Now that Thunder Bay has offered free two-hour metered parking during the pandemic, City Council is looking at giving the city’s parkades the same treatment.
Aldo Ruberto put that motion forward on Monday night, saying it would let essential workers in both downtown cores save money.
“It’s just one way of showing our appreciation and our gratitude. If we’re going to do it for the metres, I don’t see why we don’t do it for the parkades,” Ruberto said.
However, Manager of Development and Emergency Services Mark Smith said they need to consider if this is a good idea for the city’s budget.
“What we would lose if we made parking in the parkades free would be more than we currently generate through the parkades. It would have an impact on what we generate through surface lots, because people, knowing that the parkades were free, would move from the surface lots into the parkades,” Smith pointed out. He estimates it would cost the city $25,000 per month to remove fees in both parkades, and suggests security costs could also increase.
Councillor Mark Bentz was against the idea, saying it would mean residents who are out of a job because of COVID-19 still pay for the parkades through their taxes. He argued only those who are getting paid benefit from the free parking.
He also brought up the report showing the pandemic has cost the city an extra $5.2-million so far.
“Earlier in the meeting, we were very concerned about the variance, [and] we want you to save $1.5-million a month,” Bentz said. “But hey, let’s provide free parkade parking for a certain segment of the population. It’s somewhat contradictory. I certainly appreciate everything these workers are doing, but they are working.”
Council voted to ask the Parking Authority Board to give them a report next Monday with its recommendation on the matter.
