What else in taxes is going higher since the city will not have the revenue from the meters? Are they hoping everyone who uses the downtown parking is going to over stay the 2 hour limit and pay the larger fine? I for one do not go down town for very much, so it will not affect me since there is not much left of the down town area. Nothing we want to see or be proud of. The only thing that Westgate Plaza does not have enough variety of banks, everything else is there. Pleasanter atmosphere also, no panhandlers drug addicts asking for change to get a bowl of soup with when you know that is not what they are going to use it for.

I believe the City's thought is that more people will come downtown which should therefore attract more business to locate down there and increase the tax base.

I think no meters is a good idea but the 2 hour limit must be strictly enforced.

Agreed. I understand many of the spots down there are taken up by employees of the downtown businesses, which defeats the purpose.

I think the 2 hour limit is good, but I really hope they have some room for appeal when ticketed. My hair appointment ALWAYS takes over 2 hours - and it's really hard to move a car in the middle of a perm, especially in mid winter!

Although this idea is not one that was generated by the new mayor and council, I would like to believe this is a step in the right direction for the new council to rejuvinate our downtown core.

Our downtown has some truly ugly elements that keep the majority of residents away. For the most part, we all go there but for specific reasons. We drive in - do our business and leave. Not very often will we take the time to walk the streets and browse - it just doesn't feel safe.

Anything the city does to assist getting residents to the core and to keep people there longer will be good for the area.

I think this is a good thing and I hope the meter readers are ruthless about people that abuse the 2 hour limit.

If any of you readers have ever been to Vernon and abused their system - you will know how a well oiled parking system works.

"Cheryl Tomlinson, formerly with Meter Maintenance."
-Anyone else notice her giving the camera "the finger" in the bottom right picture?

Should be interesting how this works out. The city will miss out on about $600,000 in meter fees. with majority of costs still in place.

I think it is real dumb planning to remove meters in the winter. No wonder the finger.

The cost of staff time for chalking and ticketing will presumably be comparable to that needed for checking for expired meters and ticketing. There will be savings of some tens of thousands in the elimination of the meter repair position. How about the cost of parts for repairs and the cost of replacement meters?

Exactly, the damage and associated costs must factor in a fairly substantial amount of the cost savings from the revenue.

Let the business owners police their own employees. Make them park in parkades and leave the streets for their customers.

It's not the customers who are the problems tying up parking spots.