Coun. Betty McIntosh fears increased parking rates could drive customers away from commercial areas.
The city is considering changes to fees and rates charged for a variety of services. One of the proposed changes would see parking rates rise from $1.10 to $1.50 per hour in low-demand areas, and $1.35 to $1.75 in high-demand areas.
“I thought that was excessive,” said McIntosh.
Small businesses in the city already struggle to stay in business from year to year without having to contend with increased parking, said McIntosh. She noted that some businesses owners have lobbied against parking meters in the past.
A staff report stated that the proposed increases would bring New Westminster in line with rates charged in surrounding municipalities.
James Doan, the city’s supervisor of towing, parking and animal and cemetery services, said parking rates will be set at 2.5 cents per minute ($1.50 per hour) in low-demand areas such as 12th Street and 2.92 cents per minute ($1.75 per hour) in high-demand areas (Downtown, Uptown and Sapperton) starting Jan. 1, 2014. In an email to The Record, he said that all current street meters and pay stations will be reprogrammed to reflect the new rates in 2014.
Jim Lowrie, the city’s director of engineering, said parking is a “very scarce resource” in neighbourhoods like Sapperton. He said the city plans to do a comprehensive review of parking in 2014.
In addition to the increases at parking pay stations, council will consider increases to some fees at the Fraser Cemetery and street occupancy permits fees. Staff is also recommending a one per cent increase in all fees collected by the development services department, a one per cent increase in the business licence fees for rental housing, and increases to the cost of providing new underground electrical services.
Staff will bring back the related bylaws for council’s consideration on Oct. 21.
