E-scooters, updated food truck permits endorsed
Regina's city council will consider a pair of recommendations next week, to be ready for when both e-scooter and food truck seasons arrive this summer.
E-SCOOTERS HERE TO STAY?
Endorsed by executive committee Wednesday, the proposed recommendation to make the e-scooter program a permanent, seasonal offering in Regina will scoot along to city council for affirmation.
A successful pilot program in 2023 led city administration to suggest keeping e-scooters on the street permanently, a bid supported by a 9-0 unanimous vote.
The fleet is to remain the same size, at 500 scooters, and be provided by two vendors. Pilot partners Bird and Neuron say they are willing to continue on.
A stronger education campaign will be considered, alongside more “proactive enforcement,” said city staff.
This means working with Regina Police Service and altering the fines for improper use of e-scooters under the city's traffic bylaw.
Suggested is a new $60 fine for general violations like operating on a sidewalk or prohibited street or at a speed above the e-scooter limit of 24 km/h, and upping the penalty for reckless operation to $125 from $100.
City staff said the intent is to polish up the way riders are using e-scooters as a way to alleviate concerns expressed via public survey after the pilot concluded.
After getting noise complaints, the city is also working with both Bird and Neuron to adjust the noise emitted by units when in use. The noise in question is meant to advise vision-impaired pedestrians a scooter is nearby.
The recommendation passed with no alterations to the suggestions.
A final decision will rest with city council and, if approved, 2024 permits for e-scooter suppliers will be issued for an operational season from May 15 to Oct. 31.
CHANGES COMING TO FOOD TRUCK PERMITS
After roundtable talks with five local business owners at the end of last year, recommendations from city staff to update the permits that govern food trucks are moving forward.
Executive committee gave the changes a pass on Wednesday, voting 9-0 in favour of updating the relevant sections of the traffic bylaw to make it more enticing for food trucks to cruise the city core.
Food trucks were first approved in 2014 after a successful two-year pilot and are required to hold a temporary mobile vendor permit to vend on public streets.
A peak of 11 permits were issued in 2015 but had steadily dwindled to zero in 2023, despite at least a dozen trucks active in the city.
Owners of those trucks say it's because most turned to event appearances, catering or parking on private property, which are more lucrative options in lieu of paying costly permit fees or navigating murky location restrictions laid out by the city.
City staff speaking Wednesday said the shift was noticed and a “holistic review” was done. Regulations hadn't been reviewed in several years, nor had the fees, it found.
Suggested updates include lowering permits to a range of $225 to $575, from the current $1,300 to $1,680, and expanding where permit holders can vend.
The new rules, if passed, would allow food trucks to park on all public roads with a speed limit of 50 km/h or less that have parking and a sidewalk. They could also set up at seven specified spots at Pat Fiacco Plaza as well as city-owned sports fields.
If approved, administration said it will be looking at the level of downtown activation that occurs from the changes as a measure of success. The bylaw amendments will seek final approval by city council on March 20.