It's taking longer than anticipated to bring in new enforcement measures for on-street parking infractions, according to both the city and downtown businesses.
Though city council approved $450,000 in capital funds for licence-plate recognition program and new signage late last year.
During the Dec. 4, 2013 budget meeting, Rob Whitwham (then called the public safety and civic facilities director) said the project would soon be put out to tender.
Bylaw enforcement has since been switched to land under the purview of legislative services director Walter Babicz and former bylaw services manager Guy Gusdal has left the city. His replacement, Fred Crittenden, hails from Medicine Hat, Alta., and began in Prince George May 1.
"Fred has a long history and a lot of experience in bylaw services matters and parking from his former municipality," said Babicz. "So we want to benefit from his experience and he's reviewing the file and we're in the process of finalizing an [request for proposal] for that project."
Medicine Hat also has two-hour free on-street parking in its downtown core and enforcement officers also use tire chalking to catch offenders.
Back in November, the project was said to include a licence-plate recognition system to enforce on-street parking restrictions downtown, at the hospital and College of New Caledonia as well as the purchase of two mounted licence-plate recognition units that would go on two vehicles along with handheld units for staff.
Funding, which came from the off-street parking and debt reduction reserves, would also be used to redo signage downtown to reflect the use of the new equipment.
The Downtown Business Improvement Association - now known as Downtown P.G. - has met with the new manager to review the issues and pass along the same detailed feedback they gave to Gusdal, said executive director Carla Johnston.
"We would have liked to have seen things implemented already but we also want to see it done properly," said Johnston.
In the meantime, the issue with problem parkers has continued.
"Of course when summer rolls around things get busier in general, but I have had two calls from businesses wondering what's happening and expressing frustration that people who clearly are employees in the neighbourhood are abusing the two hour loophole, if you will - being able to park in one spot for two hours then come out and move their car literally one car length and be absolved for another two hours," said Johnston. "That's only based on two calls, but I can't imagine they're the only people seeing that problem. Just looking out my [Second Avenue] window, it's full."
Johnston said she's also been hearing - second hand - about some brazen parkers wiping off the chalk marks left on tires by parking enforcement officers.
"He would never admit to it, but I have had one business owner who has actually put the chalk back on if he sees people taking it off," she said.
Johnston said she can't fault people for wanting to take matters into their own hands.
"If someone wants to run in and grab something and they drive by a couple of times and there isn't that spot within a reasonable distance and they move on, they have every right to be frustrated," she said. "I look forward to seeing what revisions, if any, out of the bylaw services, but we're definitely looking forward to having the program implemented. We do have a problem that needs fixing and we believe that the technology that they have chosen is the right way to go."
