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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
The Yellowknife Daycare is fed up with vehicles parked all day in the street out front and wants the city to do something about it.

Linda Benedict, executive director of the Yellowknife Daycare Association, says morning commuters to work are grabbing the prime parking real estate out front on 51 Street, where parking meters are good for up to two hours and plugging coins into the meter throughout the day until their work day is through.

This is causing headaches for parents trying to pick up or drop off their kids at the daycare.

"Its a safety issue, when a parent has two children, a bag from lunch and a craft their child made that day, and has to juggle all these things and cross the street it can be really dangerous," Benedict said.

"We really want the area in front of the daycare designated a loading zone," said Benedict, who's been with the daycare for 10 years. She hopes a loading zone of four spots will be designated in front of the centre between the hours of 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. for child drop-off, and between 3 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. for pickup.

The city agrees there is an issue that needs to be addressed.

"The problem they are facing is people double-parking in front of the daycare centre, people will park all day in front of the parking meters," said Mayor Gord Van Tighem.

The city is proposing to convert two of its two-hour parking meters in front of the daycare centre into half hour meters to discourage all-day parking.

The daycare has been in business for the past 31 years, and for the last 10 years Benedict has been involved with it, parking has always been an issue.

"We're licensed for 60 children, right now we have 47 ... You can imagine how busy it can be in the morning," said Benedict.

The matter was brought before the city's municipal services committee on Tuesday where the item was discussed by council.

Benedict said the offer to change time limits on parking meters out front to 30 minutes isn't enough.

"We appreciate the offer, and we wouldn't want the city to lose revenue from the meters," said Benedict.

"That's why we think having the space designated a loading zone (for a couple hours each day) would be a better alternative."

The matter has been referred back to city administration to draw up recommendations for council.

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