UPDATE: Overnight street parking in downtown could costs taxpayers

(JULIE WHITTET / iNFOnews.ca)

September 09, 2013 - 11:31 AM

UPDATE: The City is having second thoughts about overnight parking on the streets of downtown.

City council is deciding to hold off on lifting restrictions on street parking between 3 and 6 a.m. in the downtown core.

While Coun. Colin Basran says there are some concerns the restriction forces people to get behind the wheel after drinking, there might be other solutions worth exploring.
It's possible visitors to downtown could be making better use of the existing parkades that do permit overnight parking, Basran says.

Deferring the resolution, Basran suggested the city consult with the Downtown Kelowna Association and assess the costs first.

"One of the biggest implications is snow removal," Basran says.

Coun. Gail Given was also hesitant about the resolution.

"It's a very well intended motion but it may cost the taxpayer," Given says.

"There may be other options to achieve the same outcome without incurring those costs."

Allowing vehicles parked on the street overnight would mean revising the street cleaning procedures currently in place.

Though Mayor Walter Gray suggested there might be a way to get around the issue, only permitting overnight parking on certain days and streets — for example, removing the restriction along Lawrence and Leon Avenue where most of the night clubs are concentrated.

9:00 a.m. September 9, 2013

Leaving your car parked overnight on the streets of downtown may no longer fetch you a ticket - or towing fee.

Concerns the restriction deters residents from enjoying a late night in downtown and possibly encourages them to drive after drinking prompted a city councillor to motion for change. During an August council meeting Coun. Colin Basran motioned a resolution that would see the parking restriction between the hours of 3 and 6 a.m. lifted for a one-year trial period.

While originally intended to clear vehicles for street cleaning and snow plowing, council is now considering alternate schedules to accommodate cleaning crews as well as residents wanting to enjoy the nighttime in downtown.

If approved, overnight parking will be possible as of New Year's day January 2014.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Julie Whittet at jwhittet@infotelnews.ca or call (250)718-0428.