The question of how much snow in alleyways effects parking in some areas of the city has been answered.
Snow removal is not provided as part of the Winter Snow Policy, raising the question of whether the city could, and if it should.
Ward 4 Councillor Chris Holt pointed out the contradiction of not allowing residents to build driveways because they have parking off an unplowed alley.
He wants alleys, which are also used for city services, to be looked at for what they are, infrastructure.
Administration came back with a report that shows area's in Holt's Ward, as well as Ward 2 and Ward 5 that see occupancy for on street parking jump from around half to at or above capacity when snow hits in the winter.
The report estimates it could cost up to $1.6-million a year, but Holt says cost is secondary to the need.
"We have to stop looking at it like it's, 'oh, we can't afford $1.6-million.' We have to figure out a way that we can provide the services to the residents that they pay for," says Holt. "They pay for maintenance of their alley ways and they don't get it currently."
According to Holt, councillors for wards that have little to no alleys were receptive to the issue at the previous meeting.
"I'm really hopeful residents in the more suburban wards that don't have alleys can see this and see it as being important to not just the citizens, but also the property tax base," he says.
The report also points to possible liability should issues with getting equipment into the alleys cause damage to property, and the need to have snow trucked out of the area.