Plans to increase free parking in parts of downtown and shorten enforcement hours is moving forward.
A council committee gave the green light to the proposed changes on Monday night.
They include one hour free parking at all Pay and Display areas downtown and changing paid parking hours to 8am to 430pm, Monday through Friday.
Right now it ends at 6pm.
Another recommendation would eliminate overnight parking fees in the covered levels of the McIntyre parking garage.
Councillor Dave Mendicino says the recommendations will help the downtown.
“We always have budget pressures, this is obviously a hit on our budget, but I think we all see that these changes will definitely assist with the revitalization of the downtown,” he told Council on Monday night.
Chair of Downtown North Bay Michelle Trudeau says it’s a bold move from council to grow and strengthen investment in the downtown.
“These changes will inspire more incentive to shop and visit the area, more incentive to open a new business and more of an incentive for residential and commercial development in the downtown,” she says.
Full council approval is still needed.

(file photo by station staff)

Filed under: downtown-parking