SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Construction of the Somba K'e Civic Plaza is making it difficult for Yellowknifers to find places to park near city hall.

Many of the spots on nearby Veterans Memorial Drive are being used by city hall staff whose vehicles have been displaced by the heavy equipment doing the construction work.

Paying taxes and fines and doing business at city hall has become more difficult, according to resident Michelle Shannahan.

"Am I allowed to park here?" she asked. "I came in to pay a parking ticket. I'm afraid I'll come back to my car and find another ticket waiting on my windshield."

Resident Francis Jenkins appeared equally distracted. "We couldn't find a space on Veterans Memorial (Drive)," he said. "We had to park a block away."

This would not be a big deal, but Jenkins requires disabled parking.

People with small children also have problems finding parking.

"It took me 35 minutes to find a parking space. I came in to buy a business licence to work as a cleaner for my father's company. It should be more convenient to do business at city hall than this," said Stephanie Miller, who was carrying her son Spencer.

Chris Greencorn, an engineer with the city's public works department, said the construction and parking disruption was "a necessary evil."

"We are trying to make concessions as issues come up. We added a wheelchair-accessible spot ramp and put in a new loading zone," said Greencorn, adding that the parking problem should be alleviated when work is completed at the rear parking lot between city hall and RCMP headquarters in the next two weeks.