Changes are being made to the policy that governs the parking patio program to add extra opportunities for businesses to participate and address minor housekeeping issues with the initiative.
City council approved a motion last June to allow public parking patios in the downtown area to serve as public spaces after the Moose Jaw and District Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Moose Jaw Association requested the change.
During the Feb. 14 executive committee meeting, council voted unanimously to adopt amendments to the extension of business for sidewalks, boulevard and parking stall policy.
Furthermore, council waived the 2022 rental fee for parking spaces with patios and seasonal boardwalks. It also waived rental fees for parking spaces next year for the winner of this year’s most creative/beautiful parking patio or seasonal boardwalk contest that the downtown association is holding.
The recommendation will be official once council passes it during the next regular meeting.
“This is a great initiative that started last year. I saw a few of them (patios) around and they were very good,” said Coun. Doug Blanc. “I hope we can promote them and attract people to the downtown core.”
The goal of the proposed amendments is to promote and incentivize businesses to participate in the program and create additional opportunities for businesses, Michelle Sanson, director of planning and development, said in her report.
“Administration consulted with the Downtown Moose Jaw Association at their regular January 2022 meeting for feedback and comments regarding the proposed changes,” she stated. “The amendments were well received by the association … .”
Current fees for renting parking stalls with a meter are $7.50 per day for one stall plus $3.40 for each additional stall, or a flat rate of $1,100 plus $500 for each additional stall. However, fees for parking stalls without meters would be reduced by 50 per cent.
The lost revenue from this program will depend upon the number of patios this year, said Sanson. There were two parking patios last year that affected four stalls for $3,200.
Sanson then listed some of the amendments to the policy, including:
- Fees for parking patios and seasonal boardwalks this year be waived to assist applicants with start-up costs and to promote the program
- Fees from the program will make up for the lost revenue from parking meters, the use of public spaces, and administrative reviews and inspections
- Businesses that use parking stalls for patios or boardwalks and do not have meters outside their buildings will receive a 50-per-cent reduction in fees, with some fees to recover lost revenue from parking meters
Public health regulations state that public washrooms are required for businesses that provide seating for customers to sit and eat, so adding this requirement will align the policy with health regulations and clarify for businesses that wish to apply, Sanson continued. However, this won’t be easy to regulate if the public washroom is not associated with a neighbouring business.
Clarity is also being added to distinguish between parking patios and public parking patios, with the former considered places to consume food and drink and the latter considered places to simply sit, Sanson added.
Other changes include:
- Applicants must list the city on their insurance policy for $5 million liability
- Businesses can operate sidewalk sales during the winter; sidewalk patios are the only business extensions eligible for winter
- A beautification program for the most creative or beautiful 2022 summer season parking patio or boardwalk — as decided by the downtown association — would allow city hall to waive the winner’s fees for 2023
The next executive committee meeting is Monday, Feb. 28.
