Palmerston North's proposed more relaxed parking regime is likely to be supported by a $40,000 marketing campaign to boost the city's shopper-friendly image.

The city council on Monday is expected to approve a 12-month trial without parking time restrictions.

The change would mean people could park for as long as they liked in the central city, so long as they paid for it.

The idea was promoted by the Manawatu Chamber of Commerce in a submission on the city council's parking management plan.

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* Palmerston North paid parking to remain, but for as long as you like

* Parking proposals out for public comment

The council has already tried extending previous two-hour restrictions out to three hours in a trial from February that was due to end on July 4.

Nine out of 10 people who responded online about the plan supported extended time limits.

Senior transportation engineer Glenn Connelly said the average amount of parking time purchased during the trial had increased, with about 60 people a day paying for up to an extra hour.

The loss of income from tickets that would otherwise have been issued to people who parked for more than two hours during the trial was estimated at $970, likely to mount up to $2900 in a year, which Connelly said was not significant.

He said removing time limits altogether would provide "a more intuitive and flexible environment", especially for visitors to the city.

It would reduce frustration for drivers, doing away with the need to shift the car from park to park while in the central city for more than three hours.

Connelly said it was important to have turnover in the car parks so there were spaces available for those looking for them later in the day, especially with the mobility parks, that would need to be monitored.

Parking charges were expected to generally discourage long term parking on metered spaces.

"The risks in removing time limits are modest, if priced parking is retained and developed as needed."

Connelly said the benefits of doing away with the time restrictions could help fulfil the council's goal to attract more people to come in to the central city and to stay for longer, adding to the area's vibrancy.

Council staff have recommended the changes be promoted in a $40,000 marketing campaign encouraging people to come into central Palmerston North to shop, and to take advantage of the parking options.

The campaign would include posters, billboards at city entrances, and multimedia advertising.

Connelly said it would take up to four weeks to change the signs, meters and sensors to fit the unlimited parking time.

Another aspect of the plan expected to be adopted on Monday is making the Saturday morning trial of free parking until 11am a permanent feature.