The city centre parking strategy will be tabled at Monday night’s council meeting and includes a recommendation the trial be extended on the provision there is no impact on the 2015-16 parking income budget. 

If councillors endorse the plan, it will be sent for public comment until August 28. 

The strategy lists key goals as improving parking convenience availability and accessibility for short-term parkers with a variety of alternatives including location, price and payment options. 

It also aims to improve pedestrian connections to increase park-walk behaviours and to encourage alternate transport options like buses, cycling and walking for long-term parkers. 

A “park smart” program will also be developed, with data on parking trends to be presented to councillors in February each year to help with decision-making ahead of the annual budget. 

The goals are based on the survey findings. 

They found there was a high car dependency for people visiting the CBD, the majority spent less than two minutes looking for a park and stayed for an hour or less. 

It also found the majority parked within a block of their destination, were familiar with parking locations and payment methods and there is strong support for free parking initiatives and $2 all day parking. 

Most respondents were happy to walk between one and three blocks for free or all day $2 parking, but not four blocks. 

Data showed motorists were not taking advantage of available short-term off-street parking, despite it being in high supply.