WHEREAS it is known that there is complicated set of parking rules, regulations, and fines in Cobourg. Whereas there is a constant request from DBIA and Cobourg residents to rethink the parking situation in Cobourg.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT this council request staff to report back to the appropriate standing committee on the steps and recommendations to completely reimagine the parking program/regime within the town of Cobourg to one based on simplicity; with the program being easy to understand for visitors; and that provides Cobourg tax payers with the opportunity to pay for all paid parking within their town in a single yearly payment and at a steeply discounted rate and that the following suggestions are considered with the intent to minimize the loss the parking potential revenue of parking; and
FURTHER THAT this new program shall consider the following suggestions from residents, business, and council members in its report:
- That parking enforcement have two distinct seasons a low season that starts on September 15th and ends May 14th and a high season that starts May 15th and ends September 15th (4 month period).
- That during the 8-month low season all paid parking within Cobourg is free for the first 3 hours and that a day pass is set at $20 with fines not to exceed $80 and that the pass work for all paid parking spots in Cobourg for the entirety of the day.
- That during the high season there is no free parking at any paid parking within the town of Cobourg and further that all paid parking within the town be set to the same rate of $5 an hour and that a day pass is set at $40 with fines not to exceed $160 and that the intent of these changes are to make up for the lost revenue during the low season and not create a new source of income.
- That during the 4 months of the high season Cobourg residents can purchase a monthly parking pass good for all paid parking in Northumberland for $25/ month or $100 for the entirety of the high season. Further that all Northumberland residents are able to purchase a monthly parking pass for $80 for the entire high season and that all businesses located in the DBIA are permitted to purchase an $80 monthly parking pass for any of their full-time employees who live outside Northumberland county and that the pass be valid for all paid spots in the town of Cobourg.
- That daily parking passes are made available to be purchased online, at the parking machines or at specified vendors in the DBIA.
- That town staff make recommendations as to how they plan on make purchasing of daily and monthly parking passes more accessible and easier to purchase during high season.
- That all paid parking in the town of Cobourg be suspended until a new parking strategy is implemented.
- That all handicapped spaces are to become free parking at all times and that the fine for illegally parking in a handicapped space be increased to $1000.00 for a first-time offence.