The Prince George Citizen - Tuesday, February 9, 1993 - 3 * Local news Mark Allan City Editor 562-2441 Local 503 Rental housing shortage feared Artist’s sketch of Prince George Costco building, planned near the corner of Highway 16 West and Range Road. BIG WHOLESALE-RETAIL OUTLET ‘METER PLUGGERS’ TO BE FINED $8 by BERNICE TRICK Citizen Staff Overstaying your time a little at a parking meter in downtown Prince George still means a $2 fine unless you’re a“meter-plugger.” City council agreed Monday to leave the $2 fines in place for overstaying the time paid for on meters, but to sock it to “meter pluggcrs” by handing out “overtime ticket” fines of $8. Meter pluggcrs are described by the city’s parking ticket fine review committee as individuals who hog the meters by continually plugging in additional coins. • They work downtown and insist on parking on the street. Their offence is parking longer than the maximum time limit provided at that location. “They purposely park their vehicles longer than the maximum time limit allowed by the parking meter,” says committee chairman Coun. Monica Becott. The current penalty for overtime parking is a $2 fine if paid within 24 hours — the same as fines imposed for overstaying the time paid for on a meter. The new fine has no early payment options. The practice of plugging meters has a negative effect on downtown shopping and consumers who want convenient parking near the businesses they patronize, says the committee. When parking is perceived as a problem, consumers often decide to go elsewhere. Regulatory staff at city hall are directed by council to increase enforcement of meter pluggers and especially monitor vehicles on which complaints are received. Parking control officers will monitor vehicles parked at two-hour meters through red flags on the meter and by chalking tires. First comes the $2 ticket Vehicles parked more than two hours will first receive a $2 ticket. If they are still in the same spot two hours later, an $8 ticket will be issued even if there’s money in the meter. Individuals who pay for two hours, but are 10 minutes late returning to their vehicles may find a $2 “meter-time expired” ticket on the windshield, but won’t receive an “overtime ticket ” until another two hours have passed. Coun. Rino Fomari opposed the new regulations, preferring instead to remove all parking meters. But city manager George Paul ipminded council the many examples of communities removing parking meters is equalled by just as many replacing or putting them in. Other parking recommendations approved by council are: ■ Commercial vehicles with municipal decals are no longer allowed to park free at metered spaces. “Removing these commercial vehicles from parking meters will create more parking spaces for consumers,” the report states. The vehicles can continue to park in loading zones or in back lanes for loading and unloading purposes, and drivers can park at meters provided they pay the fee and park no longer than the maximum time limit.E Holders of municipal decals will be given a two-week warning period about the new regulations ■ Regulations for utility vehicles parking at meters will be re-examined and addressed in a new parking bylaw. ■ City staff, in the process of revising the city’s parking bylaw, are to note the effects of new parking regulations for a year before reporting back to council. A public meeting held last year on parking problems determined a majority opposed increasing the $2 fine because it would produce a further decay of downtown shopping, felt meter pluggers must be strictly dealt with and believe there’s widespread abuse of parking regulations by commercial vehicles and some abuse of metered spaces by utility vehicles. Auction helps service John IJnswnrth will cnnducit an one who needs it. Bunn said. / John Unsworth will conduct an auction instead of an orchestra at the Bethesda Christian Counselling Service dinner and auction Feb. 26 in Prince George. Tickets for the auction, a fundraiser for the city counselling service, are on sale. Profits from the event will help Bethesda maintain its unique services here, Bethesda chairman Pat Bunn said in a recent interview. With two full-time counsellors and backup from others, Bethesda offers a range of services to any- one who needs it, Bunn said. Although much of their work is from referrals, their door at 575 Quebec St. is open to anyone. Bethesda also works with employee assistance programs. The non-profit association stands on its own as an independent association in Prince George. Cash grants from the city, help from service clubs, garage sales and fundraisers with local restaurants such as Wendy’s all help Bethesda, said Bunn. after fire The auction takes place at Cedars Christian School on North Ncchako Road. Tickets are $17.50. spring for others and now I find I need it myself. I guess what goes around really does come around.” Any items people wish to donate can be dropped off at the office of the Full Gospel Christian Fellowship at 2055 20th Ave. Any items not used will be re-donated to a charity. For more information, or tickets, contact Catherine Tolkamp at 962-6287 or Murray Mawhinney at 564-4780. by BERNICE TRICK Citizen Staff When it comes to finding shelter, the biggest disability in any community is to be poor, says a consultant specializing in housing. Don’t think for a moment that Prince George is exempt, said Linda Allen, who’s here from Victoria with City Spaces consultants to conduct a housing study. “Finding safe, secure and affordable housing in Prince George is becoming more and more difficult — particularly for people on fixed incomes, because there’s fewer places to rent in traditional apartments. And there’s no relief in sight, she said. “The economy is changing and the influx of UNBC students will put more pressure on housing, but there’s not much rental housing, like apartments, being built at this time.” The $50,000 study, conducted by City Spaces consultants at the request of the city’s housing and special-needs advisory committees, will determine local needs of the homeless as well as those on fixed incomes like senior citizens, the disabled and those receiving social assistance. Consultants met last week with individuals and groups such as the Senior Citizens Housing Association, B.C. Housing and Management Commission and transition houses, which provide housing to low-income people. Non-profit societies like the Canadian Paraplegic Association, AIMHI and those dealing with people in crisis are also being interviewed. * i “Next we’U do a survey of individuals who are having difficulty finding a place to call home or housing that suits their special needs,” Allen said. “This is a big chalenge because we need to find the people through agencies and then conquer difficulties always associated with having individuals complete survey forms. “Our goal is (to) bring all interested parties together in a workshop by the end of April to discuss housing issues and solutions,” said Allen. The final step will be to develop specific strategies the community can get involved in to help solve problems. City Spaces will issue a three-month progress report followed by a final document in mid-summer which Allen wants to be “a living report — something the community can immediatley get its teeth into.” lu J 1 /tl