DOWNTOWN PARKING TASK FORCE MINUTES TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 2015 CHARLIE WARD ROOM 1:30 P.M. BRANTFORD CITY HALL

Transcription

1 DOWNTOWN PARKING TASK FORCE MINUTES TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 2015 CHARLIE WARD ROOM 1:30 P.M. BRANTFORD CITY HALL Councillor Kings in the Chair ROLL CALL PRESENT: Councillor Kings, Councillor Utley, Councillor Van Tilborg, Annette Wawzonek, Dwight Rose, John O Neil, Tara Velanoff REGRETS: Adam Lawrence STAFF: Russ Loukes, Norma Wood, Rob Smith, Jenny Sawicki, Ting Ku, Mark Gladysz, Laurie Schunk Also in attendance: Laura Bassett, Raelle Ricci and Anthony Massi representing the Laurier Student Union WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS Councillor Kings welcomed everyone and introductions were made. 1. DELEGATIONS None 2. DECLARATIONS OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST None 3. CONSENT ITEMS 3.1 Minutes Moved by Councillor Utley Seconded by Councillor Van Tilborg THAT the following Minutes BE ADOPTED: Downtown Parking Task Force September 9, 2014 CARRIED

2 Downtown Parking Task Force 2 4. ITEMS FOR CONSIDERTION N. Wood provided a brief overview with regard to the current downtown parking challenges for both the business owners and the patrons. She noted that parking is never free as the maintenance and infrastructure is paid by the taxpayers. The consultants from Precise Parklink and The Electronic Data Collection Corporation (EDC Corporation) were introduced to the Task Force. 4.1 Mr. Terry Faye from Precise Parklink Re: Presentation on Two Types of Pay and Display Machines T. Faye from Precise Parklink presented the Task Force with information on two types of parking payment machines: Pay and Display and Pay by License, including the parts exchange program, which costs approximately $60/month per machine, and life expectancy of the machines. He spoke to the financing options available to the municipality, which may not require a capital expenditure. The purpose of the machines is to provide a flexible parking management system and is charged by solar power, which lasts 30 to 45 days on one charge. There are machines that are electrical charged. The payment options that are suggested are coins, credit cards or integrate pay app. There is also an option to pay by license plate by using a cell phone or any other device with internet access. The pay by cell option allows flexibility in the amount of time you need without having to physically purchase additional time at the display machine. The Task Force was advised that the machines are certified to process credit cards for payment for parking and the credit card is processed in real time. Precise Parklink absorbs all the fees for usage for a flat fee that is charged to the municipality. All options are for the convenience of the patron. The tickets would include all valid information and is automatically transferred to the enforcement officer s handheld machine. The centralized management system allows remote site monitoring and programming and can provide messages on machines, allows the preparation of reports on usage, identifies when to collect money and identifies operating problems. Pay and Display machines are most successful when there is enforcement. T. Faye distributed information on Precise Parklink and a copy is included in the original meeting file. In response to questions, the following information was provided: The bill option for payment has limitations when it comes to humidity and weather conditions. It was suggested to limit payment for coins, credit card or pay by cell option. The machines do have the capability of including a bill accepter option.

3 Downtown Parking Task Force 3 With regard to the Parts Exchange Program, there is a Level One Service that City employees would be trained to repair. The Labour costs would include travel time and mileage. Under PEP, full training is provided to municipal employees to do the repair and replacement of parts and the replacement parts would be shipped by Precise. The coin canister is located in the bottom of the machine in a locked cabinet and the canister is also locked. A demonstration was given as to security for the coin canisters, using an electronic lock. The maintenance section of the machine is opened with a separate lock and there is no access to the coin section. Precise Parklink does offer collection services through Brinks however it can also be done internally. The machines are wireless and when the collection is done, a financial statement is completed. Some information is printed out and other information is available on a webpage, which can be manipulated for reporting purposes. The card reader component communicates with the authorization server. With regard to vandalism, there has not been a lot of vandalized, tampering or destruction of the machines. When there have been attempts to get into the machine, all attempts have been unsuccessful to get any money. The machines have an anti-grafitti coating on the machines. The solar panels are approximately $1,800 to replace and in approximately 7 to 8 years you may need to replace the solar power board. Parking tokens are a good option for merchants and the machines have the capability to include this option. The coin selector has the ability to determine the difference between a token and a coin. The machine does not have the ability to accept debit cards at this point. There will be a debit card module that will be available in the future for additional costs. Credit card information is secured through PCI certified encryption. The upgrades to the encryption service and credit card processing are done annually. There is no additional fee to the municipality for this service. The pay by cell platform is included in the service for the machine and provided by Precise.

4 Downtown Parking Task Force Mr. Sam Cusick from The Electronic Data Collection Corporation (EDC Corporation) Re: Presentation on the Technology that is available to provide effective enforcement in conjunction with Pay and Display Machines S. Cusick from The Electronic Data Collection Corporation (EDC Corporation) provided information on the technology that is available to provide effective enforcement in conjunction with the Pay and Display Machines that were presented. They provide the tools to record payments, generate tickets and reporting. Using either an android device or tablet, it allows the enforcement officer to access a real time look up of when the parking ticket was purchased, what zone it was in as well as historical information, if required. Any information on vehicles that is added into the system is received by the officer s device in real time. This also occurs once a parking ticket is issued. A demonstration of the printed ticket and using the device for enforcement was given. In response to questioning, the following information was provided: With regard to the material used for the parking tickets, it was noted that the product is very durable and cannot be ripped easily and stands up to all kinds of weather conditions. For payment of a ticket by scanning, using the gateway of choice can be set up to allow for easy payment by either credit card or debit. Is there opportunity for advertising of local businesses on the pay and display tickets? Yes, there is opportunity to include advertisements on the back of ticket rolls, which costs approximately an additional $3.00/roll. The biggest difference between pay by cell because the enforcement officer will be able to check the license plate as they approach the vehicle. With the pay and display, the officer will have to approach the vehicle to check that a ticket is displayed. Questions were asked with regard to opportunities to use both pay and display and pay by cell. It was noted that it would be more beneficial to choose one method over the other rather than a mix of the two. Information was provided on how to promote and community the pay by cell method. 5. NEXT STEPS Next Steps: Understand what types of parking controls are needed in developing a parking management plan in the downtown; and Consider a plan for consultation with downtown businesses and stakeholders and the residents and public at large.

5 Downtown Parking Task Force 5 6. NEXT MEETING To be determined 7. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 3:03 p.m.