Charitable organizations may get free parking for attendees of their events at waterfront parks in Collingwood.
During Monday night’s regular meeting, council will be considering a motion put forward by Acting Mayor Keith Hull asking for a staff report to be prepared to allow complementary parking at Sunset Point Park, Millennium Park and the Collingwood Harbour when charity events are taking place at those locations.
Hull provided the notice of motion originally during the June 6 corporate and community services standing committee meeting.
“The potential would be for staff to look at and approve, on a case-by-case basis, the use of complimentary parking in some of our metered areas when the area is being used for fundraising events specific to charities,” said Hull.
“When the intent is to raise community funds, (I’m asking) that there be latitude,” he said.
Coun. Bob Madigan also spoke to the notice of motion at that meeting.
“It’s always horrible if someone is down there for a good cause and unfortunately gets a ticket,” he said.
At the end of March, council voted in favour of adding paid parking for non-residents to Millennium Park and Collingwood Harbour to reduce existing traffic flow issues. Paid parking had been implemented at Sunset Point and Princeton Shores the previous summer as a pilot project.
Under the expanded program, residents can still park for free at the four areas if they register for a residential permit.
The public portion of Collingwood council takes place starting at 5 p.m. on Monday, June 20, and will be livestreamed on the town’s YouTube channel here.
UPDATE: Council voted unanimously in favour of asking for a staff report to be prepared to allow complementary parking for waterfront charity events at their June 20 meeting.
