Parking meter blowback expected during Regina committee discussion

Regina’s executive committee is set to discuss the bylaw changes needed to implement the changes to on-street parking passed during budget deliberations at its Wednesday meeting.

And it’s at this same meeting that Mayor Chad Bachynski has said he hopes to address concerns that have been raised about the removal of paying for parking with coins.

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As of March 1, paying with cash is no longer an option, and a number of meters around City Hall have been covered with bags that explain alternate methods of payment. The city adopted the PayByPhone app, website, and automated phone payment in 2019.

In a social media video posted on Friday, Bachynski said concerns had been raised by people who had called and emailed his office, about people who may not have a smartphone or credit card.

“So with that, I’m working with administration right now, and I’m looking to bring something next week when this is discussed, to make sure that we have an option for folks that don’t have that option with a phone or a credit card,” he said in the video.

The committee will discuss a report by the Traffic Bylaw Working Group, which is made up of members of the administration and Regina Police Service, which reviewed the changes approved by council during the budget process in December.

The report says the bylaw should be changed to remove references to parking meters, as well as provisions that can be managed through the app such as time limits.

The removal of meters was expected to save $220,000.

Two options presented for parking fee increase

The budget also included an amendment raising hourly parking rates by 50 cents to $2.50. This was expected to increase revenue by $175,000.

The report is offering a second option aimed at optimizing use of on-street parking and helping improve the experience for downtown visitors.

Under this option, two zones would be created. Paid on-street parking located east of Broad Street and south of Victoria Avenue would have a $1.50/hour charge, while the main downtown area would have the $2.50 hourly fare.

It’s hoped that more people would use the paid parking spots outside downtown, bringing in enough revenue to balance out the lower rate.

The other change passed in the budget is to increase parking ticket fines by $10.

Executive Committee is being asked to approve these changes so bylaw amendments can be drafted in time for the March 11 council meeting.

If council passes the bylaw amendments, they would take effect April 1.