“At the time, we were unable to detail the actual increase, as this information would be released with the user fee guide as part of the 2019 budget process in February,” he said, later adding the December notice said the “fees were going up in line with the Downtown Parking Master Plan.”

“Once the user fees guide was released in February, an additional notice was sent to all permit holders and they were invited to comment during the budget discussions at council in February on the increase prior to the approval of the budget on March 5, 2019.”

However, the editing history on the user fee guide document shows final edits were made Jan. 23 — prior to the renewal deadline. The city’s tax-supported operating budget, which includes user fee revenue, was first made public Jan. 24.

He also said the proposed increases were developed during budget preparations in the fall before being released with the budget.

Zettle later added that emails were sent out Feb. 5 “to provide one month to users to comment on the rates prior to the approval on March 5, 2019.”

Asked why the city did not deviate from the standard month-long window, and instead notify residents ahead of the Jan. 31 deadline, Zettle said: “It is a standard practice that we follow.”

Money for new parking

The reasoning behind the increase, Zettle said, is a decision made by council last spring.

In May 2018, council voted against the return of paid on-street parking in downtown Guelph. At the time, city staff said money was needed to pay for improvements and the construction of new parking spots downtown, such as the Wilson Parkade currently under construction.

Instead, council voted in favour of gathering the money through a mixture of tax funds and increases to parking permit fees.

At the time, councillors were told that monthly permits would be going up to between $130 and $160 under that plan, bringing in $4.2 million in revenue, or 61 per cent of the city’s parking budget. The remaining 38 per cent would come from property taxes.

According to this year's budget, the decision to cancel paid on-street parking downtown will lead to an additional $600,000 in taxes, equivalent to a 0.26-per-cent levy increase.

“Staff have since worked to adjust parking fees across the city to ensure the fees were raised in an equitable manner based on the amenities and location of the facilities,” Zettle said.

Zettle said this resulted in downtown facilities that are paved and sheltered, such as the West Parkade, having higher fees compared to those outside the downtown core.

“In the 2019 budget, the proposed parking fees take into consideration these criteria and the budgeted revenues detailed in the Downtown Parking Master Plan,” he said.

Under the new fees, monthly rates range from $140 for the new Wilson Parkade to $135 for lots in the downtown core to $60 for the Fountain and Elizabeth lots.

Lots on the edge of downtown, such as the Norwich, Arthur Street and the Farmers Market, come in at $100.

Zettle added that permits can be cancelled “at any time with no penalty.”

Ema said despite the increase, she will continue to use the Norwich lot as she has no other choice.

“When I go to work. I'm typically driving — not just to Kitchener where my studio is, but to wherever my clients are,” the professional photographer said.

“It’s simply not feasible to be able to take public transportation or bike my way over there.”

Ema added that when she initially moved into her apartment in 2011, she did not have a vehicle. But since then, she got a vehicle for work, and had to use the nearby Norwich lot due to a lack of parking spaces at her building.

She added a space has opened up in recent years, but her partner uses it as he drives more frequently, and it is not feasible for them to share a single vehicle.

“We have no other option,” she said of having to use the Norwich lot.

“So what's to stop them from raising it $200, $300, $500? I mean most people would have no choice but to figure out how to pay it.”

Ema added she has raised the matter with her councillors in Ward 2, James Gordon and Rodrigo Goller.

“I was shocked by that increase,” Goller said.

“It’s a big issue in that neighbourhood. We’ve heard lots about it,” Gordon said.

Goller said he has been told by city staff that if the permit increases were applied evenly throughout the city’s lots, the cost of some of the downtown lots would be as high as $175 per month.

“That’s not reasonable," he said.

“It’s unreasonable to say that they’re going to be paying $175 while someone else is paying less.”

Goller said because some residents in the area have no other option but to use the Norwich lot, he and Gordon will be looking to find a way to open up more parking in the area, such as having permit-only on-street parking.

“We're also going to reach out to a couple of organizations that are in that area that have parking lots to see if we can work out some sort of arrangement.”