ELORA – Centre Wellington will continue its parking pilot project next year.
Council decided, at its Oct. 25 meeting, to renew its contract with Alpha Parking Solutions for the spring/summer/fall of 2022 and continue the pilot another year.
The township instituted three-hour parking limits in downtown Fergus and Elora for the first time this year in an effort to encourage frequent turnover and to keep employees and residents from occupying prime parking spots for hours or even days at a time.
Alpha reported to council last month and recommended a few changes, such as more signage to indicate where parking is and is not allowed.
The company also noted that because of the pandemic restrictions, it couldn’t get an accurate read on what tourist traffic is really like, or parking issues that arise as the result of popular gatherings like the Fergus Fall Fair, the Fergus Scottish Festival, and the Elora Festival.
None of those festivals ran in person this year or last.
Councillor Ian MacRae said there needs to be a place where people who live downtown can park without the three-hour restriction and he suggested monthly parking permits should be allowed.
That would take some staff work to research and write a draft policy, noted clerk Kerri O’Kane, adding that with a municipal election in 2022, staff will be tied up with election duties.
Councillors noted that while Centre Wellington is bearing the cost of parking enforcement – in the neighbourhood of $100,000 – it’s Wellington County that collects the fines.
“It’s outrageous that we get the expense and the county gets the revenue,” councillor Bob Foster said.
Foster also felt that parking enforcement should be done by the township’s bylaw officer and not by an outside company. He put forward such a motion but didn’t get a seconder.
“At some point I can see bringing it in-house,” councillor Steven VanLeeuwen said “but I’m okay with running the pilot again before hiring a full-time person.”
A letter from the Fergus BIA suggests the program was well-received in Fergus, but the Elora BIA thought the three-hour limit was restrictive to visitors who wanted to shop and linger over dinner.
It also noted the need for longer-term parking for employees and residents.
