ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
Date: 14 July 1997
Dept. File No. 3655
CC File No. 5654
TO: Vancouver City Council
FROM: General Manager of Engineering Services
SUBJECT: Parking Meter Program Review
RECOMMENDATION
THAT the purchase of parking meter equipment totalling $310,000 be
approved as detailed in this report, funding to be from increased
meter revenue.
COUNCIL POLICY
Council supports the installation of parking meters to better regulate
street parking in commercial areas with the support of local
businesses.
Subject to Council discretion, any recommendations for increased staff
or enhanced programs must be accompanied by recommendations for matching
cost savings or related revenue increases.
PURPOSE
This report reviews the City's parking meter program and recommends the
purchase of additional meter equipment.
BACKGROUND
On January 9, 1996 Council reviewed a report on the Parking Meter
Program and approved the following recommendations relating to the
purchase of meter equipment:
THAT Council approve a one-year parking meter replacement program
(1300 meter spaces) at an estimated cost of $600,000, together with
the other 1996 costs identified in Appendix A of the Administrative
report dated December 21, 1995. Funds to be provided from increased
parking meter revenue.
THAT following the parking meter replacement program and other
measures to reduce vandalism, staff report back in one year on the
need for future meter replacements.
On May 15, 1997 City Council approved $240,000 for the purchase of
electronic parking meter mechanisms with $180,000 provided from
Supplementary Capital and $60,000 from the meter replacement fund.
RECENT ACTIONS
Over the past two years staff have taken a number of steps to improve
the City's meter operations. These include the replacement of older
fragile meter cases with hardened cases, increased number of electronic
mechanisms, and greater emphasis on coin collections including the
recent transfer of this operation to Engineering Services.
In 1996 the City spent approximately $800,000 on parking meter upgrades.
This included the purchase of hard meter housings and additional
electronic meter mechanisms as well as some meters for expansions. At
the time this was presented, Council asked that details of future years'
programs be reported back.
The City now has two types of meter housings with 4400 mechanical
mechanisms and 1500 electronic meter mechanisms.
This past year the City has dealt with some problems with the electronic
mechanisms, particularly the ones purchased in 1995. These were
eventually replaced under warranty. In addition, all the electronic
mechanisms were adjusted so that any tolerance reading coins would be in
favour of the customer.
Staff also implemented the extension of parking meter hours on April 9,
1997, and the parking fine increase on April 14, 1997. This work was
completed ahead of schedule and will result in greater revenues this
year than expected.
PURCHASE OF METER EQUIPMENT
In 1997 it is recommended that additional meter equipment be purchased.
This includes the purchase of 100 twin and 100 single meters for
maintenance purposes and 150 twin meters for projected meter expansions
(eg. North of 4th from Burrard to Granville, Commercial Dr. expansion,
and Collingwood district). The estimated cost of this requirement is
$310,000 including installation costs.
In addition, Council as part of the Supplementary Capital Budget
approved the purchase of 1000 Electronic mechanisms. These have much
greater flexibility than the mechanical equipment and, with a greater
number, the City will be able to introduce Smart Cards for payment. In
addition, it is more difficult to obtain mechanical parts for
maintenance and rate and time changes. It took four months to get parts
for the recent rate change approved by Council, while the electronic
meters were all changed in one week with no need for parts.
FUNDING SOURCES
The $310,000 to purchase parking meters for maintenance and expansions
would be funded from further increased meter revenue in 1997. Revenues
will be at least $475,000 above the 1997 budgeted amount with more
detailed estimates provided in the September budget review. In addition,
Council approved $240,000 for replacement of meter mechanisms, with
$180,000 funded from the Supplementary Capital budget and the balance
from the parking meter replacement fund.
FUTURE INITIATIVES/REPORTS
Staff are continuing to review the parking meter and parking enforcement
programs. These reviews include: the impact of the recent parking meter
changes; organizational review to rationalize the street parking
operations; and various improvement initiatives that include the
potential for hand held automated ticket writers, the use of smart
cards, the use of IVPM's (In Vehicle Parking Meters), revised meter
hooding practices, new collection cart design and collection procedures,
and other system improvements.
These items will be reported to Council as work proceeds, along with any
further changes required to respond to the recent expansion of the
parking meter program.
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