Moved by Councillor Santos,
WHEREAS on December 12, 2017, Council approved an additional increase in parking meter rates by $0.50 per hour for all on-street parking meters in the City, and that $1Million of this incremental revenue in the Winnipeg Parking Authority be transferred to the General Revenue Fund to offset the transit route service rationalization, which was due to the lost revenue from the 50/50 Transit Funding Agreement from the Province of Manitoba;
AND WHEREAS the Transit Department received a surplus in their 2018 revenues of approximately $14Million;
AND WHEREAS the local businesses in the Exchange District area have signed a petition describing how the increase in parking meter rates by $0.50 per hour for on-street parking meters in the Exchange District have had a dramatic effect to their local economy (attached a copy of the petition);
AND WHEREAS on November 19, 2019 the Winnipeg Parking Authority was directed by the Standing Policy Committee on Infrastructure Renewal and Public Works to conduct an analysis of current parking rates, including consultation with stakeholders to determine any recommendations for future changes to these rates, and such report is due back to the Standing Policy Committee on Infrastructure Renewal and Public Works on October 6, 2020;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Lord Selkirk – West Kildonan Community Committee recommend to the Standing Policy Committee on Infrastructure Renewal and Public Works:
1. That Council immediately reduce the parking meter rates by $0.50 per hour for the Exchange District on-street parking meters until such time the Winnipeg Parking Authority has completed their analysis of the current parking rates.
2. During the Winnipeg Parking Authority analysis of current parking rates, that the review include the option of a sliding scale parking meter rate for all on-street parking meters in the Exchange District, similar to what the Forks has currently implemented.
3. That the Proper Officers of the City be authorized to do all things necessary to fulfill the intent of the foregoing.
Carried