City council is looking at when to end free parking in downtown Kamloops.

On March 20, Kamloops council authorized free parking in the downtown area as demand for parking decreased when businesses temporarily shut their doors, according to the council’s agenda, which will be presented May 12 during a regular council meeting.

“With the premier’s recent announcement, the province is scheduled to lift restrictions around social distancing and will allow some businesses to reopen after the May long weekend. When this takes place, available parking in the downtown will be minimal if parking continues to be free,” according to the agenda.

City staff recommend that parking is re-instated in two phases.

Phase one would occur after May long weekend for on-street parking and phase two would occur after July-long weekend for “city-owned surface lots and the Seymour and Lansdowne Street parkades,” according to the agenda.

If businesses continue to work restricted hours due to COVID-19 and can’t pay for monthly parking, council may choose to extend phase two until after August long weekend (Aug. 4), according to the agenda.

“This continuation will also support monthly pass holders for City-owned surface lots and the parkades who did not receive a refund for their monthly parking pass between March 20 and March 31, 2020,” according to the agenda.

Council will make a decision during the next regular council meeting.

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