Owen Sound council will be getting a report from city staff to look at a potential paid parking system for non-residents at several city parks and facilities.
It turns out, however, the proposal didn’t even need a resolution from council at Monday’s meeting — there already was one during budget discussions last year.
Deputy Mayor Brian O’Leary had provided notice he would introduce a motion at council’s meeting on Monday to direct staff to bring forward a report about how a paid parking system for non-residents could be implemented in 2022 at Harrison Park and Kelso Beach, with the potential of adding other sites.
O’Leary’s proposal would not require Owen Sound residents to pay any parking fees, while also looking at exemptions for certain users, such as those staying at Harrison Park campground.
The city’s deputy mayor cited a current annual infrastructure deficit of $3.1-million and the need for more than $5-million of capital investment in parks and parks buildings over the next five years, and says a paid parking system for non-residents could create some revenue and help relieve the city taxpayer from bearing the entire cost of maintaining parks enjoyed by all.
However, he withdrew the motion at Monday’s meeting as it was discovered council already reached a resolution concerning a staff report on non-resident parking fees at some city parks and facilities introduced by O’Leary during budget deliberations on Dec. 3, 2020.
City Manager Tim Simmonds says it was an “administrative oversight.” He expects the staff report on paid parking options in Owen Sound for non-residents at some parks and facilities likely won’t come back to council until the end of this year.
The resolution adopted by council in December 2020 was to instruct staff to do a study and bring back a report on non-resident fees for parking at the Bayshore Community Centre, Julie McArthur Regional Recreation Centre, Harrison Park, Kelso Beach, or others recommended by staff.
The motion also instructed staff to ensure the study includes ways to deal with contracts such as the YMCA, Owen Sound Attack, Harrison Park Inn and Summerfolk, while considering options for fees to park, yearly passes, start-up costs and revenue projections, as well as recommendations on what the revenue should go towards.