The mayor and council have made another major decision without any input from residents.
Wallets will be a little thinner and change pockets a little lighter. Metered parking rates are being increased by decreasing the amount of time that can be purchased, and nearly tripling the amount of parking spaces to be metered. By spring 2017 both beaches and adjacent parks, and the channel parkway will be metered.
It used to be $5 would buy a full day. Now, with the new metering rates, the maximum time that can be purchased is $4 for four hours. So, to spend nine hours at the beach or an adjacent park, it will take three trips to feed the meter. A loonie is the smallest coin the pedestal meters will take. However, for your convenience, the machines will take credit cards.
Also, should an overstay occur and a ticket result, the City is requiring the parking contractor to open and staff a downtown office to facilitate payment of fines. Of course, you may have to pay to park to pay the fine.
If this a concern call the mayor’s office at 250-809-2397.
C. Otto Knaak
Penticton