-hours and then $2.50 per half-hour afterward, with a $15 maximum.

A season parking pass was also available for $99, but, unlike 2022, the season pass was not valid on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays at the closer parking spaces. Those with season passes would have to park closer to the fruit stand lot, according to the memo.

This year, a new holiday premium rate was added and in effect between July 1-4 and Sept. 1-4. That holiday rate was $20 for 3 hours and $5 for each additional 30 minutes, according to the memo.

The town contracts with Interstate Parking Co. to provide parking enforcement.

“The usage on the weekend is mind-blowing,” Interstate Parking Co. executive vice president Gareth Lloyd said. “On a beautiful day, it’s mind blowing. Anything you can do to get people to enjoy it and then move on, it just benefits everybody, it allows more people to go paddleboarding, sit on the beach.”

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Frisco Bay Marina general manager Logan Snyder explained that the reason for the parking program was overcrowding, minimal turnover and safety concerns with there being no pedestrian pathways through the parking lot. On Main Street, the main goal was to increase turnover, he said.

In the two years since the town has implemented the program, Snyder said it has run smoothly and has generally succeeded in reducing overcrowding and increasing turnover.

“We’ve seen reduced congestion, (which) leads to a safe and positive experience,” Snyder said. “Turnover for Main Street has increased 30%. With that, local businesses are going to see more business. With more business, there is more revenue for the town as far as sales tax and things and just more accessibility to business.”

Council member Elizabeth Skrzypczak-Adrian raised concerns that people who own boats are often required to park at the fruit stand but often have a lot of gear to shuttle so that distance between their car and boat.

Skrzypczak-Adrian suggested allowing slip holders or those who purchase season parking passes access to 10 spaces closer to the waterfront that would be available to them on a first-come, first-serve basis.

“The marina has always been there. I feel like folks who have been utilizing the marina for many, many years have helped us create that whole world down there just by being ambassadors of Frisco Marina by putting their boats there,” Skrzypczak-Adrian said. “That is a relationship we should pay a little bit more attention to.”

But other council members disagreed that slip holders should have access to 10 spaces closer to the waterfront, but some did say they would be interested in first-come, first-serve spots reserved for season pass holders or for some additional fee.

“The people that are going down with their families to have a picnic on the beach have just as much stuff and are just as invested stakeholders in our community,” Mayor Hunter Mortensen said. “Owning a boat does not make you an invested stakeholder in our community, for what I see.”

Mortensen added, “I would be all in support that we have 10 season passholder spots for any season passholder.”