Fraser Health has agreed to review pay parking at Ridge Meadows Hospital.
Maple Ridge Mayor Nicole Read recently met with Geoff Roberts, director of parking for Fraser Health, to outline concerns of citizens about pay parking at the local hospital.
Coun. Corisa Bell first raised the issue in 2012 after people complained about getting parking tickets in the hospital lots operated by Impark.
That December, the local band the Rx Rockers had parking passes displayed on their vehicles as they played a performance at Baillie House, another Fraser Health facility, but were all still ticketed by Imperial Parking.
In 2013, the city sought a legal opinion about what it could do to regulate or cancel pay parking at the hospital, but learned it had no such authority.
According to the city, Read and Roberts discussed concerns from the public, seniors in particular, about high hourly rates and the challenges predicting length of stay.
"Mr. Roberts committed to reviewing the parking rate structure," states a release from the city.
The mayor will follow-up on the items covered in the meeting receive updates on concerns raised by the public.
"I want to thank Mr. Roberts for allowing me the opportunity to bring the concerns of our public forward," Read said. "This is an important issue for our citizens and for our council and I am hopeful that we can achieve a reduction in parking rates at our hospital."
The cost is $3.50 for the first hour, $3 for each additional hour, a day rate of $8.25 and evening rate of $5.25.
Ninety per cent of the money collected from parking goes back to the hospital system, for operating costs related to maintaining the parking lot and as part of general revenue.
• Contact Fraser Health regarding hospital parking at parking@fraserhealth.ca.