ORDINANCE appropriating $2,116,024.25 out of Reimbursement of Equipment/Projects Fund for purchase of Parking Meter Multi-Space, Solar Pay Stations for the Administration and Regulatory Affairs Department

S12-E24191 - Approve an ordinance to appropriate funds in the amount of $2,116,024.25 out of the Reimbursement of Equipment/Projects Fund (1850) for the Administration and Regulatory Affairs Department.

Specific Explanation:

The Director of the Administration and Regulatory Affairs (ARA) Department and the Chief Procurement Officer recommend that City Council approve an ordinance appropriating $2,116,024.25 out of the Reimbursement of Equipment/Projects Fund (1850) for the purchase of parking meter multi-space, solar pay stations. The reimbursement of Fund 1850 will come from parking meter revenues collected in ARA’s Parking Management Special Revenue Fund 8700. In FY17, Parking Management is projected to generate about $20.4 million in meter revenue, parking fines and permit fees—of which $7 million is deposited in the general fund.

There are currently 276 pay stations that are now approaching end-of-life. Due to their outdated software, these pay stations must be replaced before December 2016 or will no longer be able to accept and process credit card transactions.  In addition to the meters being replaced, 15 new meters will also be deployed to the new parking spaces adjacent to Buffalo Bayou Park and the surrounding area.

The new pay stations offer the “extend-by-phone” feature, which allows a customer to enter their cell phone number at the meter pay station to receive text alerts and pay for additional parking when paying by credit card. They also feature “pay-by-plate” functionality, which will eliminate the need for customers to pay and return to their vehicle to display a physical receipt on their dashboard. Under “pay-by-plate”, Parking Compliance Officers will receive notifications in their handheld units that a vehicle has paid using the plate number when a receipt is not displayed. Improved financial controls include electronic locks on the collection cabinet that are programmable to track who is opening the meter pay station at any time.

Fiscal Note: 

Funding for this item is included in the FY17 Adopted Budget.  Therefore, No Fiscal Note is required as stated in the Financial Policy Ordinance No.: 2014-1078.

____________________________________           ____________________________________

John J. Gillespie, Chief Procurement Officer           Department Approval Authority Signature

Finance/Strategic Procurement Division

$2,116,024.25

 Reimbursement of Equipment/Projects Fund (1850)