By Ritu Lamba
Winter is around the corner and for Centretown residents parking on downtown streets, that not only means snow, but a new burden on their pocketbooks.
That’s because as of Dec. 1, the price of an on-street parking permit in the city’s downtown for the months of December to March has more than doubled, from $45 per month last year to $100 per month this year.
The permit allows Centretown residents without a driveway or parking garage to park on the street 24 hours a day without getting ticketed.
City council voted in favour of the hike.
The extra revenue will help pay for services like snow removal and controlling street parking.
Some Centretown residents say no matter where the money is going, the new price is too high.
Shawn Lloyd, who lives on Arlington Street, used to buy a permit to park his second car. He says the price hike was the main reason he decided to sell it.
“I understand the cost of snow removal is increasing, but it’s not fair,” he says.
Somerset ward councillor-elect Diane Holmes, who was instrumental in introducing the on-street parking program to Ottawa, says she’s angry about the increase.
“The whole point was to allow people to park on the street without getting parking tickets,” she says.
“They would pay, but it was a normal rate of pay that was not astronomical, that people could afford.”
Holmes adds this increase will do the opposite of what the city wants, which is for people to live downtown and use public transportation.
“We have these nice policies on paper, but they mean nothing . . . It’s all about making money.”
If Erin Mehmet’s views reflect those of other downtown residents, then Holmes may be onto something.
The Arlington Street resident says he’s not planning on using public transportation anymore since parking at his work is free. He is also contemplating leaving Centretown.
Mehmet says the increase isn’t justified since he already pays for services such as snow removal through taxes.
He says a better solution would be raising everyone’s taxes instead of targeting those who live downtown.
“Don’t nickel and dime us.”
Holmes agrees.
“The cost of city services should be shared by everybody since everybody benefits.”
Current Somerset Ward Coun. Elisabeth Arnold voted against the increase. She didn’t see it as a practical solution since downtown residents don’t have reasonable alternatives.
Holmes says she’ll try getting the cost of winter parking reduced around budget time.
She recommends residents call Coun. Arnold’s office, as Holmes won’t take office until Dec. 1, to complain.
In the meantime, other Centretown residents have taken a different course of action.
Sasa Kondric, who lives on McLeod Street, was planning on buying a permit until he found a cheaper place to park.
He is now renting a spot on a neighbour’s driveway for $30 per month.
He is luckier than those who will have to pay the $100. But he’s not as lucky as residents of other Canadian cities.
In Toronto, it costs as little as $9.10 per month up to $26.75 depending on the need.