Silvia Klatman, executive director of the Chamber, stated “Although the Chamber has not yet decided whether to take a position on this issue, we believed it was important to gauge the initial reaction to the City’s idea of installing parking kiosks in the downtown core.”

“The results are a good starting point for the community to begin discussion. Because we also sought comments from participants, the City will now know not only the level of support but also the concerns, misperceptions and ideas of people downtown and of those who visit the core,” said Klatman. “The City can use these results to address those concerns, misperceptions and ideas.”

Results: Some questions could have multiple answers so some totals come to more than 100 percent.

People who work downtown –
number of responses: 130

• What type of business/organization do you own or operate?
  43 percent Business or professional services
  23 percent Other
  15 percent Consumer services
  8 percent Government
  7 percent Retail
  6 percent Restaurants, beverages, other food
  2 percent Gallery
  2 percent Tourist attraction

• How do you conduct most of your business with customers/clients?
  44 percent Face to face, in your store or office
  31 percent Via phone
  11 percent Face to face, at your clients’ places of business or homes
  9 percent Via computer
  5 percent Other

• What impact do you think paid street parking will have on keeping and attracting your clients/customers?
  55 percent Negative
  30 percent No impact
  9 percent Don’t know
  6 percent Positive

• What impact do you think paid street parking will have on your ability to keep and attract employees?
  58 percent Negative
  29 percent No impact
  8 percent Don’t know
  5 percent Positive

• Do you and/or your staff use all day paid surface parking/garages?
  68 percent Yes
  32 percent No

• Do you and/or your staff use public transportation?
  80 percent No
  20 percent Yes

• Do you support installing parking kiosks downtown this year?
  78 percent No
  22 percent Yes

• Would you support installing parking kiosks in the future?
  60 percent No
  40 percent Yes
  

People who live and/or work outside of downtown –
number of responses: 99

• How often do you visit downtown Bremerton?
  31 percent Two or more times per week
  23 percent Two or more times per month
  14 percent Daily
  11 percent Weekly
  10 percent Every few months
  6 percent Monthly
  3 percent Haven’t been downtown in more than a year
  1 percent Every six months
  1 percent Once a year

• What do you do downtown?
  65 percent Eat
  55 percent Special events
  52 percent Conduct business with downtown companies/organizations
  47 percent Attend meetings/conferences
  39 percent Sight see (museums, galleries, boardwalk, etc.)
  36 percent Conduct business with the government
  27 percent Shop
  22 percent Other consumer services
  15 percent Other
  6 percent I don’t go downtown

• Do you support installing parking kiosks for downtown street parking?
  71 percent No
  29 percent yes

• Would you support this plan in the future?
  51 percent No
  49 percent Yes

• For classification purposes, please let us know where you live.
  34 percent Bremerton – inside city limits
  23 percent Bremerton – outside city limits
  15 percent Port Orchard/SK
  12 percent Poulsbo/NK
  8 percent Silverdale/CK
  3 percent Downtown Bremerton
  2 percent Bainbridge Island
  2 percent North Mason
  1 percent Other area in Pierce County