City of Lethbridge parking meter on 6 St. South, Lethbridge on February 8, 2023. (Photo: LNN)

By Sarah Jones

‘Another nail in the coffin’: Parking fine increase to go before City of Lethbridge committee

Feb 9, 2023 | 11:50 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Over the past month, Lethbridge City Council has been discussing a possible increase in parking fines from $25 to $50, while maintaining the $15 reduction if payment is received within seven days.

City officials met on February 7, 2023, to give a second and third reading of Bylaw 6393, that would make amendments to parking fines in Lethbridge. Due to public backlash, council decided to push it through to the next Economic Standing Policy Committee (SPC) on February 15.

After council had conducted the first reading of the proposed amendments on January 24, residents and businesses voiced opposition to the potential increase in fines.

Council received several letters and emails from the public who believe the jump in fines would have a negative impact on people accessing businesses downtown.

Levi Cox, owner of Catwalk Salon and Spa in downtown Lethbridge, vocalized his disapproval of the proposed amendments.

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Levi Cox, Owner of Catwalk Salon and Spa on February 8, 2023. (Photo: LNN)

“The fundamental problem with this is you have to go two hours, let it expire, and then you can go for another two hours. From the time that it expires to having to re-plug it, [that] leaves you vulnerable to these parking tickets. $10 is bad enough, $35 is unreasonable. If you’re doing a service and it’s time to plug that meter, you can’t just leave your pedicure or haircut, now you got a ticket just for working downtown,” Cox explained.

He also pointed out that the parking meters in downtown Lethbridge do not accept debit card payments, and only take coins or VISA. Cox noted that not everyone has the privilege of having a credit card.

A staff member at Catwalk also mentioned that once, while in a service, she attempted to pay for her parking via the city’s mobile app, which she said glitched. Before being able to head outside to pay and extend the time for her parking spot, she was issued a ticket.

City of Lethbridge parking meters only accepts VISA payments or coins. (Photo: LNN on February 8, 2023)

Cox said, “We want you to come and get your hair done, head over to The Owl play some trivia, go to Tacos Made in Mexico, head to Classique Dancewear to get your tights, Doug’s Sports, you know, there’s so many great locally-owned specialty businesses downtown, and it’s important that we have these open, we want you to come enjoy them and not worry about parking.”

According to a PowerPoint presented to City Council, raising the fees would encourage compliance and increase parking revenue as the lower fines are not a meaningful enough deterrent.

Compared to other similarly-sized municipalities, the City of Lethbridge says it charges the lowest among comparable municipalities for parking fines.

A look at the full Review of Parking Fines Presentation can be found on the consent agenda in the January 24 City Council meeting.

A screengrab from the City of Lethbridge’s powerpoint on Parking Fine Increases published on December 29, 2022. (Photo: City of Lethbridge)

Cox noted that Lethbridge has one of the shortest periods for people to pay their fines before they increase, and noted that cities like Vancouver and Toronto allow residents 30 days before seeing a jump in price.

Bylaw 6393 was also deemed by the City to be strategically aligned to the Municipal Development Plan Policy 30: to PROMOTE Lethbridge as a vibrant cultural hub.

The Downtown Business Revitalization Zone (BRZ) indicated that the reaction amongst the 500-plus businesses downtown has overwhelmingly been one of dismay and frustration.

Lethbridge BRZ Executive Director, Sarah Amies, explained, “The Downtown feels somewhat beleaguered. The downtown businesses have put up with a lot in the last couple of years. I mean COVID, nobody can control that, but there are also the issues of our social issues in the downtown that we work with and around a lot; and this just seems to be another nail in the coffin.”

The Downtown Lethbridge Business Revitalization Zone (BRZ). (Photo: LNN on February 8, 2023)

Amies went on to say that, despite the belief from city officials that higher parking fines will promote the downtown core as a vibrant cultural hub, it will have the exact opposite effect.

“I’ve had many many calls, many conversations with downtown business members and owners this week who have relayed to me that their customers are phoning them saying if this goes on, we will not come downtown because the chances of getting a $35 parking ticket just for being over my time for maybe five minutes and then potentially not paying in a week and it becoming a $50 parking ticket becomes a big bill,” says Amies.

If passed by council, the change in parking fine is estimated to result in an increased revenue of $250,000 annually for the City of Lethbridge.

Amies said that with the bylaw being moved to the Ecomonic SPC next week, she will be making a presentation on behalf of the BRZ and the businesses they represent.

The public is invited to submit written or verbal submissions before February 14, 2023. Speakers from the floor will be accepted on the day of the Economic SPC meeting on February 15 as well.

To register to speak in-person or virtually, email cityclerk@lethbridge.ca.

Read more at Lethbridge News Now.