An expansion of the free parking area in downtown Owen Sound will have a six-week trial period starting next month.
Beginning on November 19th and continuing until December 31st, drivers can park for free for up to two hours along 2nd Avenue East between 7th and 11th Streets.
Currently, free parking is allowed for one hour at a time on 2nd Avenue East between 8th and 10th Streets.
The decision on Monday night by city council is a compromise.
The Downtown Improvement Area had asked for free two-hour parking across the downtown on a year-round basis.
That move would cost the city more than 250 thousand dollars in annual parking revenue, according to a staff report, and that’s simply not feasible.
Nor is it allowed, because of council’s lame duck status pending next week’s municipal election.
But council could have approved a trial of free two-hour parking on all downtown streets during the Christmas season, which would result in a loss of more than 20 thousand dollars.
It’s thought the decision made instead by council will cost approximately $3,500, which was seen as more palatable by a majority of the members of council, including Mayor Ruth Lovell Stanners and one of her opponents in next week’s election, Councillor Deb Haswell.
The parking system in Owen Sound cost 540 thousand dollars to operate in 2009.
It has been self-sustaining and a property tax hike of about four per cent would be required if the system were scrapped.
During the six-week trial period, data will be collected from shoppers and merchants to help figure out the city’s next steps regarding downtown parking.
Although council’s decision does not go as far as had been asked, DIA board chair Sue Carleton says she’s happy with what she heard and it’s a good start toward discussions about the future of parking in the city core.
Carleton says one-hour parking is simply not long enough for most people who visit the downtown.
Parking is expected to be one of the issues up for discussion as the DIA stages an all-candidates meeting tonight from 7 PM to 9 PM at the Grey Granite Club.