You can expect to dig a little deeper into your pocket this summer if you want to park in downtown Bracebridge.

On Monday, the Bracebridge administration and finance committee agreed to a sweeping list of changes for parking in the downtown area.

Chief among the new parking provisions is the installation of 24 new metres at various locations throughout the downtown, and an increase in the hourly cost of all metres to 75 cents per hour, up from 50 cents per hour.

Of the 24 new metres, eight will be located on Quebec Street between Dominion Street and Kimberley Avenue, seven on Ontario Street between Dominion and Kimberley, four on Willis Street between Manitoba and Morrison streets, three on Wharf Road where a two-hour limit currently exists, and two on Dominion in front of Inn at the Falls.

No-parking zones will be established on James Street between Mary and Ida streets on both sides of the road, and on a narrow section of James Street north of McDonald Street. A two-hour parking limit will also be enforced on James Street between McDonald and Ann streets.

The committee agreed to consider the use of pay and display metres at both on-street and off-street locations, but only when they examine the replacement of the existing metres.

They also agreed to maintain the status quo on parking tickets.

Town staff recommended the cost of the metres remain at 50 cents per hour, but Mayor Don Coates said now is the appropriate time to consider an increase.

“The BIA (Business Improvement Area) has suggested we move to $1 an hour, and most of the other municipalities around here are 75 cents,” said Coates. “I don’t like raising fees . . . but it seems like all we do is look for additional sources of revenue, and this looks to be another $30,000 a year.”

According to a report compiled by Scott Stakiw, chief bylaw enforcement officer, the town collects roughly $58,000 from parking metres per year. An increase of 25 cents would boost that up to $87,000 per year, he surmised, and $1 an hour would result in roughly $116,000 per year.

The report also indicated the hourly rate in other municipalities ranges from 50 cents in Midland and Parry Sound, to $1 in Barrie, North Bay and Peterborough. The median rate is 75 cents an hour, said Stakiw.

Councillor Scott Young said he supports the mayor in upping the rates.

“It’s been 50 cents an hour for years, so any increase will likely seem outrageous,” he said. “We still have lots of free parking . . . and this will prevent us from making a huge leap later on.”

Councillor Patti Thompson pointed out that Gravenhurst does not have metres at all, and said she will not support the increase.

CAO John Sisson said staff determined the new parking situation should be monitored, and a decision on rate increases reserved for later.

“There is a rejuvenation of activity in the downtown core and we didn’t want to do anything to stifle that,” he said.

Councillor Graydon Smith said the extra money generated by the rate hike will likely recoup the estimated $24,000 cost of the new metres in a single year.

“What are we waiting for? We already know how it works at 50 cents an hour,” he said.

Thompson was the lone vote against the immediate rate increase.

Councillor Lori-Lynn Giaschi-Pacini, who originally requested the parking report, said she was satisfied with the recommendation, but wanted an examination of Hiram Street, as she has received numerous complaints about parking in the area.

Stakiw said Hiram Street is not included in the report, but agreed to compile a separate report to deal specifically with the parking situation on Hiram.

The committee also heard about the installation of pay and display metres at the four downtown municipal lots, which are currently free. Provided the spaces cost 75 cents an hour and were 50 per cent occupied for eight hours a day, five days a week, the revenue would amount to $169,260 a year.

None of the councillors were willing to publicly support charging for the currently free lots, but they did pass a motion to consider it in the future when preparing capital cost estimates for parking metres.

Council also unanimously voted to increase the time limit for disabled parking, which currently varies between two and three hours, to four hours. It is hoped the increase will allow disabled visitors more time to reach their destinations.

The committee’s decision must now be ratified by town council next Wednesday.