Gi Catch my drift TUGBOATS came to the rescue of a wayward freighter in Burrard Inlet on March 29. The ship's anchor came loose during yet another West Coast windstorm. NEWS photo Julle lverson iy suspends meter use Outcry from 14th Street merchants results in parking meter review Liam Lahey Contributing Writer NORTH Vancouver City’s use of parking meters on East 14th Street has been sus- pended. And the city will review: its overall city parking policy before making a final decision on whether to install meters city-wide. Rob Snowball, the owner/manager of Bosley’s Pet Food Mart on East 14th, told North Vancouver City Council on March 29 that his business is suffering because of the meters. “I'm facing a loss of about 400 customers from the previ- ous year,” he said. “Why are you penalizing the merchants on East 14th? “We want equal considera- tion and for you (council) to suspend the parking meters on East 14th and ultimately remove them.” Snowball’s argument was one of fair play. The city installed parking meters along the 100-block of East 14th Street over one year ago. The original intent was to charge motorists packing on the street 25 cents for 30 min- utes of parking on a trial basis that was to last only six to eight months. No other city streets have’ been subjected to metered parking. On average, the city makes approximately $600 per month from the meters out- side of Snowbail’s store. Merchants on East 14th Street submitted a petition to city hall demanding the park- Eee ee ing meters be removed and that motorists be allowed to park on the strect for a maxi- mum of one hour — the orig- inal bylaw. However, there are numer- ous demands for parking on East 14th Street. Visitors to the nearby Lions Gate Hospital and the Gerry Beewer RCMP building use street parking, as do cus- tomers patronizing — the street’s fetail outlets. City staff recently conduct: ed a survey on the issue of parking meters on East 14th. Of the 41 persons inter- viewed in the survey, 85% said parking meters were an acceptable method of parking control, When asked if the meters on East 14th influenced their decision to shop in the area, 17% of the survey's respon- dents said yes compared with 83% who said no. “There’s been a tremen- dous amount of studies done on the issue of parking,” said Coun. Darrell Mussatto, who favours meter parking as a means to contro! the traffic flow. “I guarantee you if we take the parking meters out those businesses will decline ... peo- ple will be out there crasing the chalk marks on their tires (made by parking enforce- ment officials).” Coun. Barbara Sharp also favours parking meters in the city, but not solely on one street. “The city should have got Any car on our lot. 720 Marine Dr, North Van 339-7a9s a Ste te eré‘on the North Sho at this earlier ... it’s unfair,” she said of Snowball’s plight. But not all of council sup- ports the use of parking meters in the city. Coun. John Braithwaite argued again:’ their installa- tion despite the fact char theic aim was to increase the park- ing turnover rate and to assist parking enforcement officials. “Putting meters on the streets has not solved our parking problem,” Braithwaite said. “The only thing thacll happen is we'll make a lot of money, that’s fine if that’s what we're after. “Our bylaw officers are committed but deadly, no one gets away with (illegal) park- ing and that’s good ... “I don’t think parking meters get people out of their cars (and onto public transit), show me where that (meters) gets people out of their cars and I'll Support meters all over the city.” Braithwaite suggested sus- pending the meters until a public policy committee meeting can be held to debate the matter further as opposed to the suggestion that the city hire a consultant to study the Be Dazzled We specialize in custom design #23 2835 Marine Dr. West Von 922-3014 (rack taney CORRECTION NOTICE tn our B3-1 Spring inte Fashion Flyer, Calvin event at the Bay § Pages 1 to 3, should have read, “Sale starts Wednesday, April 7; Fal “Excelio” indoor/outdoor bar- i becue on page 30 photo is incer- rect. Sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused. parking issue and report back to council. “Ler’s put it to a public meeting. If they (the public) say ‘we want parking meters all over the city’, then Pl go along with the majority,” he said. “We don't have to hire a consultant to tell us ‘yes we need parking, meters.” Mussatto and Braithwaite exchanged verbal spears on the consultant issue. Mussatto favoured hiring the consultant so council could make a more informed decision. Coun. Stella fo Dean sided with Braithwaite on the con- sultant argument as she quipped, “(Hired) consultants say what you want them to say, they know where their salaries are.” Council eventually decided 1o refer the matter to the advi- sory planning committee, the North Vancouver Chanber of Commerce, and a policy com- mittee for further input. 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