Paid Parking Doesn’t Add Up

Let’s tell City Council paid parking is a bad idea.

Canon City taxpayers voted for a City Council that they thought would represent their best interests. But some council members aren’t listening — they’re all too happy to take money out of taxpayers’ pockets.

This sure-to-fail paid parking plan is just one example that will make zero dollars and even less sense. If we don’t stop them in their tracks, small businesses and families will suffer.

Let’s send a message. We’ve had enough of their taxation tactics.

This is NOT California. This is Canon City, Colorado.

URGENT: Attend the Monday, June 15, 2026 City Council Meeting at 6 p.m. to make your voice heard!

They will be voting to continue this plan. Make sure they know paid parking hurts all of us!

Latest News

EDITORIAL: Cañon City Council must reverse paid parking decision

The issue: City Council has implemented paid parking in four taxpayer-owned lots in and around the Cañon City Main Street business and tourist district.

We say: City Council should immediately reconsider this decision. With haste — as in with the speed of Secretariat. Sales tax is the largest revenue derivative in the Cañon City budget, and for the past three years, it has been flat, according to a budget study recently released by Mayor Phil Lund. In 2024, sales tax collections totaled an audited $9.95 million. In 2025, it fell to an estimated $9.81 million. In 2026, sales tax is budgeted to come in at $9.90 million. That means our Cañon City economy is not growing. It needs a boost.

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BRIAN PORTER: Royal Gorge Route Railroad will add free parking as Greksa says city’s paid model financially flawed.

Mayor Lund: ‘I have no defense of the vote to establish parking fees in city-owned lots’

As city officials begin implementation of paid parking near the Main Street business and tourist district, the Royal Gorge Route Railroad is proceeding with a plan to construct free parking for its customers. It could obliterate the city’s net revenue projections for paid parking, and that’s the analysis City Council had Monday when it supported implementation, an email from the Royal Gorge Route Railroad to the Cañon City Daily Record reads.

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Cañon City Mayor: ‘The power ultimately resides with you’

Phil Lund calls for immediate repeal of paid parking, change in city government mindset, avoidance of us-vs.-them engagements.

“Citizens want a responsive local government that addresses the issues they care about. And listens!!,” he wrote. Lund is calling for residents of Cañon City to fill City Council chambers on Monday, June 8, when a special meeting related to Flock cameras and license-plate readers will take place. Another member of City Council has called the cameras unconstitutional. “Citizen voices need to be heard more. Not less,” he said.”Citizens, I encourage you to resist any effort to minimize your voices.”

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PAID PARKING WILL MAKE ZERO DOLLARS AND ABSOLUTELY NO SENSE.

Some members of City Council are ready to implement paid parking even though the numbers don’t add up. If passed, this effort will lose money, diminish community amenities, and create more reasons for visitors to stay home.

They’ve removed downtown from the equation, and third street parking will bring in no money from tourists. This plan doesn’t pencil: It will lose money. It will waste time. It will divert City Council and City Staff from working on things that are far more important to Canon City.

LET’S ASK CITY COUNCIL TO STOP WASTING TIME ON INITIATIVES CITIZENS NEVER WANTED IN THE FIRST PLACE

Every major initiative has a cost.

Shouldn’t it all begin with smart planning? Real facts? Input from stakeholders?

Some members of Canon City Council dismiss all of this. They’re happy to forge ahead, in a hasty fashion, wasting taxpayer money and undervaluing our community’s economic drivers.

Accountability begins with transparency. Together, let’s track all the ways City Council is wasting our time and money. Let’s help them to make better decisions, together.

WE’RE SICK OF CITY COUNCIL’S TAXATION TACTICS

It’s happening. The Californication of Canon City.

Canon City residents suffer some of the highest taxes in the state. And now, they want to make us pay for parking. Initiatives like these are just another way to tax everyone. 

We need to make our voices heard. Remember, City Council works for the voters who elected them. Their job is to fairly represent citizens.

Let’s ask them to start focusing on the things that matter, like economic stability and prosperity, protecting our community from crime, and improving everyone’s quality of life.

Who’s Paying For These Decisions? You are.

Every new tax, fee, regulation, study, or government initiative ultimately comes from the pockets of taxpayers, businesses, and consumers.

Citizens for Canon City exists to shine a light on policies that could increase costs, reduce economic prosperity, and make Canon City less desirable as a place to live, work, visit, and invest.

Waste Watch

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New Proposal

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Estimated Taxpayer Cost

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Economic Impact

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Businesses Affected

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Council Members Supporting It

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Upcoming Votes

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Supporting Documents