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Penticton putting the brakes on resident-only parking

Penticton city staff are recommending council put the brakes on a planned expansion to the resident-only parking program.
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Penticton city council is considering whether more public engagement is needed over expansion of the resident-only parking program.

Penticton city staff are recommending council put the brakes on a planned expansion to the resident-only parking program.

The matter will be coming before council at this afternoon's (Dec. 20) meeting. Planning manager Blake Laven and Tina Siebert, Bylaw Services, say more public engagement is needed before moving on with the expanding the program east and west of downtown, and around Penticton Regional Hospital.

Read more: Penticton parking problems - Penticton News

Resident only parking comes at a cost, though. The city charges $15 annually for a permit — increasing to $30 in 2018 — allowing a homeowner to park a vehicle on the street.

"Staff did not anticipate the mixed reaction to the proposed changes as they represented the addition of only a few streets to the resident only area," reads the report. "It appears that concerns over the whole program are unresolved, not just the expansion."

Given the feedback received from people and groups opposed to resident parking, Laven and Siebert are asking council to decide whether to continue with the expansion, delay it, or drop it altogether.

Parking revenue represents a substantial cash flow for Penticton, close to $400,000 per year, with the potential for $500,000. The income from expanding resident-only parking is not expected to have a significant effect on that total, since only a few streets are involved.

Council meets at 1 p.m. in City Hall, 100 Main St.