Parking permit fees in the Central Business District of the city are set to increase beginning Jan. 1 following the approval of an ordinance update during this week’s City Council voting session.

The update to the ordinance increases the fees from $300 to $600, and applies to vehicles owned by any person, firm or corporation that has a place of business physically located within the two-hour free parking zones in the city’s Central Business District and who uses a vehicle or vehicles while making service calls, deliveries or pickups within the two-hour free parking zones in the Central Business District. Vehicles are required to display on the vehicle driver’s side sun visor or rearview mirror the parking permit, obtained from the City Clerk’s office.

During Monday’s voting session, Councilman Bill Reynolds, R-Ward 5, asked if this was an annual fee, which it was confirmed to be.

“And that would obviously match the parking garage fee … primarily for delivery and things like that outside businesses as well,” Councilman Jeff Russell, R-At Large, said.

The council also approved a loan to be given to 137 Water Street Brewing Company from the Jamestown Local Development Corporation. The loan is for $200,000 for 10 years at a four percent interest rate. It will be used to help with renovation of the building at 137 Water Street as well as other expenditures with opening the business. The business is in talks with the Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency about a loan and has two grant requests in to New York state, though Churchill said the project will go forward even if they do not get awarded the grant.

Chase Churchill and Jake Berg told the JLDC the business could be open as early as the summer of 2026.

Council members also passed a resolution asking the state for an increase in Aid and Incentives For Municipalities funding. The 2024-25 New York state budget included $50 million in Temporary Municipal Assistance, marking the first increase in unrestricted municipal aid in over a decade. However, this funding was only authorized for the last 2024-25 and 2025-26 with no guarantee of continuation beyond that period. As a result, the agenda notes that municipalities face renewed uncertainty and potential fiscal instability in future budgets.

Council members approved amending the 2025 general fund budget for the purchase of computer equipment for multiple departments, and a permit fee schedule update, set to go into effect on Jan. 1.

The council also briefly discussed the city’s Trick-or-Treat hours on Halloween night, this Friday, which are set for 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

“Hopefully the weather will cooperate, and everyone will behave and have fun,” Council president, Tony Dolce said.