Bonnie Filgate of Esquire Barbershop wants council to repeal provisions put in place last year that allow for downtown businesses to have sidewalk cafes throughout the summer months.
Filgate says the decks take up downtown parking spots that are already at a premium. Each deck takes up one parking spot.
In a bid to convince council to repeal its deck policy, Filgate has created a petition that has, to date, 295 signatures.
Businesses interested in having a deck must apply each year and, if approved, are allowed to have it in place between May 1 and Sept. 30.
This year, businesses wishing to reprise last year’s deck must participate in a renewal process that includes paying a rental fee, providing their current business licence, liability insurance and ensuring deck plans meet with City permits.
New applicants must provide the necessary documentation in order to be approved by the inspector or the senior bylaw officer; the application is also referred to the Williams Lake Central Business Improvement Area Association for comment.
A maximum of two decks per block are allowed.
Filgate feels that for her customers the decks are a danger because they reduce visibility for drivers and they further limit parking and business access.
“Not (decks) downtown period. It’s just a bad idea. Table and chairs on sidewalks are fine but decks themselves are not,” she says.
“It’s winter right now and we have no decks out and we still have no parking downtown.”
City planner Liliana Dragowska says the City is working to increase public parking spaces. She says there is both on-street and off-street public parking. The latter the City recently expanded by purchasing the lot across the street from Rona. There is also some consideration being put into purchasing another lot for RV parking in the downtown. Dragowska didn’t have a count for on-street stalls but off-street, she says, there are 240 public stalls and 96 reserved stalls.
Dragowska says staff are aware of parking issues especially as they relate to seniors and people with disabilities and their access to downtown.
“Those issues are considered when we are permitting patios in the downtown area,” she says, adding if staff come across concerns about the policy or its process they can bring it to the attention of council.