Jennifer Dart , Westerly News, November 29, 2007
Tofino's controversial pay parking program was put to rest this week when council narrowly approved a motion to remove parking meters and signage from around the district.
The move came at the end of a six-month trial period during which a Toronto-based company gave free use of its meters.
"The intent was to generate revenue," said Coun. Michael Tilitzky, who made the motion to axe the program. "It hasn't generated extra revenue."
Tilitzky and Couns. Owen Strudwick and Kendal Kelly voted in favour of terminating the program, while Coun. Al Anderson and Mayor John Fraser were opposed.
Couns. Derek Shaw and Peter Ayres, both of whom have supported pay parking, were absent from the meeting. Shaw is currently on a five-month leave and Ayres has missed some meetings recently after moving to Port Alberni.
Treasurer Edward Henley reported the three and a half month trial period from July 11 to Oct. 31 generated a net income of $23,754.
His report put the cost of vandalism to the meters, which occurred in six separate incidents from June 25 (before the program had officially started) to Oct. 10, at $22,000.
All told, the meter dispensers were damaged repeatedly, the meters themselves and related signage were spray painted, and in one case a meter was pulled from the ground, along with its concrete pad, and dragged about six metres.
The district was not responsible for these costs during the trial period, as the meters were on loan from Precise Parklink.
Still, the amount of damage was staggering, Henley said. "The shocking amount of vandalism experienced in Tofino prompted a survey of other communities with parking meters," he wrote in a report to council. Henley surveyed about nine communities from White Rock to Toronto. "All municipal officials expressed shock at the rate of major vandalism crimes against parking meters in Tofino. They had not experienced a 37.5 percent destruction rate ever."
Coun. Kelly wondered why costs associated with vandalism weren't included in next year's proposed budget for pay parking, which Henley prepared for council's information.
If the program were to run from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2008, Henley estimated it would generate $53,603 in income.
"I'm just saying the numbers for me don't add up," he said. "We're not going to go from 37 percent [vandalism rate] to zero."
Kelly also wondered why ticket revenues for parking infractions not related to pay parking were included in the budget breakdown for the program. "We need the tickets to make the money we made," he said.
Mayor John Fraser said 71 of 351 parking tickets issued during the six-month period were related to pay parking infractions. The rest had to do with improper parking, which the bylaw officer dedicated to the program also handled. "Enforcement for parking in general is in there," Fraser said. "The two can't be separated."
During the trail period roughly $36,000 was generated through meters, $3,550 through passes sold, $300 in vehicle impound fees and $5,376 in tickets ($19,350 remains owing).
—Westerly News, Tofino/Ucluelet
