Kelowna City staff is currently in the process of developing a parking plan to improve availability and better manage volume during the busier months.
One of the ideas that were brought before council last night included changing hours and rates of on and off-street parking to reach a target occupancy of 85 per cent.
This would mean one or two open spaces per street.
In a public engagement, 61 per cent of 744 respondents said they wanted to add a third hour to on-street parking. The City would look at adding a third hour, at double the current cost, to promote constant turnover and encourage long-term parking in parkades.
Parking Services Manager, Dave Duncan said maintaining space availability will decrease the number of vehicles circling the block.
“This change would result in more spaces with reduced pay parking hours than increased. Similar changes within waterfront parks to reflect demand and usage would result in a net decrease in annual pay parking hours,” according to Duncan.
Kelowna Staff also suggested giving residents the option to rent their private parking spaces to the public.
Parking on lawns and unauthorized spaces would not be permitted, contrary to what you see in parts of Vancouver.
Councillor Gail Given said managing that type of parking could have potential problems.
“That may mean the problem gets pushed onto a neighbouring street because suddenly everyone is looking for an income opportunity and parking their cars somewhere else,” said Councillor Given.
City Manager Doug Gilchrist expressed that it’s more about utilizing existing parking before using taxpayer’s money to build a new parkade.
Council will receive a final detailed parking plan proposal later this spring.