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.

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.

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.”