Owen Sound Council isn’t looking to change the downtown parking system.
Council voted against the Parking Review Committee’s recommendation to eliminate free parking on 2nd Avenue East between 8th and 10th street.
The committee made 20 recommendations to make parking more consistent and user friendly.
Council only voted in favour of free parking on Saturdays.
Councillor David Adair, a member of the committee, says they originally looked at eliminating free parking on Saturday’s.
But he says that idea angered too many people — including downtown business owners.
A rate increase for on-street parking will be phased in over the next few years.
Hourly on-street parking fees will increase from 75 cents to one dollar, with the exception of 1st Avenue West and 2nd Avenue East.
Council also carried a motion to phase in off-street parking fees over a 3 year period.
Off-street parking will gradually increase from 25 cents an hour to a maximum of 75 cents.
Adair adds current parking rates have not changed since 2001.
Monthly parking spaces will be removed from the city hall parking lot, and the lot behind Scotia bank.
Adair says the extra space will be used for hourly parking.
City Staff will come back to council with an implementation strategy for some of the recommendations.
