The city could make motorists pay in two of the remaining shopping districts that still have free on-street parking.

The only parking restrictions on Richmond Rd. in Westboro and Wellington St. W. are the posted time limits. There is no charge to park.

That could change as early as November.

Kitchissippi Coun. Jeff Leiper wants a full community consultation on implementing paid parking or other ideas because parking demand is outpacing supply. The status quo could also be an option.

"I don't think there are any foregone conclusions here," Leiper said Wednesday.

Leiper said he has heard that people are having trouble finding parking spots in Westboro.

"There's a least a perception that a lack of parking is hindering business," he said.

One way to make vehicles vacate spots is by forcing motorists to pay.

The city completed a parking study in Westboro based on 2011 data and found there was enough parking to meet the demand without implementing paid parking. The results fuelled a debate at the transportation committee in 2013 about standardizing parking rules in the city.

But even that study recognized that intensification in Westboro increased since the data collection.

Mary Thorne, executive director of the Westboro Village BIA, said the organization has been conducting its own parking surveys since the city's 2011 investigation to see how the parking capacity can be improved.

"There hasn't been any discussion around the steps forward," Thorne said.

"Parking is always an issue in a retail district. When a customer comes to an area, they usually want to park in front of where they want to go."

Other central commercial areas -- such as Elgin St., Bank St., Somerset St., Preston St. and the Byward Market -- have paid on-street parking.

Thorne said if the city considers paid street parking for Westboro, it shouldn't be the only business area under the microscope.

"I think whatever we do, Wellington West is right next door to us and I think we should be looking at it as a joint effort," Thorne said.

Leiper agrees Westboro and Wellington West should be considered together.

Zachary Dayler, executive director of the Wellington West BIA, said his organization is polling businesses.

"It's varied. Some businesses are supportive of paid parking as an idea and some businesses are not," Dayler said.

Dayler said it would be a "shame" if the city would implement paid parking solely as a revenue generator.

"It will be very important that if the city explores paid parking that there is a clear need for it," Dayler said.

jon.willing@sunmedia.ca

Twitter: @JonathanWilling