PD City Hall (Paul Dechene)

I think you mean in-car-rigible!

Tune in Thursday at 7pm on 91.3FM CJTR AccessNow community radio. #yqrcc

And, btw… this Thursday on the Queen City Improvement Bureau, we have local author Suzy Krause (@suzykrause.bsky.social) as our guest. She'll be talking about her award winning novel "I Think We've Been Here Before".
Plus, we'll probably chat about parking meters too. #yqrcc

I'm actually going to shut down today's live tweeting. I'll listen to what's left of the meeting later today & post an update if anything crazy happens.
Thanks for following everybody. #yqrcc

Parking bylaw amendments pass unanimously.
Council is going on lunch break. Back at 1:15. #yqrcc

Mayor: In future, we'd have to invest millions to replace these meters so removing them saves that. #yqrcc

mayor: We had tough decisions to make. It was a tough budget. We spent many hours. I don't think everyone was 100% happy w/ every decision but that's the result of such a long process. #yqrcc

Zachidniak notes that in Zone B, parking meter fees will actually be going down. #yqrcc

Turnbull: I didn't love all the budget decisions. But we sat there. For a week. And made those decisions. #yqrcc

Turnbull: If we reopen the budget, wouldn't it cost money and be inefficient?
CFO: Yes. There would be a significant cost associated w/ reopening the budget at this time. #yqrcc

Turnbull asks if the budget is reopened and savings are reversed, what happens to the mill rate.
CFO: The work we're doing right now on tax notices would have to stop. We'd have to discuss how we can even spend money. It would have massive implications. #yqrcc

Turnbull asks if there is a reconsideration motion if it is opening up the whole budget.
The city solicitor says that yes, the entire budget would be back up for debate. #yqrcc

Turnbull: I don't think anyone here was happy w/ every decision in the budget. If we don't pass this, we will be taking from reserves. #yqrcc

Zachidniak: I think what is being considered today is an improvement over what was passed during the budget. I'm not sure how I'll vote but this is better. #yqrcc

This is that new budget process that council was trumpeting — which turned into an exercise in panicked service cuts. Don't complain about "the process" taking away community engagement as if you had no agency. This was YOUR process. #yqrcc

This is how we got here.

Removing downtown parking meters was proposed in Appendix M-13 to the city budget.

It was the FIRST cost saving measure in the Mayor's opening amendment. #yqrcc

Radons says lesson learned is that there was no consultation w/ community & going forward need to be more considerate in decision making.

[The hell? This was a budget decision. Remember when you all were going through Appendix M13 grasping at anything to bring down the millrate??] #yqrcc

Admin notes that if decision to remove parking meters hadn't been passed at budget time, they would have been bringing this forward in a few years anyway. this is becoming standard for cities. #yqrcc

Here's a map of where Zone A & Zone B parking will be. #yqrcc

And now, debate on the main motion (the traffic bylaw changes) as amended. Mayor notes that any change to this will change the budget & the only place this will be made up is by drawing money from reserves. #yqrcc

Mayor: Admin has heard things to think about moving forward. My stance are we in better spot? Perfection is the enemy of progress. This is progress.
Vote on the mayor's amendment: Unanimous. #yqrcc

Burton: I have parked south of Victoria and walked — yes, even me — to a destination. I don't understand the concern of having two zones. But, I am not open to going back on raising fees. This seems like a good plan. #yqrcc

Burton: I'd like admin to describe the proposed zone B so people will know where it is.
Admin: South of Victoria, east of Broad St where there are meters would also be part of Zone b. #yqrcc

Turnbull notes that businesses could buy vouchers and give them out to customers. This might be an opportunity. Maybe could add bulk price for businesses in future. #yqrcc

"IF we they are smaller vehicles" #yqrcc

Rashovich: Would we have more spots if we have no parking meters?
Admin: That is part of the bylaw change. There is no rule about how close to park to a meter. Just have a parking zone. Would create more parking if they are smaller vehicles. #yqrcc

Rashovich: I guess question is do we do it in 5 years, 10 years? 15 years? And how long keep this cash option? I guess that's something for us all to think about. #yqrcc

Rashovich: ARe other Cnadian cities going digital w/ apps [for parking]?
Admin: I'd say this is best practice. Cities are moving this way. Edmonton & Winnipeg, of cities closest to us, have gone to electronic payment only. #yqrcc

Council in December: WE MUST BRING DOWN THE MILL RATE! CUT! CUT! CUT!

Council in March: MY PHONE'S RINGING OFF THE HOOK! WHO MADE THIS INSANE CUT?! RETREAT! RETREAT! #yqrcc

Gosh, I hope council realizes that what's going on here is they're getting a lesson on how making budget changes on the fly usually ends badly. #yqrcc