Prince Edward County council is referring a request to extend free parking for the rest of the year in Picton back to staff.
Sarah Doiron, manager of the Picton Business Improvement Association made the request on Tuesday night during a virtual council meeting.
She was hoping to see free parking extended but a two hour enforcement maximum in place.
Councillor Phil St-Jean asked for a financial impact report from staff.
One of the main concerns was that the County would be foregoing revenues from the parking meters, but would still have to pay the salaries of by-law enforcement officers who would be enforcing the two hour maximum.
Doiron said the approval of the free parking would not only create good will and repeat business with customers who are choosing to support local businesses, it will give the BIA the opportunity to work together to find a solution to the problems that arose with the installation of the parking meters.
Some issues brought to the attention of business owners via surveys included: free parking is not obvious, difficulty finding and using the parking meters, the meters don’t print or malfunction, no signage indicating paid parking at the north corner of Elizabeth and Main, no grace period and local residents feel alienated and less likely to come downtown.
Doiron said the issues around the parking meters have been present since their installation and angry customers were the reason the BIA undertook the information collection exercise.
She said she felt not offering free parking for the rest of the year may be detrimental to business owners as they depend on the summer season to pay most of the bills for the year and many businesses may not survive if they don’t see a bounce back over the summer.
Staff received her deputation but no decision was made at the meeting.
