HomeMy WebLinkAboutCLD-016-08
C!i1!:Jl!gron
REPORT
CLERK'S DEPARTMENT
Meeting:
GENERAL PURPOSE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE
KesdLA-hon-* ep/J-3oo--o&
Date:
April 28, 2008
Report #: CLD-016-08
File #:
By-law #:
Subject: REQUEST TO PROVIDE FREE PARKING IN DOWNTOWN BOWMANVILLE
RECOMMENDATIONS:
It is respectfully recommended that the General Purpose and Administration Committee
recommend to Council the following:
1. THAT Report CLD-016-08 be received;
2. THAT the request of the Bowmanville Business Centre to allow for free parking one
week per month be denied; and
3. THAT the Bowmanville Business Centre be advised of Council's decision.
Submitted by:
\ 'C' '7 '\7
(,_~ /-Q>_(. .'v~ li\
Reviewed by: Franklin Wu,
Chief Administrative Officer
PLB*LC
CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF CLARINGTON
40 TEMPERANCE STREET, BOWMANVILLE, ONTARIO L 1C 3A6 T 905-623-3379 F 905-623-6506
REPORT NO.:CLD-016-08
PAGE 2 OF 3
BACKGROUND AND COMMENT
At the regular Council meeting on March 25, 2008 staff were directed to investigate the
feasibility of shutting down the parking meters in downtown Bowmanville for one week each
month in order to offer some incentive to the public to encourage shopping in the downtown.
Currently the parking meters are shut down for at least two weeks at Christmas each year. The
meters are also not enforced on weekends or evenings.
Between the on-street meters and the central lots, Bowmanville has a total of 399 metered
parking spaces. Since the first of January 2006, these meters have generated a total income
of $152,007.56 which equates to a weekly average of $1,256.26.
These revenues are transferred to the Parking Reserve Account and used for all parking
related matters such as parking staff salaries, equipment purchases, maintenance of existing
lots and acquisition of new ones.
At year end 2005, the Parking Reserve Fund stood at $332,470.32. Since that time, while
revenue levels have remained relatively consistent, the expenditures have steadily increased
to the point that the Reserve currently stands at $154,834.41. A major part of these
expenditures has been the operating budget as well as the purchase of new equipment such
as the handheld units and upgrades to the processing software.
One of the purposes of regulated parking enforcement on the downtown streets is to create a
consistent traffic flow so that a few vehicles cannot monopolize all of the parking in the area.
Without operational parking meters, Staff experience has been that these spaces become
occupied by individuals who will remain at a particular spot for extended periods, thus denying
other potential users any opportunity to park and shop.
At the present rate of decline, Staff do not believe that it is a sound financial decision to
annually remove approximately $15,075 from the budget in the form of free parking for an
additional 12 weeks per year.
REPORT NO.:CLD.016-08
PAGE 3 OF 3
CONCLUSION
Staff are mindful of the concerns of the merchants but must also consider the wider impact on
all the residents which will occur as a result of further depleting the Parking Reserve Fund and
restricting the Municipality's ability to replenish it. Staff therefore, respectfully recommend that
the request of the Bowmanville Business Centre for one week of free parking per month be
denied and the Bowmanville Business Centre be advised of Council's decision.