Parking nets city hall $1.4 million
It turned out to be another expensive year for Kamloops motorists who didn’t obey they city’s parking rules.
According to the corporate and community affairs year-end report, the city’s bylaw services handed out 22,665 parking tickets, generating $351,603 in revenue in 2011.
Those numbers are up from 2010, when the city handed out 20,967 tickets for $343,134.
In total, parking activity generated $1.44 million for city coffers in 2011, including $603,390 from parking meters.
That number is down slightly from the $1.45 million generated in 2010.
The report noted the overall loss in revenue is related to a drop in monthly-permit revenue, primarily due to the development of the new Sandman Hotel on Lorne Street and the subsequent loss of parking spaces.
Bylaw enforcement was also busy in other areas of the department.
The city dealt with 7,070 complaints in 2011, handing out 3,273 warnings for various offences, while issuing another 1,587 tickets.
However, it was a softer bylaws department compared to previous years.
In 2010, the city handed out 2,805 tickets and more than 5,000 warnings.
The city saw a 44 per cent decrease in public-noise complaints and a 56 per cent drop in alcohol offences in parks.
Through 2011, eight graffiti-related charges were laid.
The wet spring and late start to the summer meant more Kamloopsians could hold onto the money in their wallets to keep their lawns green.
The city handed out just 33 water-restriction fines in 2011, compared to 60 in 2010, 123 in 2009, 109 in 2008 and 158 in 2007.
It was also a better year to be a dog.
The city impounded 418 canines, euthanizing seven in 2011.
That indicates a steady decline in the last five years.
In 2010, the city impounded 483 dogs, while euthanizing 18 animals.
In 2007, 556 dogs were impounded, leading to 75 being euthanized.
The entire department report will be presented to council at today’s (Jan. 31) regular meeting.
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