Vancouver city councillor pushing for year-round free parking for veterans despite staff push back

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — Almost a year after council supported a motion to give veterans in Vancouver free parking all year round — a new city staff report advises against the move.

Vancouver city councillor Melissa De Genova says, council had a meeting last year where they unanimously agreed to give veterans free parking.

Now, a report from the manager of engineering services recommends no free parking and removing privileges during the week leading up to the Remembrance day.

Currently, veterans are exempt from parking fees for one week leading up to November 11.

But De Genova tells NEWS 1130 despite the setback, she is still championing the year-round privileges for veterans.

“I will keep my word to veterans,” she says.

“Staff has come back with a plan that doesn’t deliver what we asked for, but I don’t blame staff. They’re going to do what they’re told, and they answer to the city manager, and the buck stops with the mayor,” she says.

The founding president of the B.C. Commemorative Association says city staff have mischaracterized the issue.

“They feel that they’re going to have 55,000 veterans parking in Vancouver every day,” says Lieutenant-Colonel Archie M. Steacy. “It’s ludicrous.”

He also doesn’t agree with the staff’s estimation free parking could result in up to $2 million in lost revenue because many veterans don’t even drive.

Although about 57,000 veteran plates have been approved in recent years, Steacy says around 40,000 members don’t drive regularly due to age or medical reasons.

De Genova explains staff were meant to explore how to implement the parking change and says she believes the decision will come down to Mayor Kennedy Stewart.

“I’m not sure if the mayor has failed in leading staff here, or if he has had a change of heart and he doesn’t feel that veterans deserve free parking. I certainly haven’t had a change of heart and every veteran with a veteran’s plate should get a few free hours of parking in the city of Vancouver.”

While De Genova says the city has been criticized for a number of expenditures, she says giving veterans free parking “is the least we can do.”

The report says that although celebrating veterans is important free parking has financial impacts and incentivizes driving as a way to travel, which goes against the city’s climate goals.

Council is set to consider the report on Thursday.

cfsc1