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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-05-13 SpecialHistoric Downtown Bowmanville Business Centre (BIA) Board of Management Meeting Minutes Thursday May 13, 2021; 6:30pm Virtual Meeting due to COVID-19 pandemic Present: Edgar Lucas, Chair Laura Holmes, Secretary Gerri Lucas, Treasurer Cathy Holmes Ron Hooper Absent: Justin Barry Erin Kemp Delegations Present: Duncan Anderson, Manager of Municipal Law Enforcement, MOC This special meeting was called to discuss parking strategies in downtown Bowmanville. The Chair called the meeting to order at 6:50pm. Quorum confirmed. Mr. Anderson has researched mobile pay apps for parking and requests feedback from the Board on his findings before submitting a report to Council. Two part-time enforcement officers are responsible for downtown core. Parking fees help offset costs of enforcement and contribute to improvements and maintenance of parking areas. There are approximately 150 meters and 5 lots in downtown Bowmanville. Current parking rate is $0.50 per hour. Rates in effect Monday to Friday from 9am-6pm. There is a two-hour free period in lots. Monthly permits are available for purchase from the Municipality. Bowmanville has experienced issues with building owners, tenants, and business employees utilizing short-term parking for all -day use which contributes to a shortage of parking for customers of the local businesses. It is well known that some business employees take advantage of the two-hour free parking and rotate their vehicle in the lot to avoid parking fees entirely. Prior to work from home orders related to COVID, municipal lots were primarily occupied by staff of large employers. Lindsay experiences many of the same problems with parking enforcement. Newcastle main street businesses largely have private off-street parking so there is less concern with parking space. Orono has fewer operational businesses so parking is not a concern currently. Mr. Anderson proposes to keep municipal lots at a lower rate to encourage use for longer term parking and street meters at higher rate to encourage more rapid turnover of space. Phone apps are a cost-effective solution for providing a mobile/credit payment for parking. This would allow for the existing meters and payment boxes to remain in place. There would need to be a minimal increase in the hourly rate to facilitate the mobile payment option to approximately $1.00. The mobile app transaction fee typically has a convenience fee tacked onto the hourly rate paid by the customer. Some companies charge the convenience fee only on the first transaction of the day and Historic Downtown Bowmanville 2 Special May 2021 Business Centre (BIA) waive for any additional top up. Other companies charge the fee each time the rate is paid through the app. Other companies have a plan that customers can sign up for to limit the convenience fees for heavy users of the app. If Council moves forward with a mobile app payment option, a tender process will occur. There will be some implementation costs as it will require signage and updating of rates on meters. Timeline for implementation would be determined based on tender and awareness of the pandemic recovery phase. The Board considers the lot at 20 King St E a priority, as it is most visible and accessible to those wanting to shop downtown. This lot tends to experience a large amount of parking abuse. Mr. Anderson plans to take a report to Council on May 31, 2021 and appreciates the feedback provided by the Board. The Board thanked Mr. Anderson for attending. Mr. Anderson departed the meeting at 7:42pm. Moved by L. Holmes, seconded by G. Lucas THAT the Bowmanville BIA supports the following measures related to parking in downtown Bowmanville - Remove the two-hour free parking in municipal lots - Implement a phone app/mobile payment option to improve convenience - Increase the hourly parking rate to $1.00 to facilitate new payment options - Designate the lot at 20 King St E as short-term parking with a 2 hour maximum time limit - Provide a daily maximum rate (discount) in municipal lots located at Silver St, Church/Silver St, Church St (water tower), and Division St. - Offer complimentary short-term parking at meters from December 1-31 annually - Improve signage and communication - Consider timing of implementing changes with respect to COVID-19 recovery THAT the secretary will send a copy of the resolution to Mr. Anderson CARRIED The meeting adjourned at 7:54pm.