ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

Date: May11, 2000
Author/Local: RGM/7347
RTS No. 01492

CC File No. 5654

T&T: June 13, 2000

TO:	Council Committee on Traffic and Transportation
FROM:	General Manager of Engineering Services
SUBJECT:	Parking Meters on Main Street - King Edward to 29th Avenue

RECOMMENDATIONS

A. THAT Parking Meter By-Law 2952 be amended to allow for the installation of parking meters on Main Street, and adjacent side streets, from King Edward to 29^th Avenue, as shown on Appendix A, with the rate set at $1.00 per hour.

B. THAT the estimated $120,000 cost to purchase and install parking meters and $15,000 in added annual costs be funded from increased meter revenues.

C. THAT the Director of Legal Services bring forward the amendments to By-Law 2952 to reflect recommendation A.

POLICY

City Council’s Parking Meter By-law governs street use and parking meters.

PURPOSE

This report reviews parking in the Main Street business area from King Edward to 29^th Avenue, and recommends the installation of parking meters to improve street usage for the area merchants.

DISCUSSION

The City has various levels of control to ensure that street parking in commercial areas is used for the benefit of the business community. There are some meters on Main Street near Broadway and in this part of the Main Street business area there are time limits that control street parking. Time limits work reasonably well when street pressures are low. However, when employment grows and commercial activity increases, time limits become very difficult to enforce.

Recent surveys of street usage show that at some times approximately one in four parked vehicles on Main Street have overstayed the time limits, with a number of them parking all day. Parking meters are more effective to enforce and ensure that street parking is available to the greatest number of people in a day. It is estimated that meters along this part of Main Street can increase parking opportunities for area customers by up to 30%. It is recommended that a meters be installed, with a parking meter rate of $1.00/hour, and a time limit of 2 hours.

PUBLIC INPUT

Staff have discussed street parking with Main Street businesses. It was felt that parking meters would help to ensure the street continued to provide convenient parking for the area customers rather than be used by all day parkers. A petition was circulated to the businesses in the area and 42 of the businesses were in favour and 5 were opposed.

Staff will continue to work with the Main Street businesses to monitor parking, and would continue to make adjustments after discussions with local businesses.

STAFF AND FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

There are approximately 150 parking spaces in the areas recommended for parking meters. The cost to purchase and install parking meters is estimated to be $120,000, with annual costs of $15,000 for maintenance and coin collections. The meters that would be purchased for this use would be electronic and Smart Card capable. This cost would be offset by parking meter revenues in 2000 and would generate approximately $200,000 annually.

A copy of this report has been sent to CUPE 15.

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