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Rocky Point parkers will have to watch the clock

Port Moody council approves trial program to enforce time limits on parking over the weekend.

Get ready for time-limited parking at Rocky Point Park on the weekends.

After a two-year back-and-forth battle over pay parking at the park, Port Moody council approved a one-year trial of expanded parking limitations — but no meters or registering of licence plates.

The strategy will build on the four-hour restrictions already in place for Monday to Friday, extending them to Saturday and Sundays as well in a bid to increase vehicle turnover in the busy parking lots.

A staff report presented at a committee of the whole meeting earlier this month offered three other options as well: metered enforcement with parking fees, a pay-by-licence plate system that would exempt residents with registered plates while generating fee revenue; metered enforcement with no fees, which would generate revenue only if a ticket was issued; and leaving the existing parking program in place.

Council agreed on the non-metered time limits, in which a bylaw officer will chalk tires to enforce the four-hour time limit. It's not known how much fine revenue could be generated but the additional part-time officer and signage will cost about $33,500.

The decision comes after several council debates on pay parking at Rocky Point, but no formal public consultation process. Council has twice supported some form of pay parking, resulting in a public backlash from residents, visitors and nearby businesses.

Staff brought the matter back to council's attention last month to determine where it fit in with council's new strategic priorities plan.

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