The recent debate over establishing a downtown business improvement district in North Battleford has re-ignited another discussion: whether to bring back parking meters downtown.
Parking meters used to be located in the city's core but were removed several years ago as a way to encourage shoppers to come downtown.
Now, some city councillors are contemplating bringing them back as a way to fund the annual operations of the BID. The proposed structure would require funds for a full-time executive director once it is up and running, among other items.
It's not the first time a suggestion has been made to bring back the meters. Former Councillor Brad Pattinson endorsed the idea in 2012 as a potential revenue source when he voted against the municipal budget that year.
This time, the idea is being floated as an alternative to a levy proposal from the BID steering committee.
The committee's proposal to council Monday was for the City to bring in a levy to be paid by property owners within the BID area as part of their annual tax bill. While the city would fund the BID in its startup year, the idea is for a levy to account for 40 per cent of the BID funding by its second year, and 60 per cent in the third, with the City picking up the tab for the remaining portion in those years.
But a suggestion was made that parking meters could be a potential alternative.
Councillor Ryan Bater was behind that idea. He pointed to Saskatoon's efforts and noted Riversdale's BID was financed by parking meters.
Presenter Terry Scadden of Saskatoon's downtown BID, called the Partnership, noted that was partially correct, with one per cent of the gross revenue from parking meters going to each of the BIDs with meters. However, most of their funding is from a tax-based levy, Scadden said.
Later on in the meeting, Bater explained he had concerns about the size of the levy and the funding structure for the BID and said he received some calls in opposition.
"I think it's important for us to consider alternatives in funding for the business improvement district," said Bater.
"This levy is one avenue to raise funds. I am a big believer in reintroducing parking meters to our downtown. I think most of the parking spots that are being used, are being used by employees of the downtown and not necessarily shoppers. I think it's a detriment to attracting shoppers to the downtown."
He asked administration whether they could prepare a report on not only parking meters but also paid parking lots. Director of Business Development Denis Lavertu responded their planning technician is "practically writing a thesis on it right now."
Lavertu noted there has been a "significant consideration" given to parking downtown over the past year, and noted some proposals and recommendations coming forward from administration, with a goal of that to happen this spring.
In speaking to reporters after the meeting, Mayor Ian Hamilton addressed the idea of bringing back metered parking.
"That's something that will be looked at into the future in consultation with the executive of the business improvement district," said Hamilton, who suggested the City would need to have the downtown BID supportive of parking meters before it could go ahead.
"I think it's also something we would need to garner their support for. If they see fit to support that I could see it make the re-introduction of paid parking downtown far more seamless."
