Despite pleas from the public and local business owners to restrict parking enforcement on Saturdays, Perth councillors have decided to stick to the town’s current bylaw.

The issue, which was up for discussion last Tuesday, has been a bone of contention for residents and visitors all summer, as many feel enforcement on Saturdays will not only hamper tourism, but hurt retail sales in the downtown core.

In response to this public outcry, town staff opted to put weekend parking enforcement on hold last month until council was able to discuss the issue in more detail but after debating the issue in length last Tuesday, councillors voted 4-2 in favour of following the present bylaw.

"There is no perfect parking system. If there was, everybody would have it," said Jim Connell, the town’s director of protective services. "I have only received one (formal) complaint (on this issue) and I think a knee-jerk reaction to any complaint is not good for enforcement people or council as a whole."

During last week’s committee-of-the-whole meeting, Harry Hale, owner of The Mill Store, pleaded with councillors to keep parking enforcement limited to business days, because in his opinion, the town must do its best to encourage people to visit the downtown.

"Retail sales in general are very poor at this time, not only in Perth, but across most of this country and the U.S.A.," he said. "I would have to think that several local businesses will not survive this downturn."

Although Hale agreed that parking bylaws are in place for a reason, he felt more courtesy cards could be issued for out-of-town vehicles at meters, in lots and in the free zone. He also requested that in-town vehicles be given a 15-minute grace period and that enforcement in the two-hour zone should be waived.

"I am sure that our bylaw officers know most of the vehicles that are in constant violation and (where) a courtesy card is certainly not warranted," he said. "With the use of computers, I am sure information could be available on who has received a courtesy card."

If this type of technology is available, it is certainly something the town could look into, Mayor John Fenik replied.

"It would be interesting to see if we can incorporate that data in the hand-held units," he said. "Maybe that technology can help us to find a happy medium."

According to several members of Perth council, there are business owners in the town who are in favour of Saturday parking enforcement because some drivers, including tenants in the area, are monopolizing spaces in front of their establishments.

In spite of this, Coun. Judy Brown stated that many seniors like to take their time while visiting the downtown on weekends and some, she said, need more than two hours to do that.

During Tuesday’s recorded vote, both Brown and Coun. Ed McPherson stood in favour of limiting Saturday parking enforcement, until the town’s bylaw was reviewed next month.

"People thought the system was not being enforced consistently and I know we have to take complaints with a grain of salt, but I think it will cause less confusion, and provide more consistency, if we leave it for two months," Brown said.

Although the issue was voted down at the committee level, changes to the town’s traffic and parking bylaw are now up for review, with recommendations coming forward to committee of the whole next month.

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