Belleville Councillor Mitch Panciuk makes a bid for six-hour free parking during Phase 2 reconstruction, April 11, 2016. (Photo: Mary Thomas/Quinte News)
A bid to provide extended hours of free parking in the Riverside Parking lot in Belleville’s downtown failed to win support at last night’s city council meeting.
The city is preparing for phase 2 of the reconstruction of the downtown between Victoria and Bridge Streets.
A staff report recommends free parking with a two hour time limit for the 264 spaces in the Riverside lot during construction.
This would cost the city $110,000 in parking revenue and the Downtown Business Improvement area had not provided any funding.
Councillor Mitch Panciuk called for six hours of free parking. He said it was confusing for people during Phase 1 last year and a “major problem” for businesses. He said reports to the DBIA showed that for businessses it had “disastrous results.”
His motion lost on a 6 to 3 vote.
Councillor McCaw suggested using some of the $921,000 in the parking reserve but Mayor Taso Christopher pointed out this was for repairs to parking lots.
In the end council agreed on the two hour free parking limit.
Council briefs
A staff recommendation to make changes to eliminate one of Belleville’s bus routes and change two others has been put on hold for a couple of weeks.
Last night city council supported a tabling motion by Mayor Taso Christopher on the report which would eliminate Route 9 and make changes to Routes 3 and 6.
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Belleville has hired another family physician under its doctor recruitment program.
Last night city council approved the recruitment of family physician Dr. Chad Stewart who will be practising in the city by fall.
