PARKING
METER REVENUES - 2008 BUDGET OPTIONS
RECETTES
DES PARCOMÈTRES – OPTIONS BUDGÉTAIRES POUR 2008
ACS2008-PWS-TRF-0013 CITY WIDE / À L’ÉCHELLE DE LA
VILLE
With respect to process, Chair McRae noted that
several staff were on hand to provide a presentation and answer questions. She noted that the City Treasurer,
unfortunately, could not be present until the afternoon so financial questions
on this issue would have to wait until her arrival. She suggested that Committee receive the staff presentation and
hear delegations before proceeding with questions to staff, the Committee
willing.
Councillor Legendre suggested there would be no
benefit in receiving the presentation and comments from the delegations without
first determining whether there was sufficient support from the Committee to
suspend the Rules of Procedure. He
asked for legal opinion on the matter.
Rick O’Connor, City Solicitor, appreciating
Councillor Legendre’s concerns about the procedural implications of this issue,
suggested that it would be best to hear the staff presentation and delegations
before raising the issue of suspension of the Rules because those individuals
might provide information that would help Committee Members in their
determination as to whether or not to waive the Rules and revisit a budget
decision.
Councillor Legendre respectfully disagreed with Mr.
O’Connor’s opinion and proposed to move that the Rules of Procedure be waived
at this point in time.
The Chair asked Mr. O’Connor for his opinion on this
matter. He explained his concern that
should that procedural motion fail, and given that a procedural motion and a
motion dealt with at Committee for those two separate reasons cannot be
reconsidered, it would be unjust to the more than forty delegations registered to
speak to Committee on the issue. Mr.
O’Connor reiterated his opinion that the motion to waive the Rules should be
dealt with after hearing the delegations.
Chair Legendre proceeded in putting forward the
following motion:
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the rules of procedure be suspended to consider all
matters for which this special meeting was convened.
Councillor Wilkinson then proposed to move a motion
that would defer consideration of Councillor Legendre’s motion until after
Committee heard the delegations. She
agreed with Mr. O’Connor that the delegations might have comments that
would better assist Committee in determining whether or not to suspend the
rules and revisit Council’s decisions on the matter.
When asked by the Chair the order of consideration of
those two motions, Mr. O’Connor advised that Councillor Wilkinson’s motion
should be dealt with first. If
approved, the Committee would proceed to hear the staff presentation and
delegations. If not approved, the
Committee would consider Councillor Legendre’s motion.
Following a brief discussion, the Committee
considered the following motion:
Moved by Councillor M. Wilkinson:
That Councillor Legendre’s Motion be deferred until after hearing from staff and the public.
LOST
YEAS (3): Councillors
M. Wilkinson, A. Cullen, Mayor L. O’Brien
NAYS (7): Councillors R. Bloess, G. Bédard, J. Legendre,
C. Doucet, D. Thompson, C. Leadman, M. McRae
Moved by Councillor J. Legendre:
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the
rules of procedure be suspended to consider all matters for which this special
meeting was convened.
CARRIED
The Committee then proceeded to hear the staff presentation. Richard Hewitt, Deputy City Manager, Public Works and Services (PWS) introduced his staff members Michael Flainek, Director, Traffic and Parking Operations and Scott Caldwell, Project/Policy Officer, Traffic and Parking Operations, who provided the PowerPoint presentation. A copy is held on file with the City Clerk.
Immediately following the staff presentation, the Committee heard from the delegations.
The following people voiced concerns about the
parking meter proposals previously approved by Council and requested that the
issue be reconsidered: (Please note
that presentations provided are on file with the City Clerk.)
1. Rob Sproule, Chair, Business Advisory Committee (presentation provided).
2.
Sam Elsaadi, Chair, Sparks Street Mall Management
Board.
3.
Lori Mellor, Preston Street
BIA.
4.
Reverend Barbara Maynard and
John Price (Warden), St. Luke’s Anglican Church.
5.
Shannon Lee Mannion, Concerned
Citizens of Centretown.
6.
Marilla Lo, Chair, Somerset
Street Chinatown BIA.
7.
Doug Kendall, Knox
Presbyterian Church.
8.
Stephen Brown, St. Patrick’s
Basilica (presentation provided).
After receiving the aforementioned delegations, the Committee paused for a lunch break. Before doing so, however, Councillor Legendre put forth the following procedural motion, which, as confirmed by Mr. O’Connor, was necessary given that Committee had decided to suspend the Rules to revisit this matter.
Moved by Councillor J. Legendre:
Whereas at the Corporate Services and Economic Development Committee
meeting of 15 January 2008, staff were directed to prepare a report on the
topic of on-street parking for a special meeting of Transportation Committee to
be held on 6 February 2008; and
Whereas this matter concerns items addressed in the 2008 budget; and
Whereas the Notice By-law requires that the City give notice of
meetings where amendments to the budget are to be considered;
Therefore be it resolved that the notice of the meeting of 6 February
2008 published on 1 February 2008 be deemed to satisfy the requirements of the
Notice By-law.
CARRIED
Upon resuming the meeting, the Committee received
the following delegations:
9.
Peggy Ducharme and John
Blathewick, Downtown Rideau BIA (presentation provided).
10.
Jasna Jennings, Executive Director / Directrice
General, ByWard Market BIA / ZAC du marché By.
11.
Mary Jaekl.
12.
Reverend David Crawley, St.
George’s Anglican Church.
13.
Betty Neelin, a member of
Knox Presbyterian Church.
14. Doug Casey, Charlesfort Development.
15.
Charles
Akben-Marchand.
16.
Gerry Lepage, Bank Street
BIA.
17.
Ron Chaplin and Patricia
Bowen, Anglican Church of St. John the Evangelist (presentation provided).
18. Peter Duschenes, Wellington Community Association (presentation provided).
19. Liam McGahern, Glebe Business Group.
20. Cam Robertson, City Centre Coalition.
21. Jay Acton, representing the ByWard Market Standholders Association (BMSA) – (presentation provided).
22. Chris Bradshaw (presentation provided and the excepts from the 730-pp book by Donald Shoup, The High Cost of Free Parking (2005).
23. Ian Stevenson, St. Giles Church (presentation provided).
24. Nancy Jonah, on behalf of the Centretown Churches Social Action Committee (CCSAC) – (presentation provided).
25. Anthony H. A. Keenleyside, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Orpheus Musical Theatre Society.
26. Tracey Clark, Managing Director, Bridgehead, Guigues Avenue, Ottawa.
27. Ken Duff.
28. Dennis Van Staalduinen, Marketing Advisor to the Wellington West BIA Interim Board of Management (presentation provided).
29. Joe Pinto (presentation provided).
30. Michael Jenkin, Old Ottawa South Community Association (presentation provided).
31. Louise Huot, St. George Condominium.
32.
Xing Huang, representing the Chinese Community
Association.
33. Don Stewart, Director, Westboro Beach Community Association (presentation provided).
34. Katherine Leroux, Lorne Star Texas Grill.
35. M. Joan Hammond, Shefford Heritage Housing Co-operative.
36. Arthur McGregor, Old Ottawa South Business Association.
37. Harvey Morin.
38. David Jeanes, Transport 2000.
39. Catherine Gardner.
40. Stephanie Appotive, Howard Fine Jewellers & Dahavland Corporation.
41. Hollander Layte, L’Ange Owner & Chair of SSMMB.
42. Susan Glass.
The Committee received the following correspondence and petitions, which are on file with the City Clerk in advance of the meeting:
1. Procedural memo from the City Clerk and the City Solicitor dated February 1, 2008 with respect to consideration of this issue.
2. Memo from Deputy City Manager, Public Works and Services dated February 4, 2008 in response to the Notice of Motion tabled by Councillor Wilkinson at the Transportation Committee meeting on January 16, 2008
3. Email from Councillor Wilkinson dated February 5, 2008 in response to the aforementioned memo from the Deputy City Manager, Public Works and Services.
4. Email from Deputy City Manager, Public Works and Services dated February 6, 2008 addressed to Mayor and Members of Council, re. City of Ottawa Parking Operations.
5. Email submission from Lise Richard, Development Officer, Ottawa Community Support Coalition (OCSC), dated January 16, 2008, on behalf of Marg Eisner, Chair of OCSC, expressing concerns about the proposed increase in parking fees and extension of fees for evening and weekend parking.
6. Email submission from Trish Pye, Somerset Ward dated January 17, 2008 expressing concerns about the parking meter proposals
7. Email submission from Peter Clennett, Barrhaven Ward, dated January 21, 2008 in opposition to the parking meter proposals
8. Email submission from Tom Furmanczyk, St. Patrick’s Basilica, dated January 22, 2008 expressing concerns about the parking meter proposals
9. Letter from Peter Marwitz, Treasurer, Canadian International Council, National Capital Branch dated January 24, 2008 in opposition to the parking meter proposals
10. Email submission from Stephen W. dated January 26, 2008 in opposition to the parking meter proposals.
11. Email submission from Reina Vipond dated January 28, 2008 in opposition to the parking meter proposals.
12. Telephone Message from Mrs. Siew of Abbey Road on January 28, 2008 expressing her concern about Saturday and Sunday parking charges.
13. Email submission from Pierre Senecal dated January 28, 2008 expressing opposition to the parking meter proposals.
14. Email submission from Leslie Bush dated January 29, 2008 in favour of the parking meter proposals. A second email from Mr. Bush was received on January 30, 2008.
15. Email submission from Ian Stevenson dated January 29, 2008 expressing opposition to the parking meter proposals.
16. Email submission from Nha-Ling Wong dated January 29, 2008 expressing opposition to the proposed parking meter proposals.
17. Email submission from Michel Letellier de St-Just & Gisèle Malette dated January 29, 2008 expressing opposition to the proposed parking meter proposals.
18. Email submission from Armand Fournier dated January 31, 2008 expressing opposition to the parking meter proposals
19. Email submission from Janet Glendenning dated January 31, 2008 expressing opposition to the parking meter proposals
20. Email submission from Peter Barnes dated January 31, 2008 expressing opposition to the parking meter proposals.
21. Email submission from Kassandra McMicking dated January 31, 2008 expressing opposition to metered parking on Wellington Street.
22. Email submission from Adrienne Duff dated January 31, 2008 expressing opposition to the parking meter proposals
23. Email submission from Ken Nicholls dated January 31, 2008 expressing opposition to the parking meter proposals.
24. Email submission from Deborah Sneddon dated January 31, 2008 providing comments on the parking meter proposals
25. Email submission from Raymond and Florence Poulin dated January 31, 2008 expressing opposition to the parking meter proposals
26. Email submission from Andrea Blaylock dated January 31, 2008 expressing opposition to the parking meter proposals
27. Email submission from James Roscoe dated January 31, 2008 providing comments on the parking meter proposals.
28. Email submission from Karen McDermaid dated January 13, 2008 expressing opposition to the parking meter proposals.
29. Email submission from Mike Patullo dated January 31, 2008 expressing opposition to the parking meter proposals.
30. Email submission from Brian Roberts dated January 31, 2008 expressing opposition to the parking meter proposals.
31. Email submission from Don Brousseau dated January 17, 2008 offering an income generating idea in lieu of the parking meter proposals.
32. Email submission from Andrew Ferguson dated January 31, 2008 offering an alternate parking revenue suggestion to the approved parking meter proposals.
33. Email submission from Barbara Townsend-Batten dated January 31, 2008 expressing opposition to the parking meter proposals.
34. Email submission from Bruce Wozny dated January 31, 2008 expressing opposition to the parking meter proposals.
35. Email submission from Gwen Lévesque dated January 31, 2008 expressing opposition to the parking meter proposals.
36. Email submission from Hugh Reekie dated January 31, 2008 expressing opposition to the parking meter proposals.
37. Email submission from Jennifer Zelmer dated January 31, 2008 expressing opposition to the parking meter proposals.
38. Email submission from Jerene Sutherland dated January 31, 2008 expressing opposition to the parking meter proposals.
39. Email submission from Nancy Zukewich dated January 31, 2008 expressing opposition to the parking meter proposals.
40. Email submission from Richard Brousseau dated January 31, 2008 expressing opposition to the parking meter proposals.
41. Email submission from Barbara and Bill Cowtan dated January 31, 2008 expressing opposition to the parking meter proposals.
42. Email submission from Jennifer Francis dated January 31, 2008 expressing opposition to the parking meter proposals.
43. Email submission from Steve Adams dated January 31, 2008 expressing opposition to the parking meter proposals
44. Email submission from Andrew Douglas dated January 31, 2008 in favour of the parking meter proposals.
45. Email submission from David Fraser dated February 1, 2008 expressing opposition to the parking meter proposals
46. Email submission from John Butcher dated January 31, 2008 expressing opposition to the installation of parking meters on Wellington Street.
47. Email submission from Laura Lunn dated January 31, 2008 expressing opposition to the parking meter proposals
48. Email submission from Bill Olders dated January 31, 2008 expressing opposition to the parking meter proposals
49. Email from Hilary Casey dated February 1, 2008 expressing opposition the increased hours being proposed for metered parking
50. Email submission from Kim Furlong on behalf of Diane J. Brisebois, President and CEO, Retail Council of Canada dated January 16, 2008 expressing opposition to the parking meter proposals
51. Email from Meredith Thatcher dated February 1, 2008 expressing opposition to the parking meter proposals.
52. Email submission from Margaret Tyson dated February 1, 2008 expressing opposition to the parking meter proposals and offering alternate suggestions.
53. Email submission from Kerry Wilson dated February 1, 2008 expressing opposition to the parking meter proposals
54. Email submission from Meena Rajulu dated February 1, 2008 expressing opposition to the parking meter proposals
55. Email submission from Roslyn Frankl dated February 1, 2008 expressing opposition to the parking meter proposals
56. Email submission from Michael Corber dated February 1, 2008 expressing opposition to the parking meter proposals
57. Email submission from Mirella and Peter Agostini dated February 1, 2008 expressing opposition to the parking meter proposals
58. Email submission from Ann Ranson dated February 3, 2008 expressing opposition to the parking meter proposals
59. Email submission from Blaine Marchand dated February 2, 2008 expressing opposition to the parking meter proposals
60. Email submission from Bud Smith dated February 1, 2008 providing comments on the parking meter proposals.
61. Email submission from Teena Hendelman dated February 3, 2008 expressing opposition to the parking meter proposals
62. Email submission from Fraser Liscumb dated February 2, 2008 providing comments on the parking meter proposals.
63. Email submission from Luke Pelot dated February 3, 2008 expressing opposition to the parking meter proposals
64. Email submission from Kimberly Saunders dated February 1, 2008 expressing opposition to the implementation of parking meters on Wellington Street West.
65. Email submission from Pat Rowan dated February 2, 2008 expressing opposition to the parking meter proposals
66. Email submission from Peter McNichol dated February 2, 2008 expressing opposition to the parking meter proposals
67. Email submission from Rose and Randy David dated February 3, 2008 expressing opposition to the parking meter proposals
68. Email submission from Ralph Wiesbrock dated February 3, 2008 expressing opposition to the parking meter proposals
69. Email submission from Donald S. Sharp dated February 4, 2008 expressing opposition to the parking meter proposals
70. Email submission from Cheryl Parrott dated February 4, 2008 expressing opposition to the parking meter proposals
71. Email submission from Jay Acton, representing the ByWard Market Standholders Association (BMSA).
72. Email submission from George Clarke dated February 4, 2008 expressing opposition to the parking meter proposals
73. Email submission from Allan Shields dated February 3, 2008 expressing opposition to the parking meter proposals
74. Email submission from Patti Davis dated February 4, 2008 expressing opposition to the implementation of parking meters on Wellington Street West
75. Email submission from Montha McGinnis, Siam Bistro dated February 4, 2008 offering suggestions with respect to parking on Wellington Street.
76. Email submission from John Clark dated February 4, 2008 expressing opposition to the parking meter proposals
77. Email submission from Amy Keuhl dated February 1, 2008 expressing opposition to the parking meter proposals
78. Email submission from Jan & Bruce Dunn dated February 4, 2008 expressing opposition to the parking meter proposals
79. Email submission from Andre Schad dated February 4, 2008 expressing opposition to the parking meter proposals
80. Email submission from Brittney Anne Bos dated February 4, 2008 expressing opposition to the parking meter proposals
81. Email submission from Lorne Cutler and Judith Shane dated February 5, 2008 expressing opposition to the parking meter proposals
82. Email submission from John Sankey dated February 5, 2008 expressing opposition to the parking meter proposals
83. Email submission from Joe Pinto dated February 4, 2008 expressing opposition to the parking meter proposals
84. Email submission from John de Carle dated February 5, 2008 providing comments on the parking meter proposals.
85. Email submission from Erick Sodhi dated February 5, 2008 expressing opposition to the parking meter proposals
86. Email submission from Robert Brocklebank, President, Glebe Community Association dated February 5, 2008 expressing opposition to the parking meter proposals
87. Email submission from Mary Taylor dated February 5, 2008 expressing opposition to the parking meter proposals
88. Email submission from Jim Elder dated February 5, 2008 expressing opposition to the parking meter proposals
89. Email submission from Ann McCormack dated February 5, 2008 expressing opposition to the parking meter proposals
90. Email submission from Dennis Van Staaldunen, Wellington West BIA, dated February 5, 2008 expressing opposition to the parking meter proposals
91. Email submission from Don Stewart, Westboro Beach Community Association dated February 5, 2008 expressing opposition to the parking meter proposals
92. Electronic copies of a petition signed by 57 individuals in opposition to the proposed parking meter rate increases (received from the office of Councillor Holmes)
93. Package (hard copy) containing several petitions in opposition to parking meter proposals, signed by numerous residents and business owners (received from the office of Councillor Holmes)
The following is a list of correspondence received by the Committee Coordinator subsequent to the meeting and are on file with the City Clerk:
1. Email submission from Gary Sealy dated February 6, 2008 offering an alternate suggestion to the parking meter proposals.
2. Email submission from Christine Newman dated February 6, 2008 in opposition to the parking meter proposals.
3. Email submission from Andrew Hart dated February 6, 2008 in opposition to the parking meter proposals.
4. Email submission from Magda Allen (who had registered to speak but was then unable to attend) dated February 6, 2008 in opposition to the parking meter proposals.
5. Email submission from Rev. Dr. Andrew Johnston, Minister, on behalf of the Kirk Session, St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, dated February 5, 2008 in opposition to the parking meter proposals.
6. Email submission from Edward Vick dated February 6, 2008 in opposition to the parking meter proposals.
7. Email submission from Don McMaster dated February 6, 2008 in opposition to the parking meter proposals.
8. Email submission from David Blaine, President, Centretown Citizens’ Community Association (who had registered to speak but was then unable to attend) dated February 6, 2008 in opposition to the parking meter proposals.
9. Email submission from Scott Manning dated February 6, 2008 in opposition to the parking meter proposals.
10. Email submission from Dorothy Price dated February 6, 2008 in opposition to the parking meter proposals.
11. Email submission from Blake McIntyre dated February 6, 2008 in opposition to the parking meter proposals.
12. Emailed regrets from Lise Richard, Development Officer, Ottawa Community Support Coalition (OCSC), who had registered to speak but was then unable to attend.
13. Email submission from Roland Dorsay dated February 6, 2008 in opposition to the parking meter proposals.
14. Email submission from Suzanne and Elfriede Juneau dated February 6, 2008 in opposition to the parking meter proposals.
15. Email submission from David Gladstone, Founder, Friends of the O-Train, dated February 5, 2008 offering suggestions on alternate means of revenue generation.
16. Email submission from Beverley Ann Chartrand dated February 5, 2008 in opposition to the parking meter proposals.
17. Email from Suzanne Valiquet dated February 5, 2008 containing a link to an online petition in opposition to the parking meter proposals.
18. Email submission from Greta & Gareth Jones dated February 5, 2008 in opposition to the parking meter proposals.
19. Email submission from Alayne McGregor dated February 5, 2008 in opposition to the parking meter proposals.
20. Email submission from Chris Bradshaw attaching both his brief (which includes more content than he was able to mention in my 5 minutes) and the excerpts from the 730-pp book by Donald Shoup, The High Cost of Free Parking (2005).
21. Email submission from Jim Cochrane received 12 February 2008.
Prior to entertaining questions from Committee Members, Chair McRae acknowledged the presence of the following staff members:
In response to questions from Committee Members, Staff provided the following clarifications:
a) the value of a lot is determined on an income approach; so revenue from parking is assessed with the lot and taxes are paid on that assessment
b) parking lots of large shopping malls, which are put in by the landlord to provide the capacity for the stores in that mall, are reflected in the rent paid by each store/tenant, who in turn increase the cost of services and products to the customer to recuperate that amount; so taxes on that lot are paid, based on an income approach.
c) within the commercial category, there is another tax category called ‘vacant lands and parking lots’, which is what you see in the downtown core. If a piece of property has no parking lot on it, it would be declared a vacant land, and if parking is added on it on a temporary basis in order to generate revenue before redeveloping it, taxes would have to be paid on that parking but less than with a shopping mall parking lot. It would be the lowest category or lowest tax ratio within the commercial class itself.
Chair McRae then asked members to table all motions at this time for discussion.
Councillor Wilkinson introduced the following motion:
Be It Resolved that Transportation
Committee recommend that City Council waive the Rules of Procedure to
revisit the 2008 approved Budget for rates, hours and areas for on-street
parking and approve the
following:
·
That
the 2008 rates and hours for on-street parking be adjusted so that:
§
There
is no charge for Sunday parking in commercial areas of the City;
§
Hours
are reduced for on-street parking to 7:00 p.m. Monday to Saturday; and
§
The
rate for on-street parking increase to $3.25/hour beginning October 1, 2008;
and
·
That
staff be directed to bring forward options to address any revenue shortfall in
2008 that results from these changes in time for the February 13th, 2008 City
Council meeting; and
·
That
staff be directed to bring forward options to address any revenue shortfall
projections in 2009 and 2010 that results from these changes as part of the
2009 Budget process.
Councillor Legendre introduced and clarified the following motion:
That items 1, 2 and 5
in the staff presentation (weekday evenings, weekends, and new areas) be
rescinded.
The Chair then introduced Councillor Doucet’s motion:
Be It Resolved that Transportation Committee recommends that City
Council direct staff to develop a new city-wide, comprehensive, consolidated
parking policy in conjunction with the principles articulated in the Parking
Management Strategy and the Transportation Master Plan; and that the policy
include a review of the financial costs to the City of storing cars on city
streets versus storing cars on private lots; and
Be It further Resolved that the terms of reference for this
study/review be brought to Transportation Committee for its review and approval
prior to being undertaken.
Councillor Bédard proposed the following as a friendly amendment to Councillor Doucet’s motion, which he accepted:
Insert the words ‘parking needs in Zoning By-law’ immediately after the
words ‘…and that the policy include’.
Councillor Leadman introduced the following motion:
Whereas the parking implementation measures
were passed with an incomplete financial information;
And whereas there has been resounding support
against the parking options from all of Ottawa including the businesses,
religious and community organizations and the public at large;
And whereas stated parking revenues for 2007
were not achieved resulting in $365,000 being added as a budgetary pressure on
the 2008 budget calling into question the methodology used to calculate revenue
projections;
And whereas collection costs according to the
latest public OMBI audited data (2005) states the full costs associated with
each parking spot at 63.94 cents for each dollar collected. In 2006 the figure
dropped to 42 cents. The latest fully inclusive City figures state 38 cents.
This is a significant discrepancy from current staff figure of 24 cents for
each dollar collected used to calculate net revenue;
And whereas the capital costs for the parking
meters significantly reduce the cost/benefit of implementing the measures. The
capital costs total $6.5M and could utilize $2,956,316 from the current
cash-in-lieu reserve fund.
And whereas taking into account the financial
fluctuation in revenues, program costs and large initial capital costs
cancellation of the options does not create a revenue pressure for the 2008
budgetary year allowing a comprehensive pro
Therefore be it resolved that all Traffic
& Parking Operations Reduction Options presented in the 2008 City of Ottawa
budget be removed.
Be it further resolved that City staff
re-examine current financial figures related to produce an accurate account of
projected revenues and costs to provide a true figure of the impact of
cancelling the measures. The current cancellation
estimates do not account for the capital costs, the full cost of running
and maintaining the program and variable revenues.
Be it further resolved that the readjusted
impact of cancelling the parking measures be:
a.
Dealt
with in the 2009 budget deliberations by ways of a service level change. This
has been done consistently across the corporation with the Information
Management Group efficiency target, corporate wide efficiency target, and
current unrealized revenue from the parking branch.
b.
Or assigned
as a new efficiency target achieved by a new BRP departmental review of the
parking branch. If the full savings are
not realized it will be placed as budgetary pressure in 2009.
c.
Or
assigned as a corporate wide additional efficiency target;
d. Or the 2008 budget be reopened to find other
necessary savings;
e. Or added to the approved 2008 tax increase;
Be it further resolved that a study be
undertaken as to the advisability of a City of Ottawa Parking Authority that
may be governed equally by affected businesses, community and City
officials & staff.
Although Councillor Leadman had intended to move another motion with respect to metered parking in the Hintonburg community, she felt there was no need, as it would be dealt with via Councillor Legendre’s motion.
In response to questions from Committee
members on the aforementioned motions, staff provided the following
clarifications:
· Slide 6 of the staff presentation, which refers to the strategic objective of the TMP to limit the supply of long-term parking to levels that balance the needs of automobile users with the City’s transit ridership objectives talks about trying to make short-term parking spaces more available so individuals driving by would see available on-street parking.
· Staff believes that the metered parking proposals will help achieve the objective of the TMP to support the vital interests of local businesses by allowing for more turnover.
· The Pay & Display system would not change the amount of time allowed for on-street parking. In most areas the one-hour restriction, which is probably most commonly seen where there are meters, extends only to 7:00 p.m. Both the current meters and future Pay & Display machines would be able to accommodate the change in regulation that would occur at 7:00 p.m., meaning it would be possible for a person parking at 6:00 p.m. to only pay the meter that one time if s/he put in enough money to cover the parking until up to 9:00 p.m. A simple programming change to the meters would be the only thing required to accommodate this.
·
Current regulations are that at 6 p.m. there is a
one-hour parking restriction that would end at 7 p.m. After that, there is a three-hour limit for free.
· Staff see no problem with providing the Capital Operating Maintenance Cost to the City with respect to the cars on city streets versus storing cars on private lots, as requested in Councillor Doucet’s motion. The terms of reference for that study will be brought back to the Committee so there would be an opportunity for clarifications at that point.
· The decision to increase the meter rates from $2.50 to $3 an hour in all areas across the City was a motion from Council, not staff.
· There are variable rates off-street parking rates in garages across the City. Currently the on street parking is $2.50 an hour for all meters in all areas.
· Historically, meter rate increases were put forward and approved by Council, but staff thought at this point it should be just the core to go to $3, thus introducing a variable rate.
· Some cities have variable rates by location but not by time of day.
At this point, Councillor Legendre proposed a friendly amendment to Councillor Doucet’s motion that would see staff examine geographically variable rates. Councillor Doucet accepted that as a friendly amendment.
In response to further questions from Committee, staff provided the following clarifications:
· The purpose of the increased meter rates is partly to deal with inflation. On street parking in any city is considered to be the premier parking that exists for use; and off street parking becomes secondary. So increasing on street rates to allow the reflection of that status of the on street parking for high turnover, to limit the utilization in terms of length of time, that type of thing, and to allow flexibility for increase to off street rates, which should be no more than, and probably less than the on street rates, the move towards a higher on street rate facilitates that type of issue. Increasing the rate also allows for potentially increased revenue as has been approved by Council at this point.
· When the terms of reference for the study are brought back to Committee, staff will also include the timing of the elements.
· The cost to remove all of the various options that have been put in place is $4.2 Million even if the West Wellington area were removed. It was an oversight on staff’s part in terms of the description of the area intended. Staff used the term Hintonburg in the Budget, which is the approved area at this point, recognizing that West Wellington is not part of that.
· With respect to figures used in terms of servicing the meters, staff noted they had provided that information to Committee Members prior to the meeting and also offered to meet with the concerned councillors to discuss the various aspects.
· The Comprehensive Parking By-law 2003-530, Parking Meter Zones Schedule 8 is essentially a document that contains three columns that allows staff to list all the meters that are currently in place and that are being utilized by Enforcement as signs are erected.
At the request of the Chair, the City Solicitor
reminded Committee that, under Section 56 of the Procedure By-law, the
general rule is that amendments are voted on in the reverse order in which they
are moved. However, he noted that the
Chair has the authority under the Procedure By-law to set the motions
out in the order that she would deem to be the most logical, practical and most
expeditious in all of the circumstances.
He also pointed out for the Committee’s attention the fact that an
amendment that is a substantial substitution for a motion shall be considered
only after the original motion, and only if that motion is lost. Having said that, he established for the
Chair’s consideration the order in which the proposed motions should be dealt
with.
The Committee then proceeded, as suggested by
the City Solicitor, in considering the following motions:
Moved by Councillor J. Legendre:
That Item 1 - Rate Change –
Increase on-street parking rates city wide to $3.00/hour from current
$2.50/hour - be rescinded.
LOST
YEAS (4): Councillors
G. Bédard, J. Legendre, C. Doucet, C. Leadman
NAYS (6): Councillors
R. Bloess, M. Wilkinson, A. Cullen, D. Thompson, Mayor O’Brien,
M. McRae
Moved by Councillor J. Legendre:
That Item 2 - Weekday evenings
– Charge for on-street parking into the evenings (until 9:00pm) from Monday to
Friday in commercial areas only - be rescinded.
LOST
YEAS (4): Councillors
G. Bédard, J. Legendre, C. Doucet, C. Leadman
NAYS (6): Councillors
R. Bloess, M. Wilkinson, A. Cullen, D. Thompson, Mayor O’Brien,
M. McRae
Moved by Councillor J. Legendre:
That Item 5 - New Areas –
Introduce on-street paid parking on Wellington Street, Beechwood Avenue, and
Bank Street (Old Ottawa South) - be rescinded.
LOST
YEAS (4): Councillors
G. Bédard, J. Legendre, C. Doucet, C. Leadman
NAYS (6): Councillors
R. Bloess, M. Wilkinson, A. Cullen, D. Thompson, Mayor O’Brien,
M. McRae
Moved by Councillor M. Wilkinson:
Therefore Be It Resolved that Transportation
Committee recommend that City Council:
·
waive the Rules of Procedure to revisit the
2008 approved Budget for rates, hours and areas for on-street parking and;
·
approve
the following:
Be It Resolved that the 2008 rates and hours
for on-street parking be adjusted so that:
·
There
is no charge for Sunday parking in commercial areas of the City;
·
Hours are reduced for on-street parking to
7:00 p.m. Monday to Saturday; and
·
The rate for on-street parking increase to
$3.25/hour beginning October 1, 2008; and
Be It Further Resolved that staff be directed
to bring forward options to address any revenue shortfall in 2008 that results
from these changes in time for the February 13th, 2008 City Council meeting; and
Be It Further Resolved that staff be
directed to bring forward options to address any revenue shortfall projections
in 2009 and 2010 that results from these changes as part of the 2009 Budget
process.
CARRIED
(Unanimously)
The following motion put forward by Councillor Leadman was deemed redundant following the approval of the aforementioned motion:
WHEREAS the parking implementation measures were passed with an
incomplete financial information;
AND WHEREAS there has been resounding support against the parking options from all of Ottawa including the businesses, religious and community organizations and the public at large;
AND WHEREAS stated parking revenues for 2007 were not achieved
resulting in $365,000 being added as a budgetary pressure on the 2008 budget
calling into question the methodology used to calculate revenue projections;
AND WHEREAS collection costs according to the latest public OMBI
audited data (2005) states the full costs associated with each parking spot at
63.94 cents for each dollar collected.
In 2006 the figure dropped to 42 cents.
The latest fully inclusive City figures state 38 cents. This is a significant discrepancy from
current staff figure of 24 cents for each dollar collected used to calculate
net revenue;
AND WHEREAS the capital costs for the parking meters significantly
reduce the cost/benefit of implementing the measures. The capital costs total
$6.5M and could utilize $2,956,316 from the current cash-in-lieu reserve fund.
AND WHEREAS taking into account the financial fluctuation in revenues,
program costs and large initial capital costs cancellation of the options does
not create a revenue pressure for the 2008 budgetary year allowing a
comprehensive pro
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT all Traffic & Parking Operations
Reduction Options presented in the 2008 City of Ottawa budget be removed.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT City staff re-examine current financial
figures related to produce an accurate account of projected revenues and costs
to provide a true figure of the impact of cancelling the measures. The current cancellation estimates do not
account for the capital costs, the full cost of running and maintaining the
program and variable revenues.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the readjusted impact of cancelling the parking measures be:
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT a study be undertaken as to the
advisability of a City of Ottawa Parking Authority that may be governed equally
by affected businesses, community and City officials & staff.
Moved by Councillor C. Doucet:
Be It Resolved that Transportation Committee recommends that City Council direct staff to develop a new city-wide, comprehensive, consolidated parking policy in conjunction with the principles articulated in the Parking Management Strategy and the Transportation Master Plan; and that the policy include parking needs in the zoning by-law, a review of the financial costs to the City of storing cars on city streets versus storing cars on private lots; and
That the study examine
on-street parking rates:
·
That vary according to geography
·
That vary according to time (time of day, day of
the week) and
That the terms of reference
for this study/review be brought to Transportation Committee for its review and
approval prior to being undertaken.
CARRIED (Unanimously)
The Committee received the staff report dated
30 January 2008 for its information.
The Chair confirmed that this matter would be considered by City Council
on Wednesday, 13 February 2008.
That
Transportation Committee receive this report for information.
RECEIVED