There will be free downtown parking in Owen Sound this Christmas after all.
City council reversed itself last night — two weeks after voting not to approve a request from downtown merchants and customers for free parking until December 25th.
Beginning today, motorists can now park on downtown streets for up to two hours, and for an unlimited amount of time in the lots.
But the issue did not pass unanimously, nor did it pass without some heated debate after a resolution by the Downtown Improvement Area Board of Management brought it back before council.
Councillors Tom Pink, Jim McManaman and Bill Twaddle refused to support the idea.
Pink says parking should not be considered ‘free’ — as someone will have to pay for the lost revenue at some point.
He notes that money goes toward needed improvements like the pending reconstruction of the municipal lot behind Scotiabank.
McManaman says he cant believe the issue was even deemed worthy of consideration, only 10 months after the implementation of new parking policies by a city committee that worked on the matter for a year-and-a-half.
He wonders where the city will find the estimated 19 thousand dollars worth of revenue expected to be lost over the 17-day grace period.
Twaddle compared downtown merchants to Oliver Twist, saying free parking on Saturdays was given to them by the parking committee, and now theyre back asking, “please, sir, can I have some more?”
The consensus among the majority of council was that downtown merchants are suffering due to the recession and free parking might spur the economy in the core.
The issue was instigated by local merchant Patty Marr of Bikeface Cycling on 10th Street East, who first approached council with the idea last month after collecting about 160 signatures on a petition.
She says shes pleased with the outcome and will be back next year in plenty of time to make sure the initiative can be repeated from the time the Festival of Northern Lights begins.