Council Performs A Double Takeout To Help Fix Scotties Parking Concerns

The 2015 Scotties may have been a financial success for the City and the business community but it was not without some hiccups. Hiccups Council was asked to address as the date draws nearer for Moose Jaw to play host to the Scotties 2020.

Scotties 2015 had some parking issues – lack of availability, people being issued parking tickets and businesses losing access to on street parking for their customers.

“We would like to offer free bus service to anyone that has a ticket to a Scotties event. They will be able to ride a City bus for free to get to their event that should help to alleviate some of the parking issues,” city manager Jim Puffalt told Council.

To help support businesses who were negatively impacted in the 2015 Scotties Puffalt said the City had proposed a solution during Scotties 2020.

“On the 300 block of High Street (West) tere are some areas when the Scotties are on during the day Monday to Friday and events go morning and afternoon that it’s difficult to some of the businesses so we recommend Council will authorize temporary one hour parking in front of those businesses.”

Although difficult to enforce the one hour parking limit would allow customer access to those businesses, Puffalt said.

Speaking regarding Scotties 2015 Councillor Chris Warren asked if free buses had been offered then if so how many people took advantage of it.

“My understanding was it (free bus service to Scotties events) but there wasn't much uptake at all,” Puffalt replied “we don’t have any information as to why there wasn’t that much uptake.”

Puffalt suggested marketing to help encourage people to use transit to and from Scotties events.

“We are going to find other ways to encourage people tp take a bus compared to other ways of trying to find parking spaces Downtown in the middle of Winter “

Regarding the proposed one hour parking zone Councillor Warren said “I believe most of the businesses affected they are in favour of this one hour parking zone. The important piece will be enforcement because if we are not enforcing it people are going to learn pretty quickly it is gung to be available for parking.”

Councillor Scott McMann asked if the City had approached businesses in the 300 block of River Street West and 400 block High Street West to see if any concerns had been raised.

“In 2015 there didn’t seem to be there were issues past the 300 block of High Street (West) as far as we could find out,” Puffalt replied.

Councillor Dawn Luhning said she was happy with the parking solution..

“We have been going back and forth with some of these businesses for over a year now, so to come to a resolution and know they are in agreement with the solution is positive,” Councillor Luhning said.

“I am happy those businesses are happy about that.”.

Councillor Brian Swanson felt the City was not approaching the parking problems for Scotties 2020 backwards. He remembered only 14 people took advantage of the free transit in 2015 and the temporary one hour parking zone on the 300 block of High Street West was reducing parking.

“I would categorize that as looks good on paper but really sucks in reality,” Councillor Swanson said, adding “one is something nobody is going to use and one is going to restrict the availability of parking.”

He said the entire issue had come up during an in-camera meeting and he “would be more interested how we are going to deal with the parking than to restrict the parking.”

Councillor Swanson spoke about Scotties 2015 – there was a lack of parking and many people found themselves with parking tickets as the draws went longer than the parking meter's two hour time limit.

“Last time it caused quite a kerfuffle. I guess that goes having a facility where there is no parking.”

Before it’s conception Mosaic Place was known as the Multiplex and two referendums was held about it. A major concern in the controversy was the lack of on-site parking by building the facility Downtown. Many who voted in favour of the project did so not liking the location but were not allowed to choose a location in the vote.

‘To me dealing with the parking is the more important issue.”

Puffalt said additional Scotties 2020 parking may be available in vacant lots near Mosaic Place.

“Some of the properties are willing for a potential of parking passes along with the event itself,” he said, adding “I don’t know how many people will use the bus service but we will not know if we don’t try.”.

Councillor Luhning said the main business owner who requested the City fix the parking problem at his shop “agrees 110 percent the Scotties is an excellent event for the City of Moose Jaw. However he is also a business owner in town and because there are no meters on that block people would park there for the entire day because they can.”

Other blocks had parking meters the 300 block of High Street West does not she said.

Councillor Luhning said the main difference between the 300 block of High Street West is it did not have parking meters like other streets had - MJ Independent File Photo

Mayor Fraser Tolmie said given the amount of money the Scotties will bring to the community it was vital to show hospitality and the free bus service was part of that.

“We are going to be inviting a lot of people from outside our community and a lot of people within our community who are going to be going to this event and part of it is hospitality.”

“These buses are running anyways so it is not an extra cost or an additional cost we are putting on. It’s about being hospitable and welcoming others “

In a 6 – 1 vote with Councillor Swanson opposed the two part motion passed.