It could be a happy holiday for residents who want to shop downtown a week before Christmas, as city hall is working with the chamber of commerce to offer free metered parking.
Rob Clark, CEO of the Moose Jaw and District Chamber of Commerce, appeared before city council on Oct. 25 and asked that council approve his organization’s request to offer free two-hour parking from Dec. 21 to 24. He also asked council to waive a section of the Traffic Bylaw for this to happen and to enforce the maximum two-hour time limit at meters.
Council briefly discussed the issue but voted 4-2 to table the matter until city hall acquired more input from the downtown business association.
Councillors Kim Robinson and Doug Blanc were opposed.
Council has approved similar requests from the chamber in the past but defeated an appeal in 2014, so the chamber never made another application until now, a council report said.
The public works department estimates that it could lose roughly $8,000 in revenue if free parking is offered. Meanwhile, the Commissionaires would be responsible for enforcing the two-hour metered time limit.
A holly, jolly Christmas
“Coming off a very successful Christmas in October (on Oct. 22-23), I followed up with a few businesses in town and, to keep the momentum going, we are requesting a free metered parking from Tuesday, Dec. 21 until Friday, Dec. 24,” Clark said. “(It’s a) goodwill gesture that’s guaranteed to bring glad tidings to retailers and consumers alike.”
The Christmas season is an important time for businesses in the area, so free parking could bring more residents and visitors to shop before Christmas Day, he continued. Offering parking for gratis would also enhance the vitality of the business core in what can be a challenging environment.
The chamber would communicate with downtown businesses about the free parking, while the organization would remind shops that the free parking is for customers and not for employees, Clark said. The chamber would also market and promote the initiative.
Council discussion
This request hasn’t returned to council since 2014 because, in previous years, some businesses were not thrilled with offering free parking since many downtown employees parked at the meters all day, especially when the weather was frigid, said Acting Mayor Dawn Luhning.
“I think the downtown (business) group should be consulted first … ,” she added. “We do have to appreciate some businesses that don’t appreciate how meters can be abused five days before the Christmas holiday.”
Council received negative calls from businesses about this initiative when it operated years ago, said Coun. Heather Eby. It was difficult for customers to shop downtown when businesses’ employees were taking up spaces.
Eby also agreed that having the blessing from the downtown business association — or some businesses in general — for this initiative was important.
Council didn’t charge for downtown parking during the pandemic in mid-2020 since council wanted to alleviate the stress that downtown businesses were facing, said Coun. Crystal Froese. That stress still exists, so this request could encourage more people to shop and help small businesses.
The downtown business association next meets on Tuesday, Nov. 9, so it could be possible to seek input from that group and return with the information for the Nov. 22 council meeting, said city manager Jim Puffalt. It would also be a matter of speaking with the Moose Jaw Police Service about the relaxed parking restrictions.
Council then tabled the matter until feedback from the downtown association was acquired.
The next regular council meeting is Monday, Nov. 8.
