Going out in downtown Sarasota could soon come with a higher price tag.
Patrons would have to pay for parking from 8 p.m. to midnight and on Sundays under a revised ordinance approved on first reading Monday, May 4, by the Sarasota City Commission.
The changes — which must still be approved on a second reading on the consent agenda May 18 — would expand enforcement to include St. Armands Key and take effect June 1.
Currently, street parking in downtown Sarasota’s judicial district — defined by the city as Main Street and Ringling Boulevard east of U.S. 301 — is enforced from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. All other on-street downtown parking is enforced from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., at a cost of $1.50 per hour.
A time violation or unpaid meter is currently a $25 fine, while an expired registration or parking outside a marked space costs $35.
What did the Sarasota public say about the proposed parking changes?
Three people, Martin Hyde, David Lough and Rita Pogany, voiced concerns that the new rules would discourage people from patronizing downtown businesses because of the increased costs.
“This is risking the livelihoods of local businesses for no particularly good reason,” Hyde said. “Downtown evenings are about entertainment, not retail.”
How much more money will the new rules generate?
The increase in paid parking hours would generate about $2.72 million in new money annually.
Based on an average of 50,000 citations issued annually, the fine increase would generate about $280,750 a year.
Broxton Harvey, Sarasota parking general manager, told the city commission on May 4 that the expanded hours would not require additional personnel.
In response to a question by City Commissioner Kyle Battie, Harvey said the addition of paid Sunday parking would generate about $1 million.
Why does the city need to raise more money through parking?
Sarasota’s parking division is an enterprise fund, which means it should be able to fund itself without tapping city reserves.
A combination of lost revenues and an increase in maintenance costs partly attributed to the impact of the 2024 hurricane season and street flooding — especially on St. Armands Key — means that for the 2026 fiscal year, the parking department is projected to lose $270,784.
That’s based on projected revenues of $6.29 million versus $6.56 million in expenditures.
Based on city projections, the increases would allow the parking enterprise fund to operate in the black, even while paying for significant capital improvements over the next five years, such as replacement of elevators, installation of license plate readers, and new vehicles.
In the 2027 fiscal year, the anticipated combined parking revenues are almost $9.8 million compared with expenditures of $8.8 million.
“The changes would be able to put the parking division back into the black and actually stay into the black,” Harvey said, then added that it would pay for future capital improvements, including new vehicles and replacement of elevators in the city’s garages.
With the increased funding, the parking department would also fund the Bay Runner Trolley to St. Armands Key and Lido Beach, which currently costs almost $1 million and is paid for with funds the city could otherwise use to foster additional economic development.
Where else can you park in downtown Sarasota?
The city offers three public parking facilities centrally located downtown on State Street, Palm Avenue and Second Street at the Whole Foods parking garage. For more information, including garage rates, visit sarasotafl.gov/parking.
Earle Kimel primarily covers local governments in Sarasota County as well as land development and environmental issues for the Herald-Tribune. Follow him on Facebook, and X. He can be reached by email at earle.kimel@heraldtribune.com. Support local journalism by subscribing.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Sarasota to charge for parking nights and Sundays under new plan
Reporting by Earle Kimel, Sarasota Herald-Tribune / Sarasota Herald-Tribune
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