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January 13, 2016 - 4:30 PM
PENTICTON - Parking is going to get more expensive in Penticton, with parking pay machines set to be installed at several locations throughout the city and fees to rise at hourly and monthly lots.
First implemented in 2012, council agreed to expand to the next phase of the parking strategy for 2016-2017. During the first phase, downtown parking lots and expansion of downtown and Lakeshore Drive on-street metering took place. Pay parking was also implemented at Skaha Marina’s boat launch lot.
Work slated for this year will include the installation of pay machine parking lots along Okanagan Lake, including the parking lot at Lakawanna Park, the SS Sicamous-LocoLanding parking lot and a lot near Coyote Cruises.
Pay machines will also be installed along Lakeshore Drive and smart meter heads will be installed on poles in select areas of the city. Carpool spaces and space for co-op car share programs will also be made available in the downtown area.
In 2017, pay machines will be added to Skaha Lake parking lots and on street parking meters or pay machines installed around Skaha Lake Park.
The city receives approximately $430,000 annually in parking revenue, a sum expected to rise by $167,000 with the additions made in 2016, with another $45,000 coming in from the 2017 additions.
With additional staff needed to provide bylaw enforcement it is anticipated operational costs will be $128,000 annually, leaving a net revenue of $522,000.
Parking meter revenue will be added to general revenue and used for revitalization projects and other city operational and capital initiatives.
Council endorsed the parking strategy unanimously, following which Coun. Tarik Sayeed made a bid to have 20 per cent of parking fee revenue diverted into a 'green initiative,' but the motion failed to garner any support from the rest of council.
An increase in the parking fee was also recommended. Staff proposed rates at monthly parking lots rise to $30, from $25, and on-street parking rate go up to $1.25 per hour, currently $1 per hour. Beach parking is $1.25 an hour with the option for a $5 day pass. Those recommendations still need to be considered by council before any changes are made.
To contact a reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad at sarstad@infonews.ca or call 250-488-3065. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.
News from © iNFOnews, 2016