Among the proposed changes, which could go into effect Aug. 1, all streets in Somerville will become resident permit parking only. Parking meter fees will go from 50 cents to $1 an hour, with meter hours extended until 8 p.m. except in Davis and Magoun Squares, where the hours will be extended to 10 p.m.

At the June 11 meeting, Ward 5 Alderman Sean O'Donovan said he was upset that he and his constituents had not been more involved in the rate-setting process. The commission does not need the Board's approval to change parking regulations.

"I would have liked the opportunity to get in on the discussion," O'Donovan said, later adding he wanted the measures either put off or scrapped altogether.

Ward 6 Alderman Rebekah Gewirtz also expressed frustration, noting she had hosted a community meeting earlier last week to address residents' concerns. Among the displays of disapproval from the community was a petition against the regulations circulated at the Somerville Theatre.

"It is not OK in my view for the Traffic Commission to vote on a policy change without input of the residents," Gewirtz said.

Both said the commission had not adequately told Aldermen of the vote on the new measures, and that it had not been on the agenda. City Solicitor John Gannon said the commission had followed all public notice laws, even if the item hadn't been on the commission's meeting agenda.

Others, including Mayor Joseph Curtatone, countered that Aldermen knew of the proposed changes for months.

"This have been discussed in every Resistat meeting in the city," Ward 7 Alderman Bob Trane said. "This didn't happen overnight. To say this thing was a slam dunk is disingenuous at best."

"The insinuation something was rammed though is just not accurate," Curtatone told the Board. "We give more information out than any administration in the history of this city."

Curtatone did hint at the possibility that more input may be sought.

"We're not going to implement anything until we get it right," he said, "but we're going to get it right."

Action on whether to delay the new regulations until Oct. 1 was put off until the Board gets access to revenue predictions.

The proposed parking regulations can be viewed at: http://www.somervillechamber.org/news_images/5_25_09/09newparkingregs.pdf