Quesnel City Council will continue to provide some free parking along Campus Way near the College but it won’t be upgraded, at least not for now.
Council voted down an option that would include developing the right-of-way to include crushed gravel at a cost of more than $17,000.
It will however paint some lines, put up a park at your own risk sign and plow the 55 spaces.
The vote was not unanimous however and things got somewhat heated.
Councillor Ed Coleman was opposed saying it was critical to make that parking safe now, that it is a priority action and that he could find the 17 thousand dollars in the Capital Budget.
Mayor Bob Simpson disagreed saying to suggest that we can just go ahead and find 17 thousand dollars because he believes it is a priority for the community is not based on fact and that the statement is unsubstantiated.
In the end Council agreed to go ahead with the less expensive option for now and then put the additional request into next year’s budget process.
All of this is in response to CNC’s decision to put in pay parking at the campus.