Lethbridge City Council voted on the second and third reading of a bylaw that would see a change to the fines, and it passed unanimously, December 12, 2023. (Photo: LNN)

By Christian Oldale

City Council approves changes to parking fines, hours

Dec 13, 2023 | 10:54 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Parking in the downtown core is about to change.

In the City’s operating budget for 2023-2026, they approved a parking fine increase from $25 to $50 with a $15 reduction if paid within seven days.

However, this saw pushback from businesses in the downtown core, and it was decided that the issue would be pushed until later in the year.

READ MORE: Lethbridge committee votes unanimously against parking increase after public feedback

Council began work with the Downtown Business Revitalization Zone (BRZ) and the Heart of our City Committee to engage with their members and present new parking fine options.

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The discussion was continued in November as council gave the bylaw first reading with adjustments, including decreasing parking fines from $50 to $40 with a $20 reduction if paid within 10 days instead of seven.

In the council meeting on December 12, 2023, councillors voted on the second and third reading of a bylaw that would see a change to the fines, and it passed unanimously.

In addition to the fine changes, there are also updates to other downtown parking rules.

The updates include:

• Provide free parking in the downtown core Monday-Friday until 9 a.m. and after 4 p.m. (change from the current enforcement hours of 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.)
• Grace period increase to seven minutes (change from the current three minutes)
• Replace all current Zone 2 areas with Zone 3 (Downtown BRZ completed a separate survey to implement this proposal and received overwhelming support)
• Provide free downtown core parking initiative days (to be decided in consultation with the BRZ and the HOCC)
• Enhanced maintenance program for the kiosks

The changes will begin on February 1, 2024.

READ MORE: Changes to city parking brought to Economic and Finance Standing Policy Committee

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