Proposed changes to pay parking that would add pay stations to Day Lots 4 and 5, raise fees slightly and implement passes for locals working or volunteering in the village have been on hiatus through the summer to allow for more engagement with stakeholders and the general public. Since then, a professional parking manager was hired on contract to move the process forward, hosting workshops with stakeholders and assist with a resident survey and visitor survey.
The results of the public survey will be presented at a council meeting in September, with feedback from over 1,200 residents and businesses.
So far surveys by businesses and residents has been overwhelmingly against the concept of pay parking. Over three-quarters of respondents to the public survey said they favoured the cheapest option, $4 to $6 per day. Free wasn't an option in the survey. Some nine out of 10 also liked the idea of a locals' pass.
As for the management model, over 80 per cent of locals preferred that the municipality manage the lots, putting it under the umbrella of an elected council, rather than the current parking committee with municipal staff and Whistler Blackcomb managers.
