Council to Consider Parking Management Plan for Downtown Melbourne
Published on August 08, 2025
The Melbourne City Council will review and discuss a proposed plan to improve parking in Downtown Melbourne during its regularly scheduled meeting on August 12. The meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chamber, 900 E. Strawbridge Avenue, Melbourne.
The parking management plan that will be presented before the City Council is the result of a comprehensive study by the City’s consultant, THA, that included observation and evaluation of existing parking; review of current policies; and three public meetings with business owners, residents, and stakeholders to obtain meaningful information, opinions, and recommendations for improving parking in Downtown Melbourne. The most recent public meeting was held on July 26 to present the draft plan and gain additional feedback from residents and business owners before finalizing the presentation for City Council.
THA’s study found that the main issue with Downtown parking was the low turnover rate in front of the stores and restaurants on New Haven Avenue. Overall, there is sufficient parking, but patrons and visitors are not finding spots in the core area because too many parkers are not observing the three-hour time limit.
If Council approves, staff will begin to implement the first phase of the parking management plan that calls for improving enforcement of the current three-hour time limit for on-street parking in the heart of Downtown. This will involve updating City code and also hiring a parking management contractor to handle enforcement. The plan also recommends forming a stakeholder group to provide ongoing input on Downtown parking issues.
THA’s recommendations also include improved street signage and lighting and consideration of paid parking if enforcement efforts are not effective. The proposed rate would be $1 an hour and would only be charged for the most convenient, on-street parking spaces. The City Hall parking garage and surface lots would continue to provide ample free parking for Downtown visitors.
For more information, please see the City Council Agenda Packet for August 12 (Item 14).