City to add parking enforcement, amend police contract

Editor's note: The above photo has nothing to do with this story but seeing a blighted, abandoned nightclub torn down along the scenic Gorge View Bike Path a stone’s throw from the Underground Railroad Museum. Now onto the real story.

A week ago, a Niagara Falls Council agenda item was pulled at the beginning of the meeting. It will be readdressed in a special meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday.

A PDF of the supporting document is attached below. Please consult it if my interpretation needs clarification or is incorrect.

That items was two-part:

1. Amend the Police Club contract to add 1.5 hours of straight-time pay weekly for briefing.
2. Overtime pay begins at 15 minutes over the time of a planned shift.
3. The city will hire parking enforcement agents and the police club won’t object.
   1. (Editor’s note: In 3 years since moving to Niagara Falls, the only time I have seen a parking ticket when we parked overnight on the wrong side of the street. I tell tourists all the time not to bother paying to park because there is no enforcement. That will change. It is good.)
4. Forced overtime will continue.
5. The agreement continues through Dec. 31, 2026