The Sarasota Police Department took over all city parking operations on Wednesday, after more than a year of public criticism and concerns about the parking division’s financial stability.

The transition will not impact existing parking rules or enforcement. All employees within the city’s parking division have now been transferred to SPD, city spokesperson Jan Thornburg said in an email.

Parking payment and permitting services will still be available to residents at Sarasota City Hall.

SPD Spokesperson Genevieve Judge said that the program will be overseen by a police lieutenant, the position previously approved by the city commission.

“The department does not plan to create additional positions immediately following the transition. However, SPD has several previously approved, vacant positions it intends to fill in the future,” Judge said in an email.

Parking Services will remain an enterprise fund — meaning it is expected to pay for itself — outside of the department’s operating budget. The transition will not affect the city’s existing debts related to parking. The city commission and city manager will also continue to manage parking policy, such as rates and enforcement hours.

SPD Chief Rex Troche noted in a statement on Wednesday that his department had previously overseen city parking enforcement.

“This transition creates opportunities to strengthen training, improve coordination and better support our employees as they serve residents, business owners and visitors throughout the city,” Troche said.

City Manager Karie Friling approved the overhaul without a formal vote from city commissioners. She signaled the move in her 100-day report published earlier this month, where she also called for the city to “continue simplifying the parking program” and expand services such as validation and valet options.

Parking Services employees will now be known as “Parking Ambassadors,” who will work with the police to be trained on de-escalation techniques and will see a change in uniforms and equipment.

“The Sarasota Police Department will evaluate future equipment needs, including the potential use of body-worn cameras, as part of its planning process,” the SPD statement said.

The Sarasota Parking Division has charted troubled waters this year.

In July, its general manager left for a job in the private sector. 

Reporting by Suncoast Searchlight found that although the city’s parking division was envisioned to pay for itself with fees and citations, it had not been able to do so for over a decade. The $15.6 million St. Armands parking garage, built in 2019 to support business and tourism on the island, has also fallen short of the revenue projections envisioned by city officials.

The parking division has received $3.9 million from Sarasota’s general fund since 2013; the city commission voted to extend paid parking hours and eliminate free parking all-day on Sundays.

This led to pusback from downtown business owners, who claimed the changes over this previous summer led to a dramatic drop in customers. The city commission later rescind the extended hours.

Much of the frustration from downtown business owners with Sarasota’s parking policies culminated at a city hall open house in August, where attendees erupted at the lack of a verbal public comment.

Christian Casale covers government and politics for Suncoast Searchlight. Email him at christian@suncoastsearchlight.org.