The debate over free parking for military veterans is back.

After months of debate, council agreed in 2009 to offer free parking to veterans who are 60 or older, but rejected a more costly pitch to include all former members of the Canadian Armed Forces.

At the time, city staff said it would cost anywhere from $300,000 to $1.3 million a year to offer free parking to the estimated 10,000 veterans in Hamilton.

But Councillor Brenda Johnson resurrected the debate at a veterans committee meeting Tuesday at the behest of residents in her Glanbrook ward.

"It doesn't matter to me if you're 80 or 60 or 40 years old. A vet is a vet is a vet," she said after the meeting.

Two councillors on the committee, Sam Merulla and Rob Pasuta, agreed to bring forward a formal motion in the coming weeks.

"I've supported free parking for all veterans in the past and my position certainly hasn't changed," said Merulla, who also contemplated revisiting the debate in 2010.

Merulla said he anticipates an "uphill battle," noting city parking staff are leery about the cost and regulation of expanded free parking.

He said any such change would require the veteran to be the driver of the vehicle; free parking privileges wouldn't extend to friends or family.

"I think it's clear veterans want this," he said. "Let's have the debate."