Photo by B. Shakyaver
Changes to Port Blake Park are on the docket for this Summer, and South Huron Council was struggling with a new proposed payment structure at their meeting on Monday (April 15).
The Port Blake Park Revitalization Plan has proposed the implementation of an automated pay-by-license plate parking meter system – as opposed to the historical system which saw staff manning a gate and collecting fees only during conventional daytime hours. Which Deputy Mayor Jim Dietrich said led to a substantial loss in revenue in the evenings.
On the table for the upcoming season, an automated pay kiosk with a substantial fee increase of $30.00 per passenger vehicle (with residents of South Huron exempted) and with no buses or recreational vehicles permitted. The previous fee structure (which had not been updated in over a decade) charged $5.00 per person, $12.00 per carload, or offered a $60.00 Seasons Pass.
Councillor Vaughan said that it was an appropriate amount to charge based on what’s charged elsewhere.
Questions also arose regarding the implementation costs of the automated pay-by-license plate system and the rationale behind the proposed entrance fee. Councillor Vaughan said that it was comparable to rates elsewhere.
Council members acknowledged the need for further operational discussions, particularly regarding the proposed criteria for free entrance granted to South Huron residents and the specifics of enforcing vehicle restrictions, and logistics for ticketing non-paying offenders.
Despite differing opinions on certain aspects of the plan, there was a consensus on the necessity of initiating action to address the park’s needs – with the summer bearing down on any implementation of new fees or rules.
Written by: B. Shakyaver
