Paid parking hours reduced, food security program approved at Regina council

Regina City Council covered lots of ground during Wednesday’s meeting.

Councillors voted to move ahead with developing a compensation plan for businesses within 100 metres of the Halifax Street shelter.

The council is also going ahead with changes to paid parking hours, reducing the hours by an hour from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. down to 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

“We’re balancing the cost or the revenue effects with the intended impact, which is to try and help people stay downtown,” said Mayor Chad Bachynski.

City manager Niki Anderon said the goal is to support local businesses, encourage more evening activities and keep Regina’s downtown “alive after five.”

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The change will officially take effect once the city solicitor makes the necessary bylaw amendments for the next council meeting.

The city council also approved a food security initiative with the Heritage Community Association and the Good Trouble Network.

The initiative allows the association to enter a $1-per-month lease agreement with the city to make use of the former No. 1 Firehall for a year to operate its Heritage Food Assistance and Security Transformation Team (FASTT) program.

Tiro Mthembu said Good Trouble — a grassroots organization formed in 2023 — is not trying to compete with the Regina Food Bank but is instead trying to address gaps in the food bank’s services. Mthembu said the FASTT program prepares ready-to-eat meals for those who might not have a kitchen or the means of building their own meals.

“To sustain this vital work, we require a stable and dedicated space,” Mthembu said.

Mthembu said the program makes nourishable meals for more than 1,000 people a week. This includes students at Thomson Community School, for the Regina Street Team and for people in the core of the city on Sundays.

“We don’t need another report or statistic to tell us people are hungry. We need action,” said Good Trouble’s Kate McLellan.

“The Heritage FASTT program is ready. The community is ready and we are asking ‘please help us move this forward.’”

The pilot program was originally intended to run for six months, but it was amended to run from April 21 until April 20, 2026.

Accessible taxicab bylaws

Additionally, council approved changes to the city’s taxi bylaws in a move intended to improve services for users of accessible taxicabs.

The changes were approved 9-2, with only George Tsiklis (Ward 2) and Dan Rashovich (Ward 1) opposed.

The amendment requires all taxi brokers to have at least one accessible taxi license associated with their brokerage and one accessible cab in service at all times.

The change also requires accessible cab drivers to undergo mandatory training prescribed by the city’s license inspector.

Dylan Morin spoke in favour of the changes, saying they would improve safety.

“I think it is good because with the accessibility training, it would give individuals that are taking the service more peace of mind,” Morin said.

“I know the taxi industry may not like it, but I think if an individual that experienced disability is hopping in their taxi, they want to be comfortable.”

Scarth Street

The council is also moving ahead with recognizing the public’s wishes in keeping the F.W. Hill Mall (also known as Scarth Street Mall) open to pedestrians only.

A 2023 survey showed that 90 per cent of respondents supported pedestrian-only access to Scarth Street.

This decision passed 10-1, with only Ward 9’s Jason Mancinelli voting against it.

“We heard loud and clear that residents want Scarth Street to be pedestrian only,” Bachynski said.

However, the mayor said there would be consideration for lay-bys, specific accessibility, parking and access for food delivery, which was requested by some businesses on the street and by Leasa Gibbons of the Regina Downtown Business Improvement District.

New bus pass

The council approved the creation of a new bus pass for post-secondary students starting August 24, 2025.

The new bus pass will cost $260 for four months. A city report said the new pass would save students $52 with no extra charge to the city.

In the same recommendation, the council also amended the transit fare bylaw to make the single-ride fee of $2.90 equal for adults, seniors and youths. Previously, youths were only charged $2.45.

Under the new bylaw, the monthly cap for adults, youths and seniors will be $88, meaning any ride after is free thanks to the Umo system that was introduced last summer.

The changes will take effect on May 1, 2025.

Business compensation for emergency shelter

The council decided to direct the city administration to continue their consultations with stakeholders near the planned permanent emergency shelter on Halifax Street.

In the meantime, the administration is also tasked with developing a compensation program for businesses within 100 metres of the upcoming shelter, which is the building of the old Eagles Club.

Nearby business owners have expressed concern about safety, litter and potential financial damages.

The city will examine different options for what a compensation program would look like and also try to establish eligibility criteria.

The Halifax Shelter is scheduled to be up and running in July when the city’s lease with the temporary shelter at the Nest Health Centre expires.