DPAB 2018-03-29_08b Parking Meter Technology
MEMORANDUM
TO: DOWNTOWN PARKING ADVISORY BOARD
FROM: TERESA MCCLISH, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
BY: CHRISTOPHER TURNER, PLANNING INTERN
SUBJECT: CONSIDERATION OF METER TECHNOLOLOGIES FOR VILLAGE
PARKING
DATE: MARCH 29, 2018
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Downtown Parking Advisory Board (DPAB) evaluate the
potential use of parking meters and kiosks in the Village and advise Staff regarding
further consideration of their use to address concerns about congested parking.
IMPACT ON FINANCIAL AND PERSONNEL RESOURCES:
Impacts to financial and personnel resources will depend upon the direction given by the
DPAB and the decisions made by the City Council.
BACKGROUND:
During the Downtown Parking Advisory Board meeting on July 20, 2017, Board members
and members from the community expressed their concerns about the limited amount of
parking in the Village and the impacts to local businesses. The discussion revealed that
limited parking was largely due to employees of Village businesses, and other long term
parkers, occupying spaces that would otherwise be reserved for potential patrons.
Several options to remedy the parking problem were considered including reducing time
limits for parking along East Brach Street, the Car Corral, and Olohan Alley, increased
enforcement of current parking restrictions, designating select parking spaces along East
Branch Street as twenty-minute parking, and implementing metered parking along East
Branch Street and in the Car Corral.
The Board recommended that a letter be drafted and sent to all Village businesses urging
them to instruct their employees to park outside of the Village prime parking area. A letter
was written and sent to businesses on August 11, 2017. Additionally, City Staff were
directed to research alternate funding sources for parking enforcement including, but not
limited to, installation of parking meters in the Village.
DOWNTOWN PARKING ADVISORY BOARD
CONSIDERATION OF METER TECHNOLOLOGIES FOR VILLAGE PARKING
MARCH29, 2018
PAGE 2
ANALYSIS OF ISSUES:
There are two main forms of metered parking; individual space parking meters and
parking kiosks. The two forms of metered parking are useful in different situations and
can be used in conjunction when there is a combination of on street parking and public
parking lots, both of which exist in the Village.
Parking Kiosks
Parking kiosks are more effective in larger parking lots, such as the Car Corral or Olohan
Alley. They consist of one or more kiosks in central locations within or adjacent to the
parking lot where patrons can purchase tickets for an allotted amount of time. Typically
patrons pay per hour, but the operator of the parking lot can choose to use other
increments of time such as fifteen or thirty minute intervals. Kiosks can also be
programed to allow a maximum amount of time per transaction. For example, a patron
could purchase time in thirty-minute intervals with a maximum of six hours.
Kiosks typically have two methods of monitoring
This method consists of the patron purchasing a pass and displaying it on their
dashboard, which can be monitored by parking enforcement officers. The second method
entering the space number into the kiosk when they pay. The time is recorded into the
kiosk and can be monitored through services provided by the manufacturer and accessed
by parking enforcement officers. Pay by space allows patrons to add time to their parking
stay without printing another receipt. However, a numbering system would need to be
devised and painted onto designated parking spaces.
Depending on the manufacturer and product, parking kiosks can range between $8,000
and $10,000 for the unit and installation. An additional $50 to $60 per month is required
for services and maintenance. Enforcement needs would require an augmentation in staff
resources.
Parking Meters
Parking meters are better suited for use along roadways, such as East Branch Street,
where there is no central location relative to on street parking spaces. Parking meter
technology has evolved to accept multiple forms of payment including coins, credit cards,
and payment thorough mobile apps. As with parking kiosks, modern meters can be
programed to use various increments of time, and to accept payments up to a specified
maximum time limit.
Mobile application companies, such as ParkMobile and PayByPhone, allow parking
operators to offer an additional method of payment for patrons. Mobile payment can be
issued by parking space and allows patrons to receive alerts and add time to their parking
meter remotely. Mobile parking apps reduce the need for coins which in turn reduce
maintenance costs. However, mobile parking apps require a separate method of
DOWNTOWN PARKING ADVISORY BOARD
CONSIDERATION OF METER TECHNOLOLOGIES FOR VILLAGE PARKING
MARCH29, 2018
PAGE 3
monitoring for enforcement officers who would need to look at the meter and the mobile
parking monitoring system to discern whether a person has overstayed their parking limit.
Depending on manufacturer and product, parking meters cost between $600 and $900
each to purchase and install, and require approximately $100 each in annual
maintenance. There are approximately sixty street parking spaces along East Branch
Street in the Village core. If every space received a parking meter, there would be an
estimated initial purchase and installation cost of $36,000 to $54,000 with approximately
$6,000 in annual maintenance costs.
ALTERNATIVES:
Direct Staff regarding further consideration of kiosk and or space meters;
Provide other direction to staff.
ADVANTAGES:
Metered parking discourages employees of Village businesses and other long term
parkers from occupying parking spaces for long periods of time, potentially alleviating the
Village parking problem. Metered parking also provides a source of funding for parking
enforcement.
DISADVANTAGES:
Cost of implementing both kiosks and meters in all public parking areas in the Village
could reach up to $74,000 in initial installation costs, with an additional $7,440 in annual
maintenance costs. Enforcement would require additional monetary and staff resources.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
In accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the State CEQA
Guidelines, it has been determined that this item is not subject to CEQA per Section
15061(b)(3) of the Guidelines , regarding the general rul that where it can be seen with
certainty that there is no possibility of a significant effect on the environment, an activity is
not subject to CEQA.
PUBLIC NOTIFICATION AND COMMENTS:
with Government
Code Section 54954.2.