Well now that I’ve got your attention, yet again I am coming to you fine citizens to give us the feedback we so dearly need on our downtown parking strategy. The last time I asked you for feedback you gave lots! So don’t let me down!

This has been many years in the making with a ton of energy and money given to this issue. We can no longer afford to put reports together and not implement them. I want to thank staff and all the citizens we’ve engaged with so far – you’ve done an excellent job!

But now we’re down to the final chapter folks.

Please forward this info to as many people as you can! Blog about it. Comment on it here. Comment on it on Facebook. Email your councillors and myself! Council will soon be voting on this and we need to hear from you!

Parking Master Plan to be presented November 18

City staff recommends funding scenario for comprehensive parking program

Members of Council will be presented with a staff report about the City’s proposed Parking Master Plan and recommended funding strategy for Guelph’s existing and future parking needs in the downtown.

Staff will ask City Council to approve the plan that provides a framework for a comprehensive, integrated and intentional parking program. The plan is informed by two community engagement processes and a background parking study authored by the IBI Group in 2014.

“Parking impacts all Guelph residents and is an important factor in growing and developing our city. The proposed Parking Master Plan supports Guelph’s economy and growth targets in the downtown, considers policies, addresses future parking needs and maintenance of existing parking infrastructure, and identifies alternative methods of providing and managing parking,” says Ian Panabaker, corporate manager, Downtown Renewal.

As part of the report, staff will also ask Council to direct them to implement a funding scenario that includes a combination of free and paid on-street parking downtown and an enhanced parking program in the periphery. This scenario includes a City contribution through tax revenue.

Currently, the downtown parking system is funded through tax-supported dollars, parking permits, and daily and short-term user fees. On-street parking does not generate revenue and its enforcement is paid through a cost recovery program from tickets issued.

By 2031, the number of people who work and live downtown will double from 8,000 to about 16,000. It is projected 1,500 additional parking spaces will be needed for people living, working, and visiting the downtown.

Next steps

Pending approval of the proposed Parking Master Plan, and related annual budgets, a five-year ramp up period is envisioned between 2016 and 2020 to allow time for completion of the Wilson and Neeve parkades, and development and implementation of enhanced on-street parking management in the downtown and periphery.

Proposed construction sequence:

• Construct the Wilson Street parkade (2016-2017)
• Refurbish East and West parkades (TBD)
• Construct the Baker Street parkade (2018-2020 tentative)
• Construct the Neeve Street parkade (2019-2020)
• Construct Fountain Street parkade (TBD)
• Replace existing parkades (2035)

The Parking Master Plan will enable the City’s Downtown Secondary Plan and align with the Province’s Places to Grow Act.

Thank you,

Cam