The City of St. John’s is going to stick with the current winter parking regulations.

Staff wished for the Winter Parking Ban outside the designated downtown and commercial district to come in automatically December 1 each year regardless of the weather situation. Currently, the date of implementation is a floating one, usually coming into force in early January.

Staff, noting that other municipalities in metro bring in parking bans December 1 regardless, say the floating implementation causes problems for them.

It was voted down by the majority of council at this morning’s Committee of the Whole, including Sandy Hickman.

He said “no, heck no”—now is not the year to bring in such a change because it’s an opportunity for people to get together in their small groups at Christmas.