St. John's council delays vote on fee increase for judges' parking

St. John's city council has delayed voting on whether to increase the cost for judges' parking after councillors asked for more time to look at the issue.

The Department of Justice and Public Safety currently pays for 21 spots near the Supreme Court building on Duckworth Street, but at a reduced rate compared to public spaces.

City staff recommended that council increase the total for parking fees from $30,000 to $80,000 per year.

Coun. Jonathan Galgay had been leading the recommendation, saying it was time the city stopped giving the province a break on the rate.

Delay

However, on Monday at City Hall, councillors had questions and wanted more time to consider the issue. They requested that the finance committee have another look at the matter. 

Committee chair Danny Breen said there are much bigger financial issues at stake than just the parking spaces.

"We have to look at it through a larger framework with the province," he said.

Breen said the amount of questions coming from the council chamber justified the delayed vote.

"I think there was enough questions around councillors who wanted to look at it ... through a bigger picture kind of look, as well as to understand the issue better."

A new framework

The city is hoping to change how the two levels of government do business together through upcoming budget talks with the province.

For example, the city wants government to start paying property taxes on buildings like the Health Sciences Centre and Confederation Building.

With those budget meetings just around the corner, Breen said the city needs to be patient in solving issues related to fees and taxes.

"I'm expecting we're going to be able to make some progress," he said.

"This is a long process, the problem has been there a long time, and the solution is not a short-term one, it's a long-term one."