Rocky Mountain House town council is moving on from having overnight visitors staying in the Brick’s parking lot (Bauer BrandSource Home Furnishings).

The Brick’s former parking agreement with the Town, allowing people to use the store’s parking lot, has 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, double the previous agreement.

Since then, the property owner for Bauer BrandSource Home Furnishings has lowered the offer to $3000 for a five-year agreement. The other option is to change over existing signs with visitors and RV parking to be directed to the Rocky Regional Recreation Centre at a cost of $450.00 with the funds being allocated from the Engineering and Operations Budget.

The parking, however, is listed on the Walk of History brochure that visitors can use doing the history tour promoted with signage on Highway 11, 11A and at the Visitor Centre.

Councillor Merrin Fraser said, “I’m glad to see the price go down. I don’t love the five-year lock in, it is awfully expensive for a parking lot but it is nice for Market on Main season.”

Mayor Debbie Baich noted, “There’s a lot of other places that they can park, there’s lots of parking space on side streets.” Baich says she feels more comfortable with the alternative, and for the Town to change the signs.

Councillor Len Phillips believes looking at alternative, privately owned parking lots would put them in the same situation they’re in now. Phillips said the only one that wouldn’t require a private ownership lease agreement would be the Rocky Regional Recreation Centre because the Town owns and controls it.

Phillips made a motion for administration to change over the existing signs with visitor and RV parking to be directed to the Rocky Regional Recreation Centre at a cost of $450.00 with funds being allocated from the Engineering and Operations budget.

Council unanimously approved the motion.