As expected, North Bay City Council has supported a committee recommendation to increase free parking in parts of downtown and shorten enforcement hours.

The committee report was adopted Tuesday and the changes scheduled to take effect next month include one hour free parking at all Pay and Display areas downtown and changing paid parking hours to 8 am to 430 pm, Monday through Friday. Right now it ends at 6 pm.

Councillor Dave Mendicino says the changes are being made with one goal in mind.

“Overall, this is about bringing people downtown whether you’re living here, working here or shopping. This all part of the revitalization of the downtown which council supports,” he says.

Another recommendation also passed by council eliminates overnight parking fees in the covered levels of the McIntyre parking garage.

That won’t take effect until April.

The city is also cutting the cost of parking passes by 50 % for people who live downtown.

(photo by station staff)

Filed under: downtown parking