“We should be all or nothing,” said Marty Hazell, manager of parking and bylaw services this week “We need to do it in one fell swoop.”

But politicians remain wary of changing the city’s parking rates, noting it could cause upheaval among residents and business owners.

“It’s a potential minefield,” said Hamilton mountain councillor Tom Jackson. “It is simply unfair to the areas that don’t have (paid parking).”

Staff is advising that all on-street parking in Hamilton and in the former suburban municipalities be $1 per hour. Off-street parking in municipal lots won’t be affected, said Hazell.

In addition, paid parking should be instituted in all commercial and Business Improvement Areas, including Stoney Creek and Waterdown, where there is no paid on-street parking, said Hazell. The $1.3 million in revenue expected to be generated will be split between the city and the BIAs.

It will cost the city about $230,000 to buy and install the parking meters. If councillors approve higher rates as part of the 2009 budget by April, the city can earn up to $800,000 in new revenue by the \ end of the year, said Hazell

“It is prudent,” said Hamilton mountain councillor Terry Whitehead. “We need ways to generate revenue.”

But other members of the budget steering committee talked about the upheaval higher parking rates may spark among residents and the local business owners in the area. Jackson said during tough economic times, small businesses in the suburban commercial areas could be detrimentally affected by people deciding to travel to a free parking lot in a plaza rather than travel to a downtown area to shop.

“I want to hear how the new economy is affecting small businesses,” he said.

Dundas councillor Russ Powers was also hesitant to accept the recommendation. In Dundas, the policy has been to move people off the streets and into municipal parking lots. He wants the city to offer a discount at municipal lots for people who park there.

“We need a realistic discounting for off-street parking,” he said.

Since amalgamation, parking meter rates across the city range from 85 cents in Dundas, to 50 cents on Concession Street and Main Street West, to $1 on James Street South.

“I am supportive of making (the parking meter rate) consistent,” said Mayor Fred Eisenberger. “We are not here to hurt the BIAs, but to create consistency.”

This is the second time this year parking officials have recommended establishing a higher on-street parking rate. During the 2008 budget sessione earlier this year, councillors deferred raising any meter rates and installing parking meters in all commercial areas until the 2009 budget session.

A report, conducted by MMM Group, recommended establishing $1.25 per hour on-street parking in Hamilton’s downtown and $1 everywhere else. The consultants wanted to phase-in the higher rates over a two-year period. In addition, the consultant recommended establishing paid parking in all commercial areas, but only if 60 per cent or more of the people in the area support it.

Hazell said there should be no phase-in of the higher parking meter rates and all commercial areas should have paid parking regardless of how many people support the idea.

The steering committee decided to refer the issue to a special committee of the whole meeting, possibly in December, to further debate the proposal.

Politicians also want to give the public a chance to present their views to the committee prior to any decision being made.