Pensacola set to increase hourly parking fees. How much, and why

After raising parking fines earlier this year, Pensacola is moving forward with its plan to raise the hourly parking fee to $1 an hour.

The Pensacola City Council is set to vote on the proposed increase Thursday.

The price increase was one of the recommended changes in a parking consultant's report presented to the City Council in October. The goal of the report was to improve parking in city-owned spaces and lots and was presented to the City Council last year.

In February, the City Council unanimously approved an ordinance change that increased parking fines, including first-time fines, from $10 to $20. That ordinance also removed the provision that used city code to set parking rates, making it much easier for the city to change parking rates. The new rates will now be set as part of the city's annual budget in October.

Reeves is asking the City Council to approve a budget amendment Thursday to recognize the parking rate change.

The increase in parking rates would add an estimated $241,000 to the current fiscal year's budget.

The Pensacola City Council has not raised the hourly parking rate since 2007.

During an agenda conference on Monday to prepare for the Thursday meeting, no council members raised any questions about the fee increase.

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Pensacola parking fees downtown to increase with City Council vote