Parking Policy, Local Politics, and Massive Infrastructure Costs | Ask Strong Towns Anything – July 9, 2025

Catch up on what your fellow Strong Towns members are thinking about and wrestling with in their communities.

In this Ask Strong Towns Anything session, we covered a range of pressing member questions—from how fire codes influence land use to the political realities of challenging large-scale infrastructure investments.

Below, you'll find key topics discussed, helpful quotes, and links shared by members and staff during the call. This session is part of an ongoing series exclusive to Strong Towns members. Want to join the next one? Become a member today.

🧠 Key Ideas from the Discussion

1. Can Emergency Access Be Weaponized Against Good Design?

Greg Sund challenged the assumption that street narrowing always compromises safety by asking:

“Name one city wherein the fire department was only able to get within a few blocks of a fire, but because of parking was unable to get to the fire.”

This prompted a broader conversation about how emergency access requirements can unintentionally be used to prevent more walkable or productive land uses.

2. Are Employees Given Clear Guidelines for Public Communication?

RL McFarland asked T. Brown:

“As an employee—are you given written instructions/guidelines on what you can and cannot talk about, or is it all ‘implied’?”

This led to a discussion about institutional culture and the importance of clarity when it comes to public officials engaging with residents.

3. The Reality of Local Power Structures

Several participants referenced real-life examples of tension between city staff, political leadership, and residents. One example from RL McFarland:

"Umatilla, Oregon... a small town with a HUGE business community… [is] at the center of one of the major Amazon warehousing/shipping centers."

This case was raised in relation to political fallout and concerns about who holds power in local governance.

4. Facing the Cost of Flood Protection in Richmond, BC

Norm highlighted the Richmond, BC Dike Master Plan, and Kenneth Santos added:

“Can current taxes pay for the $3B dike system? And will future tax bases continue to pay for this massive infrastructure spending into perpetuity?”

The challenge of long-term financial sustainability in public works was a recurring theme.

🔗 Richmond Dike Master Plan
🔗 Vancouver Sun: BC Needs Billions for Dike Upgrades

5. Speaking Multiple “Languages” in Planning

Michael Graff shared his experience working in multiple cities, and RL McFarland responded with a critical reminder:

"The words being used in one community… do not necessarily mean the same thing in another."

Language around zoning, codes, and development is not only technical—it’s cultural and political.

6. Using Storytelling Tools to Track Safety Risks

Danny Wind emphasized the power of “near misses” and community input:

“Near misses are really powerful and I often have to glean locations from town halls and public comments.”

He shared this tool for community-based reporting:
🔗 Street Story from SafeTREC, UC Berkeley

Greg Sund shared a resource used in the mining sector to account for the number of near misses that are telling indicators of coming fatalities unless changes are made. 

7. Motivating Change: Tailoring the Message

Jonathan Chiarella offered this insight on communication strategy:

“Different audiences need different messages.
– Culturally and as for the masses, the deaths are key.
– City workers and engineers are going to be motivated by $$$.”

He described how economic collapse in Rochester, NY drove creative action—like efforts to remove urban highways.

🧭 Want to Join the Next One?

Ask Strong Towns Anything sessions are hosted regularly for Strong Towns members. These are candid, off-the-record conversations where our movement gathers to discuss challenges and share ideas.

If you're not yet a member, join today to be part of the conversation.