Rocky Mountain House town council is looking into other viable parking options for people who use the Brick’s parking lot to temporarily camp out for the night.

The Brick’s (Bauer BrandSource Home Furnishings) former parking agreement with the Town, allowing people to use the store’s parking lot, has now expired. This leaves council to decide whether to enter into a new agreement with the retail outlet.

Since July 2005, the Town of Rocky Mountain House has had agreements with Bauer BrandSource Home Furnishings in which the company was compensated for allowing visitors, RV’s, shoppers, as well as employees of downtown businesses to park in the store’s parking lot.

Over the past three agreements, Bauer was compensated with $1200, $1500 and most recently, $2000 for use of their parking lot.

On July 14, 2022, the present parking agreement expired. Administration asked council for direction as to entering into a new agreement from July 15, 2022 until July 14, 2024 for a cost of $4000 plus GST, double the previous agreement.

Mayor Debbie Baich said, “In the last few years, the parking lot that we’ve been paying for has changed with the addition of Rocky Mountain MUDD, which is wonderful, but it has taken away the size of the parking lot.” The Mayor also wondered why the cost of the parking lot doubled when it shrunk in size.

“We do have just a block away, the rec centre, swimming pool, high school, the tennis courts, there is lots of parking there,” added Baich.

She believes the Town should not renew the agreement because tax payers are paying for a parking lot where other nearby locations can offer it for free.

The parking lot, however, is listed on the Walk of History brochure that visitors can use when doing the history tour promoted with signage on Highway 11, 11A and at the Visitor Centre.
This raised Councillor Tina Hutchinson’s eyebrow, where she wondered what it would cost to have these signs taken down or replaced. Chief Administrative Officer, Dean Krause, said they have not priced it out, but believes it wouldn’t be a huge cost.

Councillor Len Phillips noted, he would like to look at other parking alternatives with a dollar amount less than $4000.

A motion from Mayor Baich to not enter into a new agreement with Bauer BrandSource Home Furnishings for use of the parking lot was not carried by council.

Councilor Phillips, instead, put forward a motion to look into other viable options for parking and to see if The Brick is willing to negotiate. The motion was carried with only Mayor Baich voting against it.