It's going to be a busy night at Niagara Falls city council tonight.

There's public meetings on two development proposals along with a staff recommendation the city increase parking rates.

The pair of development proposals includes allowing for more retail development south of Wal Mart on Oakwood Drive and a plan to turn the Boathouse Restaurant in Chippawa into a condo complex.

But the most contentious issue, could be whether or not to increase parking rates.

City staff recommending rates increase between 25 and 50 cents an hour, including on street parking in the downtown core.

This despite calls from local businesses to allow for free parking inorder to encourage more traffic in the downtown.