Toronto City Council increased street parking rates and reduced new sports field fees during a flurry of activity last week before its summer break.
Rates at parking meters and machines will be gradually hiked across the city over the next six weeks, beginning with the downtown core. Street spots that cost $3.50 per hour will now cost $4, spots that cost $2.50 per hour will cost $3, and spots that cost $2 per hour will cost $2.25.
The increase, the first since 2007, is expected to generate an additional $4 million per year. Mayor Rob Ford argued against deferring the decision until the October council meeting, as Councillor Adam Vaughan wanted, saying the city couldn’t afford to surrender three months of extra revenue.
Council also reduced the fees that are being introduced next year for the use of currently free city sports fields by youth leagues.
The fees were originally supposed to be charged this year, but they were cancelled by council in April after an outcry from league organizers who had set prices and budgets before they knew they would be facing a significant new expense.
In June, Ford’s executive committee approved fees for 2013: $6 per hour, $4 per hour and $2 per hour depending on the type of field, down from the $12, $8, and $6 originally proposed.
But after further lobbying from the leagues, council voted 27-9 last week to slash the 2013 fees further — to $3, $2 and $1. The fees will be doubled, to the level Ford’s executive proposed for 2013, in 2014.
Original Article
Source: the star
Author: Daniel Dale
Rates at parking meters and machines will be gradually hiked across the city over the next six weeks, beginning with the downtown core. Street spots that cost $3.50 per hour will now cost $4, spots that cost $2.50 per hour will cost $3, and spots that cost $2 per hour will cost $2.25.
The increase, the first since 2007, is expected to generate an additional $4 million per year. Mayor Rob Ford argued against deferring the decision until the October council meeting, as Councillor Adam Vaughan wanted, saying the city couldn’t afford to surrender three months of extra revenue.
Council also reduced the fees that are being introduced next year for the use of currently free city sports fields by youth leagues.
The fees were originally supposed to be charged this year, but they were cancelled by council in April after an outcry from league organizers who had set prices and budgets before they knew they would be facing a significant new expense.
In June, Ford’s executive committee approved fees for 2013: $6 per hour, $4 per hour and $2 per hour depending on the type of field, down from the $12, $8, and $6 originally proposed.
But after further lobbying from the leagues, council voted 27-9 last week to slash the 2013 fees further — to $3, $2 and $1. The fees will be doubled, to the level Ford’s executive proposed for 2013, in 2014.
Original Article
Source: the star
Author: Daniel Dale
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