Following the Victoria city council decision to explore converting parking stalls on the Johnson Street parkade into a community garden, the local firefighters union is pushing back, saying those spaces should be given to them.
The Victoria Firefighters Association (IAFF Local 730) has been fighting for their members to have free parking reinstated after it was recently lost.
According to the union, after eliminating employer-provided parking for firefighters who report to the City’s downtown headquarters, Victoria city council has rejected their parking proposals to try to get it back.
Local 730 says they have brought forward several practical solutions to address the issue, but every proposal was rejected and the union has since filed a policy grievance with the employer, which was also denied.
“Our members are angry, and they have every right to be,” said Josh Montgomery, president of IAFF Local 730.
“The City rejected practical solutions because dedicated firefighter parking was deemed an unreasonable use of public assets. Now we’re hearing there is excess parking capacity and that those same assets could be repurposed for garden plots. That contradiction speaks for itself.”
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Going one step further than the matter being simply one of parking, the union now alleges disrespect toward its members from the City and city council.
“What began as a parking issue has now become one of respect for the members of Local 730,” continued Montgomery.
“Our members raised legitimate operational concerns, proposed practical solutions and were flat out told no. It’s hard not to conclude that those concerns were never taken seriously.”
According to the union, free, provided parking for firefighters is a standard practice throughout North America. They added that firefighters responding to a call-in should not be focused on searching for a parking space.
The Local 730 allege that Victoria is now the only fire department in Western Canada that does not provide parking for firefighters reporting to duty.
Montgomery did not specify if any of the Local 730’s proposals included the Johnson Street parkade or its rooftop.
What Victoria council passed last week was a motion brought forth by Councillors Krista Loughton, Dave Thompson and Jeremy Caradonna that has staff exploring options for a community garden space on the rooftop of the Johnson Street parkade.
Staff exploring this option does not necessarily mean it will happen, but rather that a report will come back to council with options and costs for a pilot project garden.
If it does move forward, the garden will take up approximately 16 spaces and provide between 67 to 100 community garden plots.
Currently the Yates Street Community Garden has a waitlist of over 160 individuals and the downtown core has been identified for more growing space by the Victoria Downtown Residents Association.
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