City mulls reducing parking meter rates

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This article was published 07/01/2020 (2072 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Winnipeg motorists may soon enjoy cheaper parking rates at city meters — and not just in the Exchange District.

After hearing from frustrated Exchange business owners — who asked the City of Winnipeg infrastructure renewal and public works committee Tuesday to roll back street parking rates to 2017 levels — $2 per hour from the current $3.50/hr — councillors decided to refer a recommendation the reduction go city-wide to the 2020 budget review process.

“That’s great news. That’s fantastic,” said a pleased Ibrahim (Obby) Khan, owner of Shawarma Khan on McDermot Avenue and a former Winnipeg Blue Bombers player.

“It is a fight we’ll keep fighting,” he said, referring to the group of business owners who have battled with the city, saying their bottom lines have dropped dramatically since the increases were enacted.

Coun. Vivian Santos (Point Douglas) put forward the motion to have the city reduce the parking rates until a comprehensive parking report is finished later this year, as well as have the city pay for making the change to parking meters, to this year’s budget process.

“It is positive not just for the Exchange, but for the city,” Santos said. “Ultimately, council will decide.”

The administration estimates the change would cost the city $2.1 million in annual revenue — from which it transfers $1 million annually to Winnipeg Transit — and cost about $176,000 to implement the rate change at every meter in the city.

Earlier, Lennard Taylor, who sells women’s clothing at Lennard Taylor Design on McDermot Avenue, told council he’s primarily serving tourists now because Winnipeggers — especially “ladies who lunch” who came from more-affluent areas — no longer want to come downtown.

“Since the rates went to $3.50, we have lost those ladies. They are no longer coming from the suburbs to visit downtown to support all of our businesses,” Taylor said, noting he offers to pay for customers’ street parking just to help get them in the door.

Taylor is among 79 Exchange District business owners who signed a petition urging council to roll back area rates and undertake a comprehensive, city-wide parking study to understand what costs can be borne in each community.

Such an analysis is already underway and is expected back from the public service in October 2020, Santos said.

Khan said Exchange business owners can’t wait and need immediate help. Already on his block, there are four storefronts up for sale, including the former Tiny Feast and Friday Knights locations, he said.

Khan said sales at his Exchange District location have dropped 20 per cent since parking rates rose in 2018, and active transportation lanes were added throughout the neighbourhood.

“We have to have a change and we can’t have more businesses going under,” Khan said.

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