Hollywood OKs Free Downtown Street Parking

HOLLYWOOD (CBS4)- Businesses and commuters in Hollywood are rejoicing after a decision on public parking.

The Hollywood Commission agreed on Wednesday to remove parking meters from the surface spots to encourage traffic downtown, CBS4 news partner The Miami Herald reported.

Commuters can park for free as of Dec. 1, but there will be a three-hour limit in most of the nearly 1,500 spots, the Herald reported.

There are some fee changes at other locations. The city will begin charging $1 an hour for parking in the Downtown's two garages. Previously, the first two hours were free.

According to the Herald, business owners begged commissioners to make the change after they said people don't frequent downtown because of the hassles of parking.

But two of the six commissioners present were concerned with the cost to the city. Waiving parking fees is expected to cost the city more than $1.4 million.

One of those commissioners, Heidi O'Sheehan, said she couldn't justify waiving parking fees without knowing how the city would make up the loss.

But Mayor Peter Bober, who has been a proponent of free parking, said the city has to do something to make it easier for people to come out.

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