Windsor eyes paid parking until 9 p.m., sparking downtown backlash

Windsor City Council is debating extending paid parking in the downtown core. CTV Windsor’s Travis Fortnum reports.

Windsor drivers heading downtown for dinner or a night out could soon be paying for parking later into the evening.

Under the city’s proposed 2026 budget, administration is recommending extending paid on-street parking at meters from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. — a change that would affect roughly 900 parking meters in core areas like downtown, the university district, and entertainment zones.

City officials estimate the two-hour extension could generate about $650,000 annually, revenue they say would help maintain parking operations while keeping the overall property tax levy flat.

But downtown businesses and advocates say the proposal risks changing how — and where — people choose to spend their evenings.

‘You can’t enjoy yourself’: restaurant owner fears impact on dinner service

At Sundried Tomato Bistro on Chatham Street, co-owner John Vangeloff said parking has already become a regular complaint from customers.

“Everybody who comes in complains about the parking,” Vangeloff said.

For years, on-street meters downtown were free after 6 p.m. That changed in 2025, when paid parking enforcement was extended to 7 p.m. Vangeloff said that one-hour shift was enough to noticeably affect business.

“Big time,” he said.

Now, with the city considering pushing enforcement to 9 p.m., Vangeloff worries diners will either rush their meals — or skip downtown altogether.

“People sit here, enjoy a bottle of wine with their meal. Now they want the food to be rushed out so they don’t have to put more money in the meter,” he said.

“I mean, $1, $2, $3 is a lot of money to some people.”

Restaurant manager Nicole Gordon said parking enforcement affects staff as well as customers.

“I’ve gotten many $27 fines because I come into work, we end up busy and I’m too busy to go out and pay the meter,” she said.

“And now I’m paying $27 to come to work.”

Those parking fines could also go up under the same budget.

City administration is proposing a two to three per cent increase to all parking ticket fines in 2026, an adjustment tied to inflation and rising enforcement costs.

If approved, the increase would take effect March 1, with staff noting the delayed start would result in a brief dip in revenue early in the year.

Downtown BIA says timing puts core at a disadvantage

The Downtown Windsor Business Improvement Association said it has raised concerns about parking meter extensions with council for years, arguing the policy disproportionately affects the core.

“It does continue to detriment businesses that are in areas that have parking meters versus those that don’t,” said BIA chair Chris MacLeod.

MacLeod said the proposed extension would become another factor residents weigh when deciding where to shop or dine.

“It’s just going to be part of that decision-making process for people when they look to shop — and particularly eat and dine,” he said.

Councillor says he’s ‘not sold’ on extending to 9 p.m.

Ward 3 Coun. Renaldo Agostino, who represents much of the downtown core, said he understands the city’s need to find revenue — but isn’t convinced extending paid parking hours is the right approach.

“I certainly don’t want to move forward the extension to 9 p.m.,” Agostino said.

Agostino said he’s already been fielding calls from downtown residents and business owners and plans to bring alternative ideas forward as the budget process unfolds.

“I’ve already had plenty of phone calls and plenty of conversations,” he said.

“And those conversations and phone calls I’m certain will continue, right up until the budget process.”

Public delegations on Windsor’s proposed 2026 budget are expected to begin Jan. 12, with council set to debate whether the parking proposal moves ahead as drafted.