Sarasota city commissioners moved forward Monday with a plan to extend paid parking hours downtown and raise many parking fines, advancing an effort to shore up a parking system that city officials say is supposed to pay for itself.
The proposed ordinance, approved unanimously on first reading May 4, would make on-street paid parking enforceable from 8 a.m. to midnight, seven days a week. It would also make parking rules apply 24 hours a day, seven days a week in municipal garages and municipal surface lots, except on city-recognized holidays. If approved on final reading, the changes are scheduled to take effect June 1.
The proposal would not increase the city’s existing hourly parking rates. Instead, it would expand the hours when drivers must pay and increase many parking fines by $5 or more…