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Council ponders price hike for residential parking pass

https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2024/02/27/council-pondering-...

WINNIPEGGERS who require permits to park on their home street may soon pay much more to do so.

Annual residential parking permits are required to park in time-limited areas. They cost $25 each, with each household able to apply for up to three. A new tiered approach would raise that fee to $50 for a first permit per household, $75 for a second and $200 for a third.

Pending approval in the city’s 20242027 budget, the new fees would take effect in 2024, and would increase with inflation each year after.

Coun. Jeff Browaty, the head of council’s finance committee, said the substantial hikes are meant to deter street parking and encourage greater use of driveways, garages and other alternatives.

“This wasn’t really done as a big revenue generator. What we’re really trying to do is discourage long-term on-street parking, wherever possible,” said Browaty.

When asked why the fees will increase so much at once, the North Kildonan councillor said he thinks the cost remains relatively low.

“Car ownership, like it or not, is not an inexpensive proposition. … Even on a very small car, $50 is basically the cost of a simple tank of gas,” said Browaty, who added the permit fee has also been frozen since 2006.

Other councillors agreed the change is warranted.

“It opens up the street. It allows other people to park and have turnover. … These are public streets, they’re not public parking lots,” said Coun. Janice Lukes, chairwoman of public works.

However, one councillor fears many inner-city residents, who more often lack garages and other parking alternatives, would face an unfair burden if the new rates are approved.

“Now, not only are you charging for the parking pass, you’re going to have to have a massive increase for them. It’s just very unfair for residents who are living in the inner city,” said Coun. Cindy Gilroy.

The Daniel McIntyre councillor said she already receives complaints about the $25 annual passes and hopes to convince fellow council members to reject the increases.

“I don’t think this is a popular move. I think they should look at other ways to generate revenue,” said Gilroy.

There are currently about 3,200 active residential parking permits for Winnipeg vehicles, including 86 permits issued for a third vehicle in one household, according to the Winnipeg Parking Authority.

If council approves the changes, the higher fees will likely be imposed sometime this summer, said Lisa Patterson, the manager of parking and facilities for the WPA.

“We’re really trying to encourage people to not use the city street as car storage. … Try to use the spaces on your property first,” said Patterson.

She said such fees are already higher in other Canadian cities and more revenue is needed to cover the program’s cost.

While annual operating costs for the permitting program were not provided, Patterson said fee revenues fall short of paying for staff, software and other expenses, though that figure includes an unspecified dividend to be transferred to general city revenues.

Overall, the parking authority is expected to transfer about $7.8 million to general city coffers this year.

Patterson suggested the higher fees could also entice more Winnipeggers to consider alternate forms of transportation to personal vehicles.

“There’s a cost to car ownership and if there’s a way to encourage people to utilize a different method of transportation, that’s something we’re trying to do,” she said.

Coun. Sherri Rollins supports the changes as a move away from “subsidizing” vehicle use. “Generally speaking, when you own things like vehicles or bicycles, you have a place where you are going to keep them. When that place is (in) the public realm … then the public sphere acts like a subsidy,” said Rollins (Fort Rouge-East Fort Garry). “I will get arguments, as soon as you publish this, that $50 is too low (for the first car per home), that we should not at all be subsidizing vehicles.” Rollins said she believes the proposed fees — which would affect residents of multiple streets in her ward — are fair.

“I’m concerned about affordability on a lot of fronts, including housing. … I’m not concerned about it here, not at these price points. Not at the first car. I still think the third car (permit price) is still too low,” she said.

City council will cast a final budget vote on March 20.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.camailto:joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca