Downtown business owners respond to city's parking boot
By Kyra Hoggan
There’s a mixed reaction from downtown business owners to city council’s decision, at its last regular meeting, to ‘boot’ (immobilize) prolific parking violators with unpaid fines in the city’s downtown core (until now, the only options were to either impound the vehicle or issue a violation ticket).
A report issued by city staff indicated the voluntary payment of violation tickets had diminished, between 2009 and 2012, from 63 per cent to 42 per cent, representing tens of thousands of dollars in unpaid fines.
“When we have a bylaw and only 42 per cent of people affected by the bylaw are making their payments, you have a responsibility to look at what you can,” said mayor Dieter Bogs. “The concern is, it’s getting worse – it’s slipping. Obviously the words getting around, so it’s time to do something.”
Councillor Kevin Jolly added that, while he hates taking measures like this, the status quo saw responsible people who paid their fines effectively being penalized, while scofflaws were rewarded for not bothering.
With the new bylaw, traffic enforcement staff will be able, through a handheld data device, to determine if a particular license plate is connected to a plethora of unpaid tickets, at which point the boot will be employed. To regain use of their vehicle, the owner will have to pay a $7 fine (along with any delinquent fines as well).
Dave Streloff, owner of JJ’s Fashions (and a small parking lot) downtown, said he thinks the ‘boot’ approach is perhaps not a bad one.
“The thing that bothers me the most (about the parking situation) is that it’s not always the customers – it’s the owners and employees who abuse the privilege,” he said. “The parking spots are full before the first customer arrives. Maybe if the city boots them, they’ll lease or rent a spot instead.”
Richard Daoust, owner of Century 21 downtown and director of the Downtown Action Committee, said he is hearing a mixed reaction, as well, from the realtors, business owners and consumers he talks to on a day-to-day basis.
“From the response we’ve gotten so far (I’ve garnered) that people generally don’t like it,” he said. “There’s a concern that people will look in the other direction and maybe go elsewhere.”
That being said, Daoust said he’s still not sure it’s a bad move.
“I see the city’s side – as the business market hopefully gets busier downtown, parking can become a problem. As it is, there’s lots available,” he said, explaining the city has a number of initiatives underway to change that, in which case the parking meters would again become necessary.
He pointed to the slated demolition of several old buildings, the downtown market, revamped highway exits and the downtown revitalization tax exemption bylaw as just a few examples of efforts being made to create a bustling downtown core.
He also said he knows of at least one private owner who is looking at creating a large parking structure to ease future parking congestion downtown.
“Maybe then we could discuss removal of the meters. I’m not sure what the best option would be, down the road.”
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