Residents of Kerrisdale request prompt action from the city of Vancouver to stop workers and non-residents from parking all day / night in front of our homes. 

The city has a bylaw that restricts non-residents from parking for more than 3 hours on a block where they don't live, to help residents access their homes during the day. The issue: THE CITY REFUSES TO ENFORCE IT ON A TIMELY MANNER. (It takes six days for them to send an officer).

Our neighbourhood would like to request immediate and ongoing parking enforcement to ensure residents can access their homes.

Please sign this petition and show that our community is united. 

Here is what has been sent to our councilors and mayors, through VAN 311:

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Dear Mayor and Councilors,

The residents of the Kerrisdale neighbourhood have long suffered from inadequate enforcement and signage regarding parking. Recently, the introduction of pay parking around the Kerrisdale Community Centre has exacerbated the issue. Our community was not consulted about these changes, resulting in empty parking spaces at the centre while all-day workers crowd our streets and block intersections.

For the past four years, multiple residents have called the city to enforce the 3-hour parking bylaw, but it often takes up to 7 days for an inspector to respond.

I would like to request a solution from the city. Despite speaking with multiple city clerks, the following proposed solutions have been rejected:

   A) Signage: I offered to pay for signage on our streets to indicate the "3-hour rule" bylaw. The response was, "No, we don't do that."

    B) Enforcement Timing: Enforcing the 3-hour parking restriction after 7 days is wasteful, as vehicles have usually moved by then. Enforcement on the same day is not possible according to the clerks. If there is a bylaw, shouldn’t it be enforced in a timely manner?

   C) Resident-Only Parking Signs: Many neighbouring buildings have requested signs stating "Residents of this block only." It has not worked, for these reasons:
        a) The consultation process takes over a year.
        b) Notices are poorly written and imply that residents must purchase permits rather than starting with a simple "two-hour parking except for residents" rule.
        c) Rules and types of parking signage, including potential cost of permit, are unclear for residents.
        d) Small buildings require approval from residents of adjacent tall buildings (who aren't willing to lose their "second parking spot".
        e) Notices include cumbersome links and lack QR codes.
        f) Responses require phone numbers and emails, which some residents do not use. Incomplete responses are rejected, and the consultation process is poorly communicated.

Several solutions could improve the parking situation for residents, but action is needed beyond simply collecting fees. I urge you to investigate the enforcement methods and response protocols. I have frequently had to carry groceries and assist a special-needs child over long distances due to non-residents avoiding parking fees.
Examples of solutions:
- Street Ticketing Agents: Allow residents to call for enforcement, using a list of license plates from our buildings. Agents could mark tires and return in three hours to issue tickets.
- Empty parking lot tax: charge landlords for empty parking spaces. A building near us has over twenty empty spaces; tenants refuse to pay the high fee charged by the landlord and crowd our streets (while parking spots sit empty).
- Improve the consultation process, resident feedback, and reduce red tape. Stop pushing the medium and low residents away from the city, kindly listen to us.
- Remove the NEW pay per parking regulations from 43rd Avenue (Community centre) and reduce it to 2 hour free parking. This will provide overflow for residents and our visitors.

I encourage you to experience the problem firsthand: for the next few weeks, whenever you need to drive to your home, imagine your spot is taken and park five blocks away; walk to your residence carrying your baby, hauling groceries, pushing your son's wheelchair. This exercise might offer insight into finding solutions for our parking problems (walking into someone else's shoes). The bylaw seems to be on our side, but city enforcement needs to keep pace.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

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