ANDREW MENDLER amendler@simcoe.com

While many business owners are celebrating Midland council's decision to enact temporary free parking throughout the downtown, some are upset a permanent solution has yet to be found.

"While this is a welcome breather, it is only of value if they use the time to fix the problems with the (parking meter) interface," said Glen Canning, co-owner of The Elegant Gourmet.

On June 15, council voted to suspend the paid-parking program that's frustrated downtown residents and business owners ever since new meters came online in August.

Last year, the town invested in 70 payby-plate parking meters to replace the 350 coin-operated meters throughout the downtown. The new machines have resulted in countless complaints.

"It has had the very real effect of discouraging people from visiting the downtown," said Canning. "We have regular customers that now refuse to come downtownsincethissystemhasbeeninstalled."

Sarah Kitchen, owner of One Stop Beauty Shop, has also dealt with many clients frustrated by the challenging task of paying for parking.

"We have heard complaints all the way along, and it has rarely been about the need to pay," said Kitchen. "Mostly, we hear that people are frustrated at lack of clear directions and signage, that the system is not user friendly, and that the machines tend to be glitchy."

Kitchen said she was pleased by council's decision to pause paid parking, havingbeenpartofagroupofdowntownbusiness owners who submitted a petition to get the system paused in October.

Council voted down a motion to pause paid parking on Oct. 13. Six months later, the motion was re-tabled and approved.

"I think it was wise to pause it," she said.

A staff report was tabled June 15 that proposed a variety of changes to the program, including the creation of annual and monthly passes, extending paid parking to seven days a week, and eliminating any form of free parking.

Council didn't even discuss these changes, with five of the nine councillors voicing their opposition immediately.

Amotionwaspassedtodeferthereport until July13 — to allow for staff to investigate alternatives — and pause the paidparking program in the meantime.

"This was not an act of support; it was simply an act of avoidance," said Canning, noting the items in the report have simply been delayed.

Canning said he would like to see the town give more consideration to the impact the parking system is having on businessesandresidents,ratherthanfocusing on the revenue it can create.

"Theactualeffectonthepeoplethatuse thedowntownhasbeenmostlyignored,as (have)theeffectsonthehealthandviability of the existing downtown businesses," hesaid."Collectively,thedowntownisone of Midland's largest employers, and any system or policy that hurts the downtown community hurts the entire town."

STORY BEHIND THE STORY: After council voted to pause the paid-parking program, which has frustrated many, Simcoe.com decided to talk to downtown business owners to see what they thought of the decision.

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