(BEN BULMER / iNFOnews.ca)

Shoppers in downtown Vernon will soon be able to quickly nip into downtown businesses without paying for parking.

Vernon is set to create a series of curbside pick-up places where drivers will be able to park for free while picking up purchases from local businesses.

Vernon council voted unanimously in favour of the proposal which is due to start Dec. 1 and run until Feb. 27, 2021.

“I’m certainly in favour of us bending over backwards for our businesses,” Vernon councillor Scott Anderson told council’s Nov. 23 meeting.

While the subject of parking often creates lengthy and diverse debate among council, the curbside pickup proposal passed without much discussion.

Counc. Kelly Fehr said he thought it was “a great idea.”

Council heard that it was not just restaurants that required short-term parking for pick-up and that many downtown businesses are operating a “click and collect” service, allowing customers to order online before collecting the purchase from the business.

The current plan is to have 12 locations on 30 Avenue for curbside collection between 29 Street and 35 Street. Each block will have two spots, with one on each side of the street. If needed, curbside pickup spots may be added to 31 Avenue as well. Signage is expected to cost $4,050.

Coun. Kari Gares asked if a process would be in place to catch those who park for longer than 10 minutes. City staff replied that bylaw officers wouldn’t be permanently policing the issue, and they hoped and believed those who parked would respect the 10-minute limit.

In another move to help people out during the pandemic, Coun. Anderson put forward a notice of motion to allow for portable propane fire pits to be used in the city's parks.

The councillor said he’d seen a similar idea put forward in Calgary and said it was a “cheap and cheerful” City initiative. Council will vote on whether to move ahead with the proposal at its next meeting.

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