Vote to stop paid parking at Enmax Centre shot down

The issue of paid parking at the Enmax Centre has been a hot button talking point lately. City council voted in May to move forward with a five dollar paid parking idea at the event centre starting in September. Lethbridge Councillor John Middleton-Hope filed a motion to city council asking them to rescind paid parking at the event centre, citing a lack of community engagement prior to the decision being made. He said he has also received a number of complaints from residents during the implementation of the decision. The motion was shot down by a 5-4 vote. Some of the councillors explained the reasoning behind their decisions.

Councillor Jeff Carlson voted against the motion and said, “Simple math says that if you grab your friends minivan, and say I’ll pick up nine of you, it’s $0.55 each. I think there are various ways to avoid paying this if people so choose.”

“But, I must stress that I believe there are conditions, in particular expenses that have not been clearly articulated. Which in turn has adversely affected councils decisions,” expressed councillor John Middleton-Hope, who had his motion rejected.

Paid parking will continue starting in September at the Enmax Centre.