At Monday’s meeting, Prince George City Council will debate big changes in parking bylaws for the downtown core.
The most notable proposed changes are the expansion of the downtown parking zone and the adoption of licence plate recognition software
Downtown Business Improvement Association Executive Director Carla Johnson says downtown PG is evolving.
“And one of the trends, is that people that work and live downtown are monopolizing the spaces that are meant to be there for the small businesses. We want customers to be able to park reasonable close to the businesses they patronize and have good turnover in those spaces.”
The new software and proposed bylaw changes will close a loophole that allows people to move their vehicle every two hours to avoid a ticket, the new limit will be three hours.
City Administration says a vehicle with the licence plate recognition technology should be able to cover the entire zone at least 5 to 6 times in a 10 hour day. Proposed monitoring times are Mon – Fri 7am-5pm.
A report to council says in the first 8 months of 2015, tickets issued for parking in excess of a posted limit are up 40% over 2014. They have issued an average of 762 general parking tickets a month.
“It was probably about three years ago that the parking meters were proposed and our membership made it very loud and clear that that’s not what they wanted downtown” Johnson said
The new proposed ‘Downtown Zone’ would include the entire area between 1st Ave and Patricia Boulevard and between Winnipeg and Scotia Streets. Victoria Street would become a 30 minute zone between 1st and 7th Ave. Residential parking permits will be issued to residents living in the area.
The city says their off street parking lots currently have an overall vacancy rate of 22% and range in price from $47 to $115 a month. Fees for 2016 will be rising by 15%.
Hourly off street rates are currently $0.75/hr or $4 a day and will remain the same for 2016.
The proposed changes would also see off street lots become free after hours (6pm-8am) so bar goers have a place to leave their car.
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