Norfolk County council wrestles with paid parking plan details

A final vote on extending a paid parking project in Norfolk tourist towns had so many tweaks and changes proposed by Norfolk councilors Tuesday that it was deferred for another week before going to a final vote.

While councilors were generally in favor of running the pilot project for a second year in Port Dover, Turkey Point and Long Point, they asked numerous questions and suggested many changes to the program, which would run from June 15 to Sept. 5 through a system called Hotspot.

Councilors wrestled with what kind of pass residents should be able to buy, whether forgiveness should be offered for those entering an incorrect license plate to the system, what hours paid parking would be required, and how the program might differ in the three communities due to a variety of parking issues.

Staff recommended extending the temporary program for another year but, with so many changes suggested, council voted to defer a decision for another week.

“There have been a number of minute and significant adjustments to this,” said Coun. Tom Masschaele, who was chair for the council-in-committee meeting on Tuesday.

Councilors pondered how – and whether – to ensure someone couldn’t park in a spot all day and simply continue to pay for sessions, and voiced concerns about leaving in a first-hour free feature if residents are allowed to purchase a pass that gives them all-summer access to parking.

count. Adam Veri said paid parking has less support in the community than among Norfolk County staff and council.

“We paid no mind to the initial survey that 70 per cent of people didn’t want it. The tourists hate it and it sounds like a done deal. There’s very little support for it in Port Dover.”

Veri also said a report that indicates there was a surplus of $51,000 at the end of last summer’s pilot project didn’t take into account the many staff hours put into the project.

“I haven’t got a true sense of the cost of this project.”

Councilors also had questions about how a resident pass system would work in order to ensure those who live in Norfolk County could enjoy parking without additional fees but prevent them from taking spots all day, every day.

count. Linda Vandendnessche asked whether, as a resident, she could buy a suggested-$25 resident pass and then end up parking in a paid spot in Port Dover for the entire day.

Mayor Amy Martin also suggested a reduced rate for families at the same household, that an hour of free parking be scraped and that the hours of paid parking be changed to 10 am to 6 pm

Martin and Masschaele asked for a hike for the resident pass from $25 to $35.

count. Alan Duthie urged staff to set up a way to get a resident pass online.

The program was deferred back to staff and clerk, Teresa Olsen, in one of her last acts before departing the job, said she expected staff could return with a revised outline next week.

The matter of what to do with the surplus cash left over after last summer’s paid parking program was also put over to next week.

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