Burnaby resident Parvin Chami says it took six long years of “arguing” with the City of Burnaby to get resident-only parking for some of the homes on her street, which is located just north of Burnaby Hospital.
The situation had become intolerable and the parking situation “very tight” due to people from the hospital, BCIT and area businesses leaving their vehicles on the Kalyk Avenue all day.
So, the city made some changes and things improved, Chami said Monday night during a delegation before Burnaby city council.
That was then, however, and this is now and Chami chewed out city politicians after she received a city ticket warning that her vehicle would be towed after she parked it in front of her own home.
Chami told council that what makes the situation worse is that while she was ticketed in front of her own house, residents from a nearby street – Curle Avenue – are parking for long periods on Kalyk, but not being ticketed or warned by city bylaw officers or the Burnaby RCMP (Chami says local police have the “contract” to enforce parking rules on the street after hours).
“This bylaw has been working for 25 years,” Chami told council. “What happened? Has the bylaw changed?”
Burnaby’s parking bylaw limits how long people can park their vehicles on a street, but is complaint-based as far as enforcement.
Chami alleged that some Curle residents are being allowed to park on Kalyk, alleging that some of the drivers have been given permits to park on her street even though they don’t live on it.
Chami also alleges she was told by RCMP she was “harassing” these folks by calling police after hours.
“(Police) aren’t doing their job,” Chami told council. “They have no clue.”
Chami blamed the city allowing “monster” houses that have multiple suites in them, meaning more people who need to park their vehicles on local streets.
“It’s causing lots of problems,” said Chami, who has gotten 93 residents to sign a petition asking the city to enforce the bylaw.
When Chami was finished, Mayor Mike Hurley says he will make sure that city staff investigate the issue and that residents are advised as what their legal options are as far as where they can park and for how long.
Follow Chris Campbell on Twitter @shinebox44.
