Chair Naima Saeed, chair of the Somerville City Council Traffic and Parking Committee, opened discussion on an order asking the director of parking to develop a comprehensive plan to streamline parking permits for in‑home elder and health care providers, including Meals on Wheels.

The city’s parking director told the committee Somerville already issues two distinct permit types for home health services. “We have a home health care form, which is for folks that may need, during business hours, someone to come in for home health care or Meals on Wheels,” the director said. “And then we have a second permit that is specific to the address for a medical permit if there's somebody in near need of round‑the‑clock care.”

The director explained the two permits differ in scope and use: the home‑health permit covers multiple addresses for a single vehicle plate and is intended for business‑hour visits; the address‑specific medical permit allows plates tied to one address for 24‑hour care. The director said the home‑health permit is valid for up to one year from the date of purchase and is nontransferable between people (though the city will transfer a permit to a new plate for the same person). Applications can be submitted by email or in person, and staff said the process can be completed at the window or by mail.

Councilors and the director agreed much of the difficulty may be an education and communications gap rather than a lack of permit options. Councilor Scott Wilson said the order arose from resident concerns tied to a separate land‑use discussion about removing parking minimums; some in‑home providers and elder‑services groups worried their workers would not be able to find parking. Wilson also raised a related possibility — designating specific curb spaces for in‑home providers — and noted those kinds of requests would go before the Traffic Commission.

Councilor Hasla Burnley said she has heard palpable concern from home‑care workers and advocates and asked the administration to return with a targeted request or more detail so the committee can have a focused discussion. The chair agreed to keep the item in committee and directed staff to supply the permit application forms and frequently asked questions to the clerk so the process can be placed on the public record.

Director comments and committee directions were procedural: staff will share the existing home‑health and medical permit application forms and make them available in the committee record; staff also offered to meet with home‑care providers and constituents to answer questions. The committee did not take a formal vote on new policy or on changing permit rules during the meeting.