Paid Parking Management Strategy and Broken Meters

In response to a significant number of broken and missing parking meters throughout the City, Council are exploring alternatives to on-street metered parking.

The Paid Parking Management Strategy, adopted by council early this year, outlines a long-term parking plan which includes the purchase of new meter hardware in 2019 to replace meters in the downtown. An interim solution is required to address the high number of broken meters so that downtown businesses customers have access to parking.

“We have a long-term plan to improve paid parking in the city and provide a variety of payment options to our residents,” said Councillor Debbie Hanlon, lead on Transportation. “The proposed two-hour parking limit in areas with broken meters is in response to requests from downtown business owners to improve parking turnover so that customers visiting downtown have parking availability.”

In the coming weeks, City Council will be presented with a plan for discussion.  Any changes to parking at broken or missing meters will be communicated to the public following this discussion.

“Our goal is to provide a better parking environment and to support the downtown business community,” said Councillor Hanlon. “This is not about revenue for the City, it’s about supporting small businesses who are the backbone of the downtown economy.”

The Paid Parking Management strategy is a five-year plan, to be rolled out in phases. It will see a combination of new parking meters, pay-by phone via app or toll-free number, and pay stations. The strategy is available on the city’s website.