City parking policies panned by Vernon business

VERNON – The results of the Business Walks survey have been released and the majority of businesses questioned believe issues with parking in Vernon are the biggest challenge they face.

On Oct. 1, 24 volunteers spent two hours meeting with 145 businesses throughout the city. They asked a series of six questions including: What are the biggest challenges facing your business?

Over 53 per cent of respondents said parking was the biggest challenge, according to a report going to city council’s regular meeting on Monday.

When asked what could be done to help their business thrive, the number one answer dealt with parking, specifically the lack of supply, the high price and over-enforcement by the City’s bylaw officers.

The other challenges facing businesses in the city were a lack of customers and finding employees, the report says.

This was the second year for the Business Walks survey organized by the City of Vernon in partnership with the Chamber of Commerce and Community Futures.

The survey results weren’t all negative.

Of the businesses interviewed, over 96 per cent said business was either fair and steady or good and increasing, up from 88 per cent last year.

The volunteers walked into businesses downtown, the Fruit Union Plaza and Highway 6, the Polson Mall and Kalamalka Lake Road, the Vernon Square mall, the Village Green Mall, Anderson Way along with the Okanagan Landing Plaza and 25 Avenue.

The report says the survey was an effort to gain a better understanding of the current economic conditions and learn how business service providers can better meet the needs of the business community.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Howard Alexander at halexander@infonews.ca or call 250-491-0331. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.