Regina rolls out four new parking ambassadors

On Tuesday morning in Regina, there was a different type of parking officer patrolling the city's downtown streets: parking ambassadors.

The City of Regina rolled out its new parking education program on Tuesday, hoping to deal with what it characterizes as a perception problem when it comes to parking downtown. 

"The perception of residents is that things have changed over the past few months and they want to understand why. So education's a really good component that lessens the temperature of the discussion," said Mayor Michael Fougere of the new program. 

Four parking enforcement officers have been reassigned by the city as parking ambassadors, a moniker they'll take up for the next six months as the city tests out the new program. 

"[It] allows for an interaction between the ambassador and the individual explaining why they're in violation," Fougere said. 

​He noted he has heard residents' concerns about a recent parking crackdown; but on Tuesday he said parking enforcement infractions have gone down.

The ambassadors will patrol Regina's downtown, handing out pamphlets and informing motorists about parking in the area. 

"They may get the brochure and move their car and not get a ticket. And understand that next time I shouldn't park so close to a fire hydrant or a driveway or block an entrance," said Fougere.

The brochure has six pages that are meant to inform readers about such parking topics as meters, bus lanes, alleyway parking, distance between a parked car and a corner at an intersection, fire hydrants and ten ways to avoid a parking ticket. 

After the six-month period, the city will decide whether to continue with the program or to shelve it.