The majority of Banff voters have said no to paid parking in the tourist town – but close plebiscite results suggest the community is clearly divided on the controversial issue.
Asked on a ballot question Monday (Oct. 16) if there was ever a time the Town of Banff should implement user pay parking, 1,107 residents said no, representing 54 per cent of the vote, and 959 said yes, with 46 per cent of the vote.
The yes vote was much higher than in a 2000 plebiscite, when just 263 residents voiced support for paid parking. Back then, 1,138 residents voted against, a very similar number to the results of Monday’s plebiscite.
Mayor Karen Sorensen said the results indicate to her that the community remains divided on this topic.
“When you reflect on a similar question 17 years ago, clearly the mentality has changed to a large degree, and, in fact, it would have been helpful if this new result was more decisive one way or the other,” she said.
“As far as what we do with the result, it will have to come back to council at some point in the future for discussion on whether there will be any further debate on this matter.”
The plebiscite is a non-binding vote, meaning council does not legally have to adhere to the results.
Alanna Pettigrew, head of Banff Residents Against Paid Parking (BRAPP), called on council to respect the results of the plebiscite.
“We’ve got an answer now, take the answer, accept it and let’s move on,” she said.
“If they had other ways to mitigate parking and congestion I’d be more than happy to sit on a committee that addresses that, but steering away from paid parking.”
Pettigrew said she believes the results were fairly close because the plebiscite question was fairly ambiguous.
“It’s kind of like having a trick question on a test. I think sometimes people don’t understand when things are not put clearly as can be,” she said.
“Had the question been, ‘do you agree with paid parking? Yes or no?’ I think you would have had more people respond no,” she added.
“I don’t believe Banffites’ mindset has changed. I think council needs to respect the results of the question posed, just like we respect the results of the election.”
Hugh Pettigrew, Alanna’s husband who unsuccessfully challenged Sorensen for the mayoral seat in Monday’s election, also urged council to listen to the results.
“I’m really glad to hear that people voted no by majority on paid parking,” said Pettigrew. “I think council would be well advised to take that as their direction.”
The controversial issue of paid parking has long been touted by Town of Banff administration and independent consultants as one way to help deal with Banff’s congestion and parking problems.
The latest independent report, prepared by Indigo Park Canada Inc., again recommended paid parking for much of the downtown core as one option to deal with parking shortfall and traffic troubles.
“We recommend a paid parking program during times of higher demand in zones that exceed or approach 90 per cent occupancy at their peak,” according to the report, which was presented to council in September.
“By so doing, it will provide an opportunity to better manage traffic patterns by the redirection of all users that are reluctant to pay for parking to areas that are in lower demand or where parking is in abundance that would remain free of charge.”
