During Monday's executive committee meeting, administration discussed recommendations regarding increasing downtown monthly rental parking.
According to city treasurer Ray Goruick, with all the property acquired in downtown Moose Jaw for developments over the past year, the city has seen a reduction of 201 monthly parking spots.
Therefore, the city (which currently has 72 monthly rental stalls available) is receiving several inquiries from individuals and businesses looking for monthly spaces to rent.
Goruick said a review shows the Ominica Street West parking lot (next to the Professional Medical Building) currently has nine electric parking stalls, five non-electric stalls and 11 metered spots (which provide $6,800 annual income for the city).
He said the whole area could become electrified monthly parking for a $10,000 cost.
Another option Goruick mentioned was to convert 24 spots in the northwest corner of the city hall parking lot from metered parking to monthly parking, at an estimated $16,000 cost.
Although revenue from monthly rental stalls is less than for metered stalls, administration believes motorists who use the metered stalls in those parking lots would probably just use metered stalls elsewhere downtown, so the city shouldn't lose money.
To provide more downtown parking after business hours, Goruick said administration is also recommending monthly parking stalls be made available for general public use during evenings and weekends.
Coun. Brian Swanson said he often drove by the monthly parking spots lost to recent downtown property acquisition and some were rarely used, so he thinks administration might be too proactive in replacing all those stalls.
Therefore, he would like to wait and see what happens in the area (regarding parking demand) before the city starts spending money.
Swanson made a motion that administration's monthly rental parking report be forwarded to the Moose Jaw Downtown Business Improvement District for input, with which the executive committee agreed and approved.
Carter Haydu can be reached at 691-1265.
Hi, I agree with alot of these comments, the parking lot where Dr. John has her office is really beneficial to the seniors who park down town and bank at the Royal bank, what is city council trying to prove, make everyone take the bus to make extra revenue.