Editor:
RE: Pay parking trials
This letter is for the record and to inform of the Banff Residents Against Pay Parking’s (BRAPP) position.
Firstly, BRAPP respects the opinions of all sides. We recognize that this issue has become contentious and it is unfortunate that emotions have run high and affected people on either side, especially at the last council. It is our position that this issue is directed to the council as a whole and not individuals.
For that, BRAPP has submitted a valid petition with 1,470 eligible Banffites signing it.
This petition was presented to Mr. Robert Earl, the Town of Banff’s CAO, on July 31. A full copy was also submitted to Alberta Municipal Affairs. We understand that Banff’s administration will be looking for technicalities within the petition so as to determine the validity of each signature within the petition.
In accordance with the Municipal Government Act (MGA), the CAO has to complete this petition review and submit to town Council within 30 days, or by Aug. 30 of this year.
The minimum number of signatures required forcing council to a vote is 824; we are clearly over that with 1,470. It’s also important to note that this is more signatures than the number of votes that either mayor or council each received in the last election. It is clear that the majority of Banffites have spoken and are not in favour of pay parking, period.
So what does BRAPP want?
First, BRAPP does not see a correlation between pay parking and traffic flow, nor as a solution to congestion. This was exemplified over the August long weekend with traffic backed up on Bear Street, Banff Avenue, Spray Avenue and Mountain Avenue.
The petition is requesting council rescind their motions on pay parking, because it’s not the wish of the community. Council does not need to wait for the petition review and can act by cancelling this unwanted trial. In accordance with the MGA, any councillor that voted in favour of a motion can put the matter forward to a vote.
Secondly, BRAPP is requesting that the pay parking matter be put to a plebiscite before any consideration for a pay parking future be contemplated.
Please park this and correct this mistake.
Alanna Pettigrew,
BRAPP spokesperson, Banff
