ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

Date: March 30, 1998
Author/Local: B. Macdonald 7347
CC File No: 5654

TO:	Vancouver City Council
FROM:	General Manager of Engineering Services
SUBJECT:	Parking Meters - Sponsorship for a City Prepaid Debit Card Trial and By-Law Changes

RECOMMENDATION

A. THAT staff issue a Request For Proposal for sponsors for the purchase, issuance, and promotion of a Debit Card for use at parking meters, for a trial in the Kerrisdale business area. Staff would report back on the details and financial implications prior to the trial.

B. THAT the Parking Meter By-Law 2952 be amended to reduce the minimum size of a parking meter space from 6.5 metres to 5.4 metres.

C. THAT the Director of Legal Services bring forward amendments to the Parking Meter By-Law 2952 to allow the use of Debit Cards and to amend the definition of the size of a parking meter space.

COUNCIL POLICY

On November 18, 1997 Council approved the concept of sponsorship for City services subject to the prior approval of the particular concept and subject to final approval of any arrangement.

Advertising on public streets has been approved only if there is a direct public benefit (e.g. bus shelters).

BACKGROUND

In 1997 City Council approved the purchase of 600 electronic parking meter mechanisms equipped to use Debit Cards. Debit Cards allow the public to use the meters without coins. These cards have a chip rather than a magnetic stripe to read the information on the card and are similar to phone cards which have been in use in other parts of the world, particularly Europe, for many years. Debit Cards would increase the public convenience of using meters and would reduce the amount of coinage that needs to be collected from the meters. Card meters will still allow the use of coins.

It is proposed that the City purchase cards programmed as City proprietary prepaid Debit Cards for use on a trial basis in the 300 meter spaces in the Kerrisdale commercial area. The Debit Card use has been discussed with the Kerrisdale BIA and the merchants are enthused about the proposal. If the trial is successful, staff would report to Council on the expansion of these meters to other areas of the City.

SPONSORSHIP / CARD DISTRIBUTION PROPOSAL

The City needs to purchase cards, develop a distribution network, and promote the cards. To minimize the City involvement in this process, it is recommended that the distribution and perhaps purchase of the cards be done through a 3rd party, likely a financial institution, and that a sponsorship be arranged to offset the costs associated with the purchase, distribution, and promotion of the cards. The sponsorship envisaged may include a sponsor's logo(s) on a City debit card or other related promotions. A sample design illustrating the card concept is shown in Appendix A.

The details of any sponsorship, including potential revenues and costs, would be reported to Council for final approval, after a Request For Proposals, but before the trial begins. Preliminary discussions have been held with several companies and it appears that a beneficial arrangement could be arranged.

BYLAW CHANGES

Our present Parking Meter By-Law refers only to the use of coins in the parking meters and if Council approves the Debit Card payment option, by-law amendments are required to reflect the new usage.

The sections of the by-law which refer to the size of a meter space should also be changed to accurately reflect the existing meter space sizes on our streets. The size of the meter space varies as a result of different street lengths, the location of street furniture and existing parking prohibition signage. It is proposed that the by-law standard of 6.5 metres in length be replaces by "not less than 5.4 metres".

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(c) 1998 City of Vancouver