If you're heading downtown Windsor, be prepared to pay more for parking.
Eliminating free parking at the city's two downtown garages was one of the decisions made in the marathon budget meeting two weeks ago.
People who didn't watch the budget meeting closely may be surprised this week when for the first time in decades, free parking won't be available at the city's downtown garages.
The bylaw went into effect Jan. 1, but before the city can enforce it, work needs to be done.
“They have to take the signs down and put up the information signs so people know what the rates are.. then reprogram the pay stations and the equipment in the garage,” says John Wolf, with the city’s traffic operations.
The fees have been deemed necessary because the city's off street parking reserve fund is in a $1.8- million deficit.
“That funds capital projects so garage rehabilitation projects that are done every year,” says Wolf. “We have to re-asphalt the parking garage. That's all paid for out of the reserve."
And it's not just parking garages, the city says soon people should be prepared to pay more at the meter as well."
“There was a 25 cent increase that was approved,” says Wolf. “That will not go into effect until the middle of the year sometime."
For that 25 cent increase at the parking meters to happen, city officials will have to amend the bylaw and then do preparation work. No formal date has been given for when that will go into effect, but they are estimating around the middle of the year.
