Latest news with #paidparking
CTV News
11 hours ago
- Business
- CTV News
Paid parking made permanent at Spanish Banks, rate increased to $1.50 an hour
The Vancouver Park Board has voted to make paid parking permanent at Spanish Banks, while increasing the rate by 50 cents. The new rate of $1.50 per hour aligns with Vancouver's updated minimum for on-street parking, which was increased in November. According to a report presented at Monday's board meeting, the paid parking pilot project at Spanish Banks brought in $168,000 between July 2024 and May 2025, surpassing the city's revenue expectations by more than $45,000. Staff anticipate the increased rate will bring in $225,000 in net revenue annually. The decision to impose paid parking at the popular beach has been controversial, with a petition for free access gathering around 8,500 signatures, but Commissioner Tom Digby noted that maintaining the city's public spaces comes at a significant cost. 'I have to emphasize, it's so expensive to run any park,' Digby told CTV News ahead of Monday's vote. 'We have spent $1 million last year putting in a water pipeline so Spanish Banks west could have flush toilets and have showers.' The motion passed, with an amendment that would allow for 'seasonal pricing (to be) incorporated for the off-season.' Only two commissioners, Jas Virdi and Angela Haer, voted against permanent parking fees at Spanish Banks. 'I feel like we're charging for everything, and there just needs to be a balance,' Virdi said before the meeting. 'People need activities to enjoy that don't cost anything.' Commissioners supporting the motion also pointed out there are still areas with free parking across the city, including Sunset Community Centre and Trout Lake Community Centre. With files from CTV News Vancouver's Martin MacMahon
CTV News
3 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
Permanent paid parking recommended for Spanish Banks Beach
A group of men play volleyball at Spanish Banks Beach in Vancouver B.C., on Monday, May 20, 2013. (Darryl Dyck / THE CANADIAN PRESS) A recommendation to make paid parking at Vancouver's popular Spanish Banks Beach permanent – with a 'marginal increase' in price – is coming to the Vancouver Park Board Monday. The board launched a pilot program last year, charging $1 per hour to those parking in 744 stalls at the popular destination. A report from staff says it has generated an estimated $168,000 in revenue in 10 months – surpassing the board's initial estimate of $121,000 over 12 months. 'These revenue figures suggest that paid parking has not been a deterrent to parking lot use, while significantly improving capacity for funding service improvements,' the report says. Before the pilot, the beach was the only one in the city with free parking. The pilot prompted a petition opposing the move that gathered around 8,500 signatures. 'No paid parking implementation project is without some level of negative public sentiment. The Spanish Banks Beach pilot was not an exception,' the report says, noting that there were some 'minor incidents of vandalism and service interruption' when the program began. The latest proposal, if approved, would see the fee increase to $1.50 per hour year-round, a rate the report says reflects inflation and matches the city's minimum rates for on-street parking. 'Free parking is increasingly rare in Vancouver – the city is densifying, demand for parking is increasing, and operating costs are impacted by inflation. Parking comes at a cost for municipalities, who subsidize free parking at the expense of core service delivery for all residents and visitors, whether they drive or not,' the report says. 'Establishing reasonable fees for the individual use of parking spaces connects the cost of that service to the user that directly benefits while providing indirect benefits for all residents.' The report says the increased rate will generate and estimated $255,000 in revenue per year. A potential increase to $2 per hour in 2026 would bring in $340,000 per year. The benefits of paid parking cited in the report include collecting money from visitors who don't pay taxes in the city and enabling bylaw officers to enforce rules against overnight parking.
CTV News
29-05-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Visitors will soon have to pay for parking in Elora
People visiting Elora will soon have to pay to park downtown. During a Township of Centre Wellington council meeting this week, councillors received a report on a potential paid parking program. 'We do have high utilization rates of our parking spots, especially in Elora,' Dan Wilson, Centre Wellington's Chief Administrative Officer, said. 'This does lead to a number of challenges: difficulty finding parking, increased congestion, reduced accessibility, heightened illegal parking, negative perceptions about the town and tourism, economic setbacks for local businesses and various environmental impacts.' Currently, drivers can park in downtown Elora for three hours for free. Streets away from the downtown area also longer term, 24-hour parking. The community also has several municipal parking lots. The paid parking proposal divided downtown Elora into two areas: Zone 1: paid parking with a three-hour time limit Zone 2: paid parking for up to 24 hours Zone 1 included Metcalfe Street, Mill Street, Price Street, Church Street and MacDonald Square. Proposed Parking Payment Zones, Elora A map of proposed parking payment zones in Elora. (Courtesy: Township of Centre Wellington) 'One interesting comment from our parking enforcers: tourists come to town, especially in Elora, and they ask where they can pay for parking and get a little uncomfortable when they are told parking is free, because they expect to pay and feel more comfortable if they've paid for their spot,' Wilson told council. Wilson said feedback was collected via a survey. Three options were provided to respondents: the first option would have maintained the status quo, the second option required all drivers to pay for downtown parking and the third option required only visitors to pay for parking downtown. Wilson said 66 per cent of survey respondents supported the third option. Council approved a motion to move forward with the third option and authorize staff to begin working with a contractor to explore implementation options, proposed fees and draft a bylaw. Wilson did not expect the change would be fully implemented before the fall. What does it mean for people who live or work in Elora? Once the program is up and running, Centre Wellington Township residents will need to register their vehicles to avoid charges when parking downtown. They will still need to adhere to the posted time limits, but they will not be required to pay to park as long as they have completed the registration process. Meanwhile people who park downtown for work or visit frequently will have the option of purchasing a parking permit. The proposed price for the permit was $125.
CTV News
28-05-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Paid evening parking in ByWard Market, ‘bubble bylaw': Here's what happened at Ottawa City Council
The City of Ottawa is moving ahead with developing a 'bubble bylaw,' and will charge motorists for evening parking in the ByWard Market and parts of Little Italy and the Glebe. Here is a look at what was approved during Wednesday's council meeting. Evening paid parking in the ByWard Market, Little Italy Drivers will need to pay for on-street paid parking during the evenings in the ByWard Market and parts of Little Italy and the Glebe, despite a last minute push to hit the brakes on paid evening parking in the market area. Council approved a plan to extend paid parking at on-street parking spots in busy areas until 7:30 p.m. Monday to Saturday. Under the plan, on-street paid parking hours will be extended to 7:30 p.m. Monday to Saturday in the ByWard Market and Little Italy South, and to 7:30 p.m. Monday to Friday in parts of the Glebe. The changes will be rolled out on Sept. 2. Councillor Riley Brockington, seconded by coun. Stephanie Plante, introduced a motion to exclude the ByWard Market area from a plan to charge motorists for parking between 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. 'Do you believe the ByWard Market needs special treatment? I think the answer is yes,' Brockington told council. 'We are putting in the necessary time, effort and energy to rebuild our market, a cherished destination within our city. What I'm suggesting is increasing times where we demand the public pay for parking, this is not the time to do it. Let's rebuild the market first, can revisit it, but this is not the time.' Brockington's motion was defeated 21 to 2. Mayor Mark Sutcliffe said he respects where the idea of Brockington's motion is coming from but couldn't support it. 'If you look at strong and vibrant neighborhoods throughout North America, many of them have metered parking throughout the evening, throughout the weekends and those neighbourhoods and those business districts are thriving and successful,' Sutcliffe said. 'Introducing longer hours for paid parking in any area of the city is not necessarily going to be the make it or break it thing for that area of the city.' Ottawa parking A parking sign in Ottawa's ByWard Market. Staff are recommending extending parking hours to 9 p.m. on weekday and weekend evenings. (Dave Charbonneau/CTV News Ottawa) 'Bubble Bylaw' Council has directed staff to draft a new 'bubble bylaw,' to prohibit protests and demonstrations within 80 metres of places of worship, schools and hospitals. Councillors voted 21 to 3 to proceed with a 'Vulnerable Social Infrastructure' Bylaw. Councillors Jessica Bradley, Sean Devine, and Shawn Menard voted against the motion. 'What this motion in front of city council is doing is stifling dissent. It's clamping down on peaceful demonstrations it might disagree with,' Menard said Wednesday morning. Under the plan, staff will have nine months to draft a proposed bylaw for councillors to vote on. 'This is not an easy issue, and I appreciate the rights and values that, to some extent, are being pitted against each other,' Sutcliffe said during the council meeting. 'But I actually think this is a great example of how democracy can and should work. The solution before us is balanced and thoughtful, it is careful and precise, it is principled and prudent. It aligns with what's happening in other communities and at other levels of government. It responds to the legitimate concerns and worries of many of our residents.' The motion wants the 'Vulnerable Social Infrastructure' Bylaw to incorporate the following: Prohibition of demonstrations near vulnerable social infrastructure : 'The bylaw shall prohibit demonstrations within a defined distance of vulnerable social infrastructure,' the motion states. Places may include, but not limited to, places of worship, schools, hospitals, and long-term care and congregate care facilities. : 'The bylaw shall prohibit demonstrations within a defined distance of vulnerable social infrastructure,' the motion states. Places may include, but not limited to, places of worship, schools, hospitals, and long-term care and congregate care facilities. Time-limited protective zones : The motion recommends staff establish 'time-limited protective zones that are only active during operational hours or specific high-risk periods.' The motion adds the proposed bylaw, 'shall be narrowly tailed to minimize any infringement on Charter-protected rights and freedoms.' : The motion recommends staff establish 'time-limited protective zones that are only active during operational hours or specific high-risk periods.' The motion adds the proposed bylaw, 'shall be narrowly tailed to minimize any infringement on Charter-protected rights and freedoms.' Protective distance : The motion directs staff to assess and recommend 'an appropriate protective distance of up to 80 metres around vulnerable social infrastructure.' It also proposes considering 'other means of protecting safe access' such as allowing staff or other officials to erect barricades or close highways. : The motion directs staff to assess and recommend 'an appropriate protective distance of up to 80 metres around vulnerable social infrastructure.' It also proposes considering 'other means of protecting safe access' such as allowing staff or other officials to erect barricades or close highways. Targeted application : The motion recommends including provisions in the bylaw to ensure 'protective zones do not apply to demonstrations that are not specifically directed at the protected vulnerable social infrastructure.' : The motion recommends including provisions in the bylaw to ensure 'protective zones do not apply to demonstrations that are not specifically directed at the protected vulnerable social infrastructure.' Labour/internal exemption : The motion recommends the bylaw 'explicitly exempts lawful labour union protests, strikes, pickets, or any other activities undertaken as part of a labour dispute or negotiation.' : The motion recommends the bylaw 'explicitly exempts lawful labour union protests, strikes, pickets, or any other activities undertaken as part of a labour dispute or negotiation.' Scope of government-owned infrastructure: The motion recommends the bylaw exclude embassies, Ottawa City Hall and Parliament of Canada buildings. 'The bylaw shall apply to government-owned property only where the primary function of the building or facility is to provide medical care, education, or long-term care or congregate care services,' the motion said. New rules for festivals, events, demonstrations The City of Ottawa is moving ahead with new rules for festivals and events, as it looks to shake the image as the town that fun forgot. Council approved a new Special Events Bylaw and a Highway Events Bylaw, which will regulate events indoors, outdoors and on roadways. The new rules provide flexibility for noise exemptions beyond 11 p.m. when events are impacted by 'unforeseen factors' like severe weather, cut the red tape for bars and restaurants and venues to host after-hours events between 3 a.m. and 9 a.m. Under the new bylaw, licensed food trucks or mobile vendors would not need additional permits to participate in a block party or street festival.
CBC
22-05-2025
- Business
- CBC
Councillors decide to compromise on paid parking on evenings and weekends
There was a sharp debate at city hall over the issue after a report to extend paid parking hours in busy areas met with resistance from business owners.
