All Candidates Forum Question: What would you do with the parking meters?

Parking meters continue to be a bone of contention in the downtown. The perception is that both the meter fees and their very existence are unjust. The difficult thing is how do you best manage a limited resource and encourage rotation in parking in busy streets.  It is by the use of meters. It is important to remember that there is no such thing as free parking. Businesses which do provide “free parking” must build the tax costs (land) and the maintenance of such facilities into their business plans. Of course these costs must be ultimately passed on to their clients and though hidden those cost are there. 

In terms of convenience of parking next door to the services you seek downtown: I would bet  often there is  more distance walking in a big box store parking lot than from a metered spot in the downtown. I am afraid that the meters should stay.

Cheers, Shawn Lee searching for change.