City council voted last night in favour of a recommendation from the Owen Sound Downtown Improvement Area (OSDIA) to permit two hour free street parking and unlimited free lot parking in the downtown area (subject to all other regular terms & conditions) from December 8, 2009 to December 25, 2009. City Staff advised that specific details needed to be worked out and that further information would be made available on Tuesday December 8, 2009.

The recommendations from the OSDIA came on the heels of the recent rejection by City Council of an earlier independent request from Bikeface Cycling co-owner Patty Marr (supported by a 165 name petition) to allow free parking in Downtown Owen Sound from November 20 (opening night of the Festival of Northern Lights) to Christmas Day. The original timing of Ms. Marr’s request fell in between the October and November 2009 Board of Management meetings and as such, the OSDIA did not have an opportunity to address this issue internally or to Council at that time.

In declining Ms. Marr’s request, some City Councillor’s recommended that such issues be directed to and addressed through the OSDIA. While we passionately believe that all business owners have the right to choose how and to whom they address their ideas and concerns, we also believe in the strong relationships that we maintain with our members and are pleased to represent their collective voice to City Council.

At the conclusion of Council’s November 23, 2009 deliberations on Ms. Marr’s request, they opened the door to, and offered encouragement for, the presentation of a revised set of recommendations.

At the November 25, 2009 OSDIA Board of Management Meeting, a motion was unanimously passed recommending that City Council consider a revised holiday season parking plan to allow for two hour free street parking and unlimited free lot parking in the downtown area (subject to all other regular terms & conditions) from December 8, 2009 to December 25, 2009.

The Owen Sound Downtown Improvement Area is grateful for Council’s commitment and leadership in approving our recommendations. We believe that the business and public goodwill generated by this decision will help to drive value to the “downtown experience” and will help to strengthen the downtown business climate.

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Update – December 8, 2009:  Click here to download the City of Owen Sound “Limited Free Parking” press release.