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June 2013 Follow the signs to parking More than 1,000 parking spots in downtown St. Catharines Finding open parking spots downtown getting a ticket,” said Tracey Miller, the will soon be a little easier. City’s manager of Parking Services. The City is installing more than Another myth the City often hears: Park like a pro 80 green and white parking signs parking downtown is expensive. In • Parking peaks between 11 a.m. throughout downtown to direct motorists fact, the City’s rate of $1.50 per hour and 2 p.m. If you’re in a hurry, to parking lots and garages so they can is very reasonable compared to other plan your visit downtown outside easily find an open spot. municipalities and privately operated There’s a misconception there isn’t local lots. A three-hour visit downtown of these hours. enough parking available downtown. In costs less than $5 to park in any City fact, Kris Jacobson, the City’s manager spot. • If downtown parking is costing of Transportation Services, says there The City offers short-term and long- you $20 a week you’re paying are more than 1,000 City parking term parking, with most on-street spots too much. Visit our website or spots within a five-minute walk to most and some lots operating with a three- call 905.688.5601 ext. 1416 of downtown, including City Hall on hour maximum. Full day parking is for information on monthly park- Church Street, shopping on James offered at select lots and the parking ing permits. Street and dining on St. Paul Street. garages. “If you look around, there is parking to Rates apply from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. • Free bicycle parking is available be found,” said Jacobson. “Go a street with parking in any City spot free after throughout the downtown, with over in any direction and you’ll usually hours and on weekends. Motorists find on-street parking still only minutes should be mindful of posted time limits racks located at most City facili- away from where you are going.” and restrictions: The City prohibits ties, including City Hall/Market Only about 50 per cent of metered overnight on-street parking but Square, the St. Catharines Public spots downtown are being used during encourages overnight parking in long- Library, the Ontario Street Park- the day, so there are hundreds of spots term lots and garages. This ensures on- ing Garage and the Garden available on the street and in City lots. street parking is available for Park/Carlisle Street Parking The City’s parking garages at Garden short-term visits and assists with Garage. Park/Carlisle Street and Ontario Street garbage collection and snow removal are another option. The garages are activities. • Free parking is available at City close to everything downtown and For more information, search parking lots, garages and meters there’s no fear of an expired meter. “Parking Lots and Garages” at www. from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. on week- “It can be more convenient to pay on stcatharines.ca, and be sure to look for your way out and there is no risk of our new parking signs. days and all day on weekends. On-street parking is prohibited from 3 a.m. until 6 a.m. daily. Final 2013 City crews keeping water safe tax bills Water quality testing at the City’s Park and Municipal Beach safe for three beaches has begun to ensure swimming 80 per cent of the time. Residential tax bills will be mailed to it’s safe for residents to cool off in the Jones Beach was closed about homeowners on June 21, 2013. Your lake. 90 per cent of the time, but faces third property tax instalment for 2013 All summer long, water samples unique challenges due to its size and is due Friday, July 12. To avoid late from Lakeside Park, Municipal Beach location. Jones Beach is sheltered in a charges, please ensure payment is and Jones Beach will be analyzed small inlet created by the entrance to received at City Hall on or before the for rising levels of E. coli, a bacteria the Welland Canal, so water doesn’t due date. known to cause skin rashes and ear, move as rapidly as it does at the other Payments can be made in person at nose and throat infections. When E. beaches. When bacteria washes into City Hall or most financial institutions, coli levels spike to unsafe levels, red the shoreline at Jones Beach, it takes as well as through Internet banking, warning signs are posted at beaches longer to wash away. telephone banking and regular mail. advising against entering the water. The City’s beaches have been safe Payments can also be deposited in the When levels return to normal, green for swimming since the 1990s and mail slot at the James Street entrance of signs are posted declaring it’s safe to water quality continues to improve City Hall. Please include tax stubs with make a splash. with time and investment. The City payments. The City reports beach conditions continues to modernize its sewer Please don’t send cash in the mail. on Facebook and Twitter, or residents system to reduce the amount of water Pre-authorized payments can call 905.935.2722 for the beach that reaches the lake untreated. The Pre-authorized debit payment plans report. City will also study samples from are available for your tax bill as well as A leading cause for beach water waterbodies throughout the city to find your water/wastewater bill. being declared unsafe is heavy out where pollution is coming from Pre-authorized payment plans rainfall washing pollutants into and what can be done to reduce it. provide the convenience of automatic watercourses, which then empty into Learn more by searching “Beach withdrawals from your bank account the lake. While a dry summer is bad Conditions” at www.stcatharines.ca monthly or by instalment/due date, for your lawn, it’s great for the water giving peace of mind your bills will quality at beaches. be paid on time. For more information Last year was a good year for St. and application forms, search “Pre- Catharines beaches, with Lakeside Authorized Debit” at www.stcatharines. Residents can enjoy summer activities, like kite boarding ca or call 905.688.5601 ext. 1416. at Jones Beach, thanks to the City’s water quality testing. Save barrels of money Five ways to help keep our beaches clean with a rain barrel Remember how hot it was last summer? Remember how much you had to water the garden last year? Want to cut watering costs this summer? Think about using a rain barrel. The City is selling rain barrels, designed to catch and store rainwater for reuse, Saturday, June 8 at the Seymour- Hannah Sports and Entertainment Centre. The one-day sale runs from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. or until sold out. Barrels cost only $40 each, cash only. Proof of St. Catharines residency is required at time of sale. Free of chlorine and other chemicals, rain water is Don’t feed birds or Use the washroom Don’t use soaps or Use and dispose of Place garbage and ideal for helping plants thrive. Plus, reusing rainwater for other wildlife near to do your business. shampoos in the lake hazardous chemicals recycling in proper gardening cuts down on municipal water usage, saving the shoreline or other Fecal matter can lead or other watercourses. properly. bins or take them you money. It also helps reduce the amount of runoff watercourses. Always to harmful levels of home with you. that washes pollutants into the sewer system and local clean up after your E. coli in the lake. waterways. pet. Rainwater is not just for the garden. Use it for washing the car, mopping the floor and doing laundry to save even more money. Get the Garden City Current in your inbox. Sign up at www.stcatharines.ca Page 2 The Garden City Current June 2013 From the desk of MERRITTON looks like the Rockwell development PORT DALHOUSIE on Dalhousie will also be commen- A pedestrian crosswalk signal is cing now that the OMB has cleared Mayor operational at the end of Rockwood the way for construction. There Brian McMullan Avenue, allowing safe access to the are a few other possibilities being Canal Parkway as well as the St. considered by other developers so Catharines Museum for both walkers hopefully we will witness some much and cyclists. needed private investment in Port At the museum, there is an exhibit Dalhousie so that we can bring it highlighting events pertaining to the back to a prosperous and economic- War of 1812. This exhibit will be ally secure place of destination. COUN. JEFF COUN. JENNIE open to the public until August 18, COUN. LEN COUN. BRUCE Along with this private investment BURCH STEVENS STACK WILLIAMSON 2013. will come the opportunities to invest Merritton Ward residents will have For anyone planning an event, the I would like to take this opportunity in the many heritage aspects in and multiple opportunities to enjoy parks Merritton Town Hall is renovated, to wish everyone a safe, happy and around Port Dalhousie. Please keep and facilities maintained by the City accessible, air conditioned, roomy fun filled summer season. I encour- in mind that none of this develop- of St. Catharines as warmer weather and inexpensive. For availability, age you to take advantage of the ment takes away from the natural approaches. contact St. Catharines Recreation beautiful Lakeside Park, the refresh- assets of our area.