City parks fee hikes
Charlottetown council votes not to increase on-street, parkade costs until September
Parking rates in Charlottetown have been frozen until at least Sept. 1.
City council recently voted 7-0 in favour of maintaining the current rates at the meters and in the parkades for the next seven months.
The move comes following a request from businesses in the downtown. The meter rates were set to increase in October 2020 from $1.50 an hour to $2 while parkade rates were supposed to jump from $8.75 per day to $12.25.
However, those plans were initially put on hold based after the business community raised opposition, especially in light of the challenges surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.
Council then voted on Nov. 30 to waive all on-street parking fees for the month of December, with the provincial government covering up $15,000 of the lost revenue and the city swallowing the remaining $45,000. The city says parkade fees weren’t waived because the provincial money was only earmarked for on-street parking.
Joseph Dow, who owns Dow’s Men’s Wear on Great George Street, said it’s a relief to downtown businesses that they won’t have to worry about an increase for at least the next few months.
“A freeze is definitely what the downtown needs,’’ Dow said. “We want to make it as easy as possible for people to come downtown, get a parking spot and do their business.’’
Dow said while council meant well with the free parking initiative in December, it ended up backfiring.
“Most of our clients were concerned and they did mention to us on numerous occasions that they couldn’t find a parking spot in that downtown, so that issue should be addressed in the future.’’
Some businesses and members of council said when the meter rates were waived in December people who worked in the downtown simply took up all the spots.
Dow said part of the reason was that fees were not waived
in the parkades.
“If they choose to undertake the free parking initiative again, I would like to see the fees waived for the parkades as well. Give people who work in the downtown free parking in the parkades, so that it frees up spots on the streets for shoppers.’’
Coun. Terry MacLeod said he was perturbed that only the city waived its fees, calling on Charlottetown Area Development Corporation and downtown businesses that offer private parking to do their part the next time.
“Why should the city take the only hit on this?’’ MacLeod said.
“Why should we be the only ones to take the heat. The parkades, the private lots … everything should have been free.’’
Councillors Terry Bernard and Mitchell Tweel said businesses need all the support they can get.
“Businesses are under tremendous pressure (with COVID-19),’’ Tweel said. “I worked in the private sector … my heart goes out to them.’’
Tweel also suggested council create a working group to discuss other ways the city could help businesses out.