Soon, there will no longer be free street parking in downtown Victoria on Sundays.
During a special committee of the whole meeting Monday, Victoria council voted in support of a motion by Mayor Lisa Helps to begin charging for on-street parking on Sundays beginning May 1.
The motion directs staff to begin charging for parking on Sundays at regular rates, and to use the revenue from Sunday street parking to fund bus passes for Victoria youth.
Jeff Bray with the Downtown Victoria Business Association says the complaint has been that there is minimal street parking available on Sundays, which is believed to be taken up by those working downtown. He also wants the city to take a more cautious approach.
"We certainly think that whether or not the city does an engagement strategy beforehand ---certainly to move to an immediate enforecement we would not be in support of. We need to actually make sure that people understand the change."
Parking would still be free in city parkades on Sunday and holidays.
The plan still needs to be finalized as part of the city’s budget approval on Feb. 28, although Mayor Helps suspects with the unanimous council support it received this week, that it will be approved.