Decision On Free Parking In Days Leading Up To Christmas Tabled
A decision whether or not there will be Free Parking at meters in the four days prior to Christmas and not just on the Monopoly board will have to wait until Council’s November 22nd meeting.
The discussion around offering free parking in the Downtown core surrounded a request from the Moose Jaw and District Chamber of Commerce asking Council to allow free two hour parking on December 21, 22, 23 and 24th.
The request came from the Chamber and not the Downtown Business Association (DBA) and as such Council voted 4 -2 to table the discussion until the DBA had an opportunity to discuss the proposal.
Addressing Council Rob Clark CEO of the Moose Jaw and District Chamber of Commerce said the Free Parking initiative was meant to continue the momentum retailers are feeling.
“Coming off of a very successful Christmas in October this past weekend and following up with a few businesses in town and to keep the momentum going we are requesting free meter parking from Tuesday the 21st of December until Friday December 24th. A good will gesture that is guaranteed to bring good tidings to retailers and consumers alike,” Clark said.
“This is a key trading time for our local businesses and free parking can bring customers and visitors to the Moose Jaw in the final run up to Christmas. Any such moves help to keep the vitality of our Downtown business core in what can be a challenging retail environment on occasion,” he said.
Clark said if the initiative was approved the Chamber would communicate with businesses the free two hour parking was not for staff but for clientele and visitors.
Councillor Kim Robinson asked Administration how the City would monitor the free meter parking so it was not abused.
“I don’t suspect that we could if it is free parking…I think they (parking enforcement commissionaires) would be patrolling but not issuing tickets but I think it would be a little bit difficult to get people moving I would think,” city manager Jim Puffalt responded.
Director of Planning Michelle Sanson however said the Commissionaires would still monitor for the two hours parking limit and issue tickets if necessary.
Councillor Robinson said he was in favour of the initiative so long as the two hour free parking limit was being enforced.
“My only concern is that it can be abused but I am comfortable that we will be looking after it so I would certainly support Mr Clark’s request to have free parking,” he said.
Acting Mayor Dawn Luhning had reservations about what the Chamber was requesting because there were businesses who are opposed to free parking initiatives because they are often abused by staff and the DBA had not been contacted about the initiative.
“Just for some background I had a conversation with Mr Clark today and the Downtown Business Association hasn’t been consulted on this. And just for some history this came through the Chamber every year and we haven’t had (free) parking during this week since 2013 and the reason being we do have some businesses Downtown who do not approve of this for the reasons of abuse ,” Acting Mayor Luhning said.
She felt that bad weather would see employees abusing the free parking.
“It is something we could risk the issue being 30 below and -25 and sometimes the employees of some of the businesses will park at those meters all day long and continue to plug them or whatever. So I also don’t feel I think the Downtown group should be consulted first but now that we have the Hot Spot App and there is the alternative you can still put a coin in the meter but you can also pay from your phone…And I do think we have to consider some of the businesses that don’t appreciate (free parking) it can be abused in those five days before the Christmas holiday.”
Councillor Heather Eby agreed that many Downtown businesses did not like the free meter parking as staff and others were abusing the privilege.
“I well remember those phone calls in those years certain businesses felt that spots were taken up all day long by employees. So it actually made it more difficult for paying customers to shop Downtown. I would be more apt to approve this if it had the blessing from the Downtown Association or at least from a few of the businesses I have in question in my mind,” Councillor Eby said.
“If it is - 25 and the employees park there all day and people don’t go shopping we have not helped anybody at all…as it is right now we could cause more problems than helping. ”
Councillor Crystal Froese took an opposing view and said she liked the free parking in the days leading up to Christmas.
“I think this is a terrific idea and I understand some of the issues that might have happened prior but Administration said they are actually monitoring the two hours (parking meter limit) so that people who are getting the free parking will have to move on after the two hours or get a ticket for being there too long,” Councillor Froese said.
She said Council waved charging for parking earlier in the pandemic to assist the Downtown businesses and “that stress still exists right now so I think using this as a way to encourage people to do some shopping Downtown is a good thing.”
Councillor Jamey Logan said he would like to wait until after the Downtown Business Association meets on November the 9th to see what reaction they had.
“Personally I would like to get the input of the Downton Business Association and maybe think about tabling this until the 22nd. That is just how I would approach it. I am not against I just don’t want to step on toes…I think it is a great idea if they are onboard,” Councillor Jamey Logan said.
Councillor Doug Blanc said he supported the initiative to further help out businesses that are struggling as a result of the COVID - 19 pandemic.
“I certainly support this…a lot of businesses have suffered over the last year and a half and think this is maybe a stepping stone to try to accommodate them and help however I do worry about stepping on some stones (toes) but I am hopeful the CEO of the Moose Jaw and District Labour Council (Rob Clark CEO of the Moose Jaw and District Chamber of Commerce) is going to talk to them and most of them are on board.”
Coouncillor Blanc said he understood there was abuse but the initiative was a good one.
“You are going to have people who are going to be upset because their staff are going to be parking there but I think this is a good process,” he said.
In a 4 - 2 vote with Councillors Froese and Blanc opposed the mattered was tabled until Council’s November 22nd meeting for a final decision.