Drivers who want to park in downtown Orillia won’t have to face a rate increase… at least not in the immediate future.
In their report to Orillia Council at their regular Council Committee meeting last night (MON), the Parking Advisory Committee voiced their objection to Council’s recommendations for raising parking rates both on-street and in municipal lots.
The City recommended a rate increase from 1 dollar an hour to 2 dollars an hour for on-street metered parking.
They also recommended an increase to fifty dollars a month for an interior parking lot permit and forty dollars for an exterior parking lot permit.
Parking Advisory Committee Chair Mariano Tulipano says they first need to determine what will be needed to improve parking infrastructure in the downtown area.
He says until then parking rates should stay where they are.
Tulipano says parking rates in downtown Orillia are quite competitive compared to other municipalities.
He says the City is not giving the spots away.
He says when drivers pay to park in downtown Orillia, they are paying rates equal or higher to those in other municipalities.
Tulipano says his committee is suggesting the time limit for off-street parking be increased from 3 to 8 hours.
Council is suggesting that the limit be increased to only 5 hours.
Tulipano says their basis for an 8-hour limit is to allow those who come to the downtown area for business to park their cars for the day and pay only one-time instead of having to pay again every two to three hours.
He says the driver will not have worry about getting a ticket if they do not re-feed the meter.
The Council Committee decided to put off any increase until they hear back from the Downtown Management Board at a meeting in February.
