DAIRY DREAM NO ICE-CREAM MAKER REQUIRED FOR THIS FROZEN MALTED {page 31}
AND ... CUT COX, ANISTON FRENEMIES? DISH
Over 55 years Serving Edmonton
Free Estimate Available 780.465.7571 www.aclark.ca
{page 30}
EDMONTON
Weekend, June 3-5, 2011 www.metronews.ca News worth sharing.
Bang. On
No parking ticket hike ... for now Service Alberta defers $15 licence-plate queries until Sept. Fee still imminent, Service Alberta spokesperson says
Members of New Youth Edmonton! help kick off Nextfest Emerging Arts Festival 2011 at the Roxy Theatre Thursday. The 11-day festival features 400 artists and more than 50 events. Tickets and information are available at the Roxy Theatre. SHELLEY WILLIAMSON/METRO
Nextfest thing to being there
Motorists who are in the habit of getting parking tickets may be off the hook for an increased price — for now. Service Alberta announced Thursday they will delay a $15 fee for licence-plate queries. “We have listened to the concerns of municipalities and police agencies and they asked us to defer until Sept. 1, and that’s what we’re doing,” said Sharon Lopatka, spokesperson for Service Alberta. “It’s giving municipalities time to adjust to the search fee.” The City of Edmonton said parking tickets would likely increase by $25 to help cover an estimated $10 million in lost revenue. The bylaw was supposed to
come before city council this month. “If they’ve decided to delay it, I don’t think that we can, in good conscience, consider approving a $25 charge,” said Coun. Tony Caterina. Sgt. Tony Simioni, president of the Edmonton Police Association, said the fee could have an impact on crime control and manpower if it comes out of the policing budget. “Not only should they delay it, they should get rid of it altogether,” he said Thursday. Todd Burge, manager of the city’s corporate-finance branch, said an increase to parking fines could help offset the impact on
police but that talks will need to occur with the province prior to any decisions being made. HEATHER MCINTYRE/ WITH FILES FROM JEREMY NOLAIS
Refunds in Calgary Service Alberta said all fees previously thought owed are going to be wiped out. The Calgary Parking Authority had already begun charging an extra $15 for parking tickets. A motion is scheduled to come before Calgary city council this month to change the fee schedule and partially reimburse roughly 10,000 tickets.