Question and Answer Summary
Please note: This summary is being provided to the Public as promised by Norfolk County staff at the Public Engagement Session. The summary is up to date as of January 27, 2022 and will be updated when the Survey officially closed on Monday January 31, 2022.
Preamble
Prior to providing the answers to the summarized questions below Norfolk County would like to provide some context on this pilot project.
It is important to note that this is proposed as a temporary pilot project to allow Norfolk County staff to gather data, public feedback and determine if paid parking assists in addressing parking challenges faced within these communities. The pilot project will be proposed for a 3-month (June 15 – September 15, 2022) period only, after which time both the paid parking and the increased fines will be cancelled. At the conclusion of the pilot project, Staff will compile the data and feedback obtained to bring forward a future report to Norfolk County Council outlining the pros and cons of the paid parking and increased fines program, the financial impacts, the public feedback and a staff recommendation whether Council should consider these programs on a permanent basis to be implemented in 2023 for either a seasonal or annual basis. Should staff determine the pilot project did not provide any benefit to the County, staff would not recommend a future program.
It is also important to note that the pilot project consists of two parts, both of which will be suspended at the end of the pilot project period:
- Paid parking
- Certain, but not all, prime location streets/areas will be designated as paid parking and there will be areas and streets left available for free parking, as currently exists and is being used today. These free areas are still within reasonable walking distance to amenities. The convenience of having close proximity parking will be subject to pay-for-use.
- Increase fines
- The increased fines are specific to “No Parking” areas and “parking in excess of time restrictions” both of which are expected to help reduce the illegal and nuisance parking users by creating a pecuniary deterrent for parking in those areas in contravention of the rules.
Staff are requesting a simple implementation to reduce the costs and resources required to operate the pilot project and recognize that if a permanent solution is introduced, there will be requirements for additional considerations.
Survey and Direct Mail In Questions
What are you trying to accomplish with this pilot project? Norfolk County receives numerous complaints and concerns from residents and businesses in the four (4) communities included in the Pilot Project with respect to parking. Norfolk is preparing to undergo a County-wide Parking Study to develop a parking strategy. This pilot is intended to collect data and provide information on some of the parking challenges we are facing as well as provide a mechanism to promote regular turnover of prime parking spaces. What amenities are being offered in Long Point to these paid visitors? Norfolk County currently provides, parking spaces, beach access points, portable washrooms and garbage receptacles. What happens when there is no Public Lands (Crown Beach) for Day Visitors to access? In recent cases, when beach erosion has limited beach availability to the public, Norfolk County has closed beach access until the beach area is restored. This may be a consideration dependent on circumstances. Will there be resident passes provided? Resident passes are not being considered during the pilot project time period. Administering residential passes would be time consuming and require additional resources. If the pilot project becomes a permanent solution, residents passes would be available subject to Council approval. What is the cost of the temporary parking pilot project? The Seasonal Parking Pilot Project is intended to be revenue positive. That said, the agreement with the service provider has not been negotiated and will not be known until Council provides direction to staff with respect to sourcing a vendor to provide the parking services component. Has the County considered other parking styles, like angled parking or one-way streets? Yes, as infrastructure projects are developed, our engineering group and consultant engineers review the right-of-way and determine the best fit for transportation routes and parking. Norfolk County had parking meters before, what makes this time any different? Technology has evolved since the coin fed parking meters. Currently technology includes, tap & go, QR Codes and Pay Stations. Most municipalities have installed similar parking systems and find acceptance goes well once the initial frustration/apprehension wears off. Can I reserve a spot with the new technology? No, the current lay-out of the parking stalls does not lend itself to allow for reservations. Parking spaces will continue to be first come, first served. Do I have proof of paid parking? The systems are digital (electronic) for the tap & go or QR scans, the proof will be on your phone or digital device. If pay stations are installed, there is a possibility that receipts can be printed out for the customer. Won’t charging people for prime parking locations just move motorists to free residential parking areas? There certainly is a possibility that people will seek out free spots. Some of the surrounding streets are very narrow and do not have on-street parking spaces. This will be addressed by parking enforcement in these areas. Will by-law enforcement be increased to deal with this paid parking pilot? Yes, additional resources for By-law Enforcement are included in this project scope and have been approved in the 2022 Tax Levy Budget. As this project moves forward staff will be seeking additional resources to help facilitate this project. How will paid parking be provided on Ordnance Avenue in Turkey Point? Staff have reviewed the proposed paid parking zones in Turkey Point and believe that a reduction of parking spaces is warranted for this pilot project. Staff will be recommending to Council that Ordnance Avenue be removed from the pilot project until improvements can be made to the parking conditions. Will visitors/guests have to pay for parking? Yes, the current pilot project requires anyone parking in the paid parking zones to pay for parking. Is there enough room at the Port Dover pier for two rows of 90 degree parking and a turnaround area for people that cannot find parking? Staff will review this area with our engineering group and determine the best use of this space with respect to parking. If parking needs to be reduce to improve traffic flow and safety it can be addressed during the pilot project. If motorist try to avoid paid parking but using private parking lots/spaces will the County enforce this? No, unfortunately Norfolk is not able to enforce parking violations on privately owned/run parking lots. The property owner will need to enforce this. Is Norfolk going to install adequate signage to notify motorist about the paid parking requirements? Yes, Norfolk has an understanding of the number of signs and/or pay stations that will be required to provide adequate information to people parking in these areas. Norfolk will work closely with the parking system vendor to make sure the number of signs is optimized and a detailed communication plan is created to advise residents and visitors of the changes. Will the new/proposed fines be specific to just these paid parking spaces or is it being applied County-wide? The increased fines will apply to these paid parking zones and it will apply to other parking violations within the four (4) communities identified in the pilot project. Paid parking will not work in downtown Simcoe, would you consider stricter enforcement of the 2 hour zones and some of the abuse of motorist parking in excess of the parking limits? As part of this pilot project, Norfolk will be committing additional resources to the communities selected for the pilot project to help enforce these restrictions. Will other areas adjacent to the paid parking zones, like Hastings Drive, receive additional enforcement to deal with illegal parking? Additional resources being applied to this pilot project will help enforce other zones outside of the paid parking areas. Is cash in lieu of parking still being collected by Norfolk and why hasn’t it helped with dealing with some of the parking challenges? Norfolk stopped collected cash in lieu parking in 2017. Norfolk County maintains a Parking Development Charge (DC) Reserve Fund that is funded by Development Charges that is to be used to fund growth related capital projects for new or expanded facilities and services. How much will the pay stations cost and how are they going to be powered and connected to the networks? Preliminary estimates have pay stations costing between $8,000 and $10,000 per station. The station will be connected to the network by cellular technology and will be powered either by solar power or direct hydro connection depending on availability. How will you enforce parking restrictions for Friday the 13th in Port Dover? An event like PD13 has very specific by-laws enacted by Norfolk County Council that helps deal with many operational aspects, like parking and traffic flow. The pilot project is no longer being proposed during the Friday the 13th month on 2022. I want to go to either downtown Simcoe or Port Dover to grab a coffee or run into the local pharmacy, will I have to pay an extra $2-3 dollars? Norfolk County staff is consulting with the various Business Districts like the Simcoe Business Improvement Association and the Port Dover Board of Trade, as well as businesses that do not belong to these groups. We will listen to their advice and recommend solutions to Council. Norfolk may consider implementing 1-hour free parking in some of the communities. The motorist will still need to access the paid parking system (either through the App or through a Pay Station) to register their license plate and start the free parking session. Will the County be reviewing other areas adjacent to the paid parking zones to make sure the existing parking signage is adequate and up to date? Norfolk County will be updating the existing Parking By-law this spring in the first quarter. The update will bring forward any areas that have not been signed appropriately and prioritize them for sign installation. Norfolk is also undertaking a County-wide Parking Study that will look directly at gaps like this. Will the area in front of the new Dover Wharf Condominium be including in this Pilot Project? This area may be considered and will be confirmed at the time of the report to Council. The Pilot Project posted on the Webpage showed that upgrades/changes may be made to Abigail Becker parking lot, will that be completed before the pilot starts? Norfolk County staff identified some projects (low hanging fruit, small capital projects) to Council that could be completed in a reasonable time frame. Norfolk staff recognize that there are some valid concerns brought forward by residents and the public with respect to parking areas, like Abigail Becker and Ordnance Avenue, that warrant additional review. It is likely staff will recommend to Council that these areas not be included during the pilot project and deferred for consideration during the County-wide Parking Study. Will Norfolk County address some of the private paid parking lots/spaces that are popping up in these parking zones? Yes, Norfolk is aware of and has had interaction with the property owner in question. It will be monitored through this pilot project. Will Norfolk be looking at Accessibility issues? Norfolk will be looking at accessibility as part of the County-wide parking study and address, where possible, during the pilot project. Will the Causeway Bridge be reduced to one lane in the spring of 2022? If it is, paid parking should not move forward in 2022 for Long Point. The bridge construction project may see the lanes restricted to a single lane until July 2022. Although staff recognize the lane reduction may cause delays and traffic capacity issues, staff do not believe that it impacts a paid parking program. If the vehicles access the area, then the pilot project parameters can be maintained. Has the carrying capacity of Long Point been considered in this Parking Pilot Project? No, the carrying capacity for Long Point will not be addressed in this pilot. The County-wide Parking Study will be tasked with looking at this condition. Simcoe Business Improvement Association (BIA) Port Dover Board of Trade (BOT) Long Point Rate Payers Association (LPRA)Additional Feedback
