Free evening parking in Winnipeg's downtown will remain, but will likely be scaled back.

Drivers will face a two-hour time limit if the recommendations of a city committee are accepted by council.

Members of the city's Alternate Service Delivery Committee were concerned about a plan by the Winnipeg Parking Authority (WPA) to start charging for evening parking. The committee was concerned the plan might dissuade people from coming downtown, and thereby stifle business.

If the parking proposal is approved, the new rules would come into effect in October and cover 900 spots in the downtown. (Darren Bernhardt/CBC) Instead, a compromise to offer free, but limited, parking was reached. The proposal must still be voted on by council at a meeting next week.

If approved, the time limits will be in effect between 5:30 p.m. and 10 p.m.

Randy Topolniski, the WPA's chief operating officer, said the limits will be tracked by parking authority personnel using camera-equipped vehicles.

"It's all based on GPS and vehicle location and the ability to read plates," he explained. "So it's simply driving up and down the streets and it will identify and pinpoint cars that are staying [too long]."

The hope is the limits will keep people coming downtown, but also force some turnover so people can find places to park.

"It does mean, however, that some of the people that work downtown in the evening are going to have to find alternative arrangements," said Coun. Jeff Browaty, who chairs the committee.

The new rules, which cover 900 parking spots downtown, will come into effect in October if OK'd by council.

For those headed to a hockey game or a concert that runs more than two hours, the WPA suggests you use one of the more than 20,000 off street parking spots available downtown.