Re: Hopes to offer low cost parking, St. Albert Gazette, March 14.
It is obvious, from this article, that Mike Howes, chairman of the chamber of commerce building committee, is blatantly unaware of the financial situation that the province, and by extension all municipalities, are heading into in the coming years.
It is beyond belief that the chamber, a not-for-profit organization, would attempt this construction as it appears to have very little money of its own and will be looking for funding from many places.
Let’s see what they want:
• Monies from the municipal, provincial and federal governments to fund an estimated $40 million construction (taxpayer money)
• A 99-year lease for $99 (taxpayer money)
• Parking leases to the city (taxpayer money)
• Individual taxpayer parking (takes away free parking from residents)
• Proposed park and ride during the construction period (more taxpayer money).
So, without spending more of the taxpayers’ money to pay for park and ride, where does Mr. Howes expect all the residents, who visit city hall each and every day, to park over the two-plus years of construction? There’s nowhere close by that I’m aware of.
All in all, in my opinion, this would be a boondoggle and smacks of “empire building.” Please give up on this ridiculous idea or get your funding elsewhere.
Hopefully city council will revisit, and turn down, this grandiose plan that is dependent on so much taxpayer money.
Ray Corner, St. Albert
