Penticton may add more paid parking as it deals with COVID-19 induced $3.9M budget shortfall

City of Penticton is looking at parking as a potential revenue generator as it looks for ways to make up for a $3.9 million budget shortfall created by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The City is investigating an expansion of the metered parking program and plans to consult with the public with respect to financial tradeoffs if it continues its policy of not charging for parking in some parts of the city.

City planner Blake Laven called the present system, where several streets downtown presently have free parking, unequal and said a fairer approach would be to charge for all parking spaces in the downtown area.

The City is looking at areas where there is presently no cost to park including the South Okanagan Events Centre, Lakeshore Drive, Okanagan Lake parking lots, Skaha Park and Parkview Street, along with resident-only parking areas.

Laven’s report to council noted the City’s present parking program generates $500,000 annually. The addition of paid parking in areas under review would ad an additional $840,000 in revenue against $390,500 in capital and ongoing expenses, which would include the need for an additional two employees.

The City last took a comprehensive look at its parking policies in 2017. At that time there wasn’t a public appetite to establish paid parking at the City’s parks and beaches, but there was a desire to see downtown parking spaces used more efficiently.

The report also asks council to consider “a slight increase” in the City’s hourly rate for parking, which is currently $1.25.

The public consultation period is set for July 22 to Aug. 3, with questions focusing on tax implications if the system is to be subsidized, revenue neutral or turned into a money maker.

The results will be compiled before being brought back before council at its Sept. 1 meeting.


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Steve Arstad

I have been looking for news in the South Okanagan - SImilkameen for 20 years, having turned a part time lifelong interest into a full time profession. After five years publishing a local newsletter, several years working as a correspondent / stringer for several local newspapers and seven years as editor of a Similkameen weekly newspaper, I joined iNFOnews.ca in 2014. My goal in the news industry has always been to deliver accurate and interesting articles about local people and places. My interest in the profession is life long - from my earliest memories of grade school, I have enjoyed writing.
As an airborne geophysical surveyor I travelled extensively around the globe, conducting helicopter borne mineral surveys.
I also spent several years at an Okanagan Falls based lumber mill, producing glued-wood laminated products.
As a member of the Kaleden community, I have been involved in the Kaleden Volunteer Fire Department for 22 years, and also serve as a trustee on the Kaleden Irrigation District board.
I am currently married to my wife Judy, of 26 years. We are empty-nesters who enjoy living in Kaleden with our Welsh Terrier, Angus, and cat, Tibbs.
Our two daughters, Meagan and Hayley, reside in Richmond and Victoria, respectively.

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