There is a new challenge in the decision whether to charge for parking in downtown Collingwood.
Two sides with very different opinions have a short amount of time to come to an agreement.
Council has given the Business Improvement Association and the staff Parking Advisory Committee until September 28th to reach a compromise.
The BIA wants the 2 free hours of parking on Hurontario Street to continue, but with commissionaires (like by-law officers) monitoring the situation.
Members are even willing to contribute to the cost of the monitoring. It’s not yet known how much it would cost.
And free all day parking at the municipal lots downtown with no meters or monitoring is the other main suggestion of the BIA.
The BIA says this would allow downtown staff to park in the lots and free up spaces on the main street.
The parking committee thinks a dollar an hour should be charged on Hurontario Street and 75 cents on side streets and in the town owned lots with enforcement Monday to Friday.
Committee Chair Michael Christie says people who park in the lots will get one hour free when they put in the minimum amount.
Christie has also suggested the town buy the property adjacent to the arena parking and enter into a partnership for parking at the corner of Saint Marie and Third Streets.
BIA Chair Jeff Shearer says the two week deadline to reach an agreement is a major challenge, but he welcomes it and thinks a solution can be reached.
Council wants to hear from both sides on September 28th and then it will consider bringing in a new parking by-law.