THE Georgetown Mayor and City Council will soon apply to Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan for confirmation of the Georgetown parking meters by-laws, Town Clerk Royston King has said.
In a statement issued on Saturday, King noted that the Georgetown Metered Parking By-laws have already been approved by the City Council.
“These by-laws seek to enforce general and specific measures to ensure the integrity of the Parking Meter project will be fully introduced in the City of Georgetown on January 9, 2017,” the Town Clerk said.

Under the Municipal District Councils Act, Chapter 28:01, section 304, the system to make by-laws are stipulated and explained to facilitate such legal arrangements, within the Georgetown municipality.
It was pointed out that subsection (1) (a) gives the Council the power to make by-laws “for regulating any of the things which the Council is empowered to do, establish, maintain, carry on, control, manage, regulate and prescribe fees, charges, licences and permits (including the condition thereof), in respect of any such things.”
King noted that copies of these by-laws are available at the offices of the mayor, town clerk and City Constabulary at reasonable hours (Monday-Friday 09:00 hrs – 16:00 hrs.), for public inspection without payment.

However, it was further noted that anyone who is desirous of a copy of the said by-laws or of any part thereof, could obtain same from the office of the town clerk for the sum of $3000.
“These by-laws are available for public inspection without payment for a period of 14 days commencing from Wednesday, December 28, 2016 – Monday January 10, 2017.”
Currently, parking is free in strategic locations; however, paid parking will take effect from January 9, 2017. Officials of Smart City Solutions, the company which has been contracted to do the parking meter project, said they are currently sensitising drivers and other commuters on the use of the meters and how it could be operated.
Drivers will be required to purchase “parking cards” from the Smart City Office or other vendors, in order to park at a designated area and will be required to pay $50 for every 15 minutes or $200 for every hour. The prices were approved by the Mayor and City Council (M&CC).

The parking cards will be available for either long or short-term use and drivers will be required to refill the card for a specific value. After inserting the card, a receipt will follow which drivers must place on the front windscreen, so inspectors will see that the spot was paid for.
It was also noted that drivers will pay for parking from Monday to Saturday only, between 07:00 hrs – 19:00 hrs.