Title
PARKING RATE REVIEW - PARKING ALONG THE WATERFRONT AND EVENING PARKING
Seven individuals (Ms. C. Benoit of the Barrie Film Festival, Mr. C. Stevens of the Downtown Barrie Business (BIA), Mr. Roly Harris, Ms. Laura Zawadiuk on behalf of Theatre by the Bay, Ms. Marianne Cancilla, Mr. Gary McCluskey, Mr. Peter Bursztyn and Mr. John Fisher) addressed the Committee concerning the Parking Rate Review - Parking Along the Waterfront and Evening Parking and provided comments and concerns related to the following:
· The negative impact extended parking hours would have on attendance at evening Theatre and Film Events in the downtown as patrons will not want to feed the meter;
· Parking is free at other cinema/theatre venues in the City;
· The Barrie Film Festival has had to make significant capital investments to address changes in technology recently that are increasing their costs:
· Ticket prices for Barrie Film Festival events have recently been increased for the first time to address HST and evening paid parking in addition to increased ticket prices may prevent patrons from attending film and theatre events;
· The loss of the primary venue for the Barrie Film Festival should the Uptown Theatre be unable to compete;
· The BIA model to create a complete parking program to create a value added service that is marketable, convenient for patrons and provides financial sustainability through 24 hours per day, 7 days a week, 12 months a year parking operations with a two hour free parking anytime/anywhere component;
· The patchwork approach of the current parking program;
· Other municipalities' approaches to the provision of a limited number of hours of free parking;
· The potential to utilize the BIA's parking model and to explore further the cost and revenue implications of their proposal that initially indicate a net profit of several million dollars;
· Evening parking operations would encourage patrons to shop at big box retailers and malls where parking is free;
· The Downtown is still fragile and a vulnerable location for businesses;
· Two hours of free parking being insufficient to attend a movie, theatre performance or enjoy a leisurely meal;
· The conversion costs associated with the BIA model in equipment and enforcement;
· A preference for increased rates for on and off street parking combined with an increase in the tax rate;
· Support for parking remaining free in the evenings and on weekends to continue patrons for the theatres and the area businesses;
· Comments received by Theatre on the Bay patrons regarding paid parking being a deterrent;
· Support for leveling the playing field by extending parking operations into the evenings;
· Patrons would still support the theatre productions and Barrie Film Festival events as the offerings elsewhere are not the same;
· Support for the BIA model of 24/7 parking operations with two hours free;
· Support for paid parking on the waterfront for visitors;
· The sale of the Collier Street Parkade if its costs exceed operations;
· A review of the requirement for the current level of parking enforcement;
· The introduction of pay and display machines on Dunlop Street and the removal of the meters;
· A parking pass program is preferable to pay and display machines;
· Challenges with operating pay and display machines;
· The impact on non-resident volunteers who support specific community events on the waterfront and/or participants in the Rowing Club or other waterfront area organized activities if paid parking is introduced for non-residents 24/7;
· The potential to collect significant revenues through extending paid parking in the evenings in the Downtown;
· The potential to introduce a non-resident annual pass;
· Support for a 24/7 parking program with two hours of free parking as it will bring people to the downtown;
· Support for non-residents paying to utilize the waterfront as the City pays to maintain the waterfront.
The members of the Committee and members of City Council in attendance provided comments and asked a number of questions related to the information provided.