New Parking App Unveiled To Pay For Parking Meters
If you are heading Downtown and want an alternative means to plug the parking meters your wishes are about to come true.
At Monday evening’s regular Council meeting it was announced the City had selected the qualifying bid to provide a parking app. The app will provide motorists the opportunity to pay for parking through their smart phone and a credit card. Motorists will still have the ability to plug the meters with change if they do not have a smartphone.
“We want to make this as easy as possible to have everyone come to the Downtown and visit,” city manager Jim Puffalt said when introducing the new parking app to Council.
Pufflat said there were 12 bids submitted to provide the parking app service but they had decided to award the RFP to Hot Spot Parking as the best option for the City.
The decision was made on a number of factors including:
Hot Spot Parking had systems up and running in similar sized cities
The system comes at no cost to the City with the motorist paying a small service charge to make use of the app
They have a Western Canadian presence
you can pay electronically through a QR code and do not need to install the app
funds are transferred weekly to the City
the ability to tag on a Transit App in phase two
“There is a quick way (to pay electronically) through a QR code. You don’t even have to have to enter the app…we think it is really important for tourists. We know they all come back but they may not want to have the app on their phone,” he said.
The regular transfer of funds from Hot Spot Parking to the City is an important feature Puffalt said.
“Funds are transferred to the City on a weekly basis. As you know our recent history we are very keen on something like that. (not) withholding our funds or withholding our monies very long.”
Although the City was not financially responsible for it they had a history with Ticket Rocket, the now bankrupt and former ticket issuer for Mosaic Place, who failed to provide refunds for two concerts and a number of hockey games. The City stepped forward to offer gift cards which will in the end cost the City over $200,000.
The roll out date for the app is May 31st or sooner.
A feature of the new app provider is they will also have an upcoming transit app.
“That one has a transit feature you buy transit passes through your phone with the same type of technology,” he said.
Puffalt stressed motorists will still be able to use the existing parking meters and change if they chose to do so.
“The important thing is the meters are still there if you have change and want to still use the meters, the meters will still be there…we want to make this as easy as possible to have everyone come to the Downtown and visit.”
The Questions
Councillor Dawn Luhning said she liked the move to the app and also asked the question of Administration to seemingly emphasize the point the parking meters and their regular function will still be operational.
“Yes that’s the case,” Puffalt replied that the system will allow the use of the parking meters with change as they will still be there or your smart phone to pay electronically. The system integrates with the present enforcement equipment the City uses so there will be no need to worry about enforcement actions (fines) so long as the meter is paid for.
Councillor Luhning asked if there would still be a time limit applying as to how long someone can park in a spot using the app.
“…because we don’t want people when it is 30 below who are working Downtown parking (all day) in front of those meters…is there a limit how long they can be at one stall?” she asked.
“All the rules we currently have we enter into the system and if it is a two hour parking limit at 15 minutes after your time is expired you will get a notice. After that if you are still there the other side of parking which is tickets (will happen),” Puffalt replied.
Asked by Councillor Crystal Froese about an added charges when using the app Pufflat said there will be no cost to the City but the motorist using it will be charged a user fee.
“Again we will not change what you will be paying right now. There will be a small fee the company charges to you to use the app,” Puffalt replied.
Puffalt was unable to say what that charge would be as he did not have the information with him.
“I don’t know if I have that handy with me but it is relatively inexpensive…it is volume based….and I should not quote that in public as I do not have that information with me,” he said.
Councillor Doug Blanc asked if the app would provide a credit or refund for unused time.
“If you plug it for two hours the app and you only need 45 minutes, at a doctors appointment, is there any money coming back or is that lost,” Councillor Blanc asked.
“That is lost,” Puffalt replied.
During the initial discussion to approve the RFP in September of last year the ability to give credits through the app was seen as a boon to shopping Downtown.
At that time Wade McKay, Director of Information Technology, told Council a great feature of the proposed app was the ability to receive credit refunds was that drivers who are making short stops at businesses would pay for parking instead of running in quickly and risking a ticket.
In the after Council press conference Mayor Fraser Tolmie when asked by MJ Independent about the city manager changing the frame of reference by not returning unused credits for the RFP the Mayor stated “if you want to ask Mr Puffalt some questions you are welcome to that time tomorrow.”
The Mayor when questioned if he thought the app might help bring people Downtown because they may not keep spare change in their vehicle he replied he did not see that happening but the app was more about convenience.