Parking under review

By Roger Knox - Vernon Morning Star Published: November 03, 2013 1:00 AM
A significant drop in parking lot rental revenue has the City of Vernon looking at options for two popular free parking areas. Through September, revenue for city lot rentals is $126,623, down from $191,683 through the same time period a year ago. Staff told council that it will be reviewing parking lot rental options at the Civic Arena and the Vernon Recreation Complex. “We are at a point where folks parking, particularly during the day, are taking up much of the parking area, and are beginning to take up areas necessary for programs, etcetera,” said City of Vernon administrator Will Pearce. It is likely that city administration will forward a number of options for council to consider, including the possibility of limiting free parking at both locations for three-to-four hours. Coun. Catherine Lord said the city has recommended to people, particularly those who work in the downtown area, that they park at the rec centre and Civic Arena because parking is free. “A three-to-four-hour limit isn’t going to do that (for people who work),” said Lord. “If we’re going to do something there and it’s impacting a program, could we not do something about separating an area that would be for free parking?” The city’s manager of recreation services, Doug Ross, has been given the task of monitoring the parking at both facilities. “There will be a range of options for council to consider,” said Pearce in regards to the parking lot rental revenue drop.