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Blame the budget, the city every nickel and dime that you can spare, literally. Yesterday, the City Council's transportation committee recommended that the free hybrid parking at meters program should end on March 1st. The program was originally set to encourage people to buy the more eco-friendly hybrid vehicles. Now with hybrids a more ubiquitous sight and with parking prices increased, giving away a free metered space is much more of a loss--up to $4 per hour per space where a hybrid is parked. The full city council will take the issue up at a future meeting.