SASKATOON – The city has been working on an upgrade to downtown parking meters for over a year and is now turning the problem over to the industry for a solution.
“It’s common when you have something where you don’t have the answer but you know you want something fixed,” said Mike Gutek, infrastructure services manager.
“Industry knows the rough parameters so they can pitch any of their solutions to council.”
Outdated downtown parking meters don’t take credit cards and only accept cash or city cards.
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At an executive committee meeting on Monday, administration brought forward a detailed report with several parking options, including single-space meters and pay and display, where parking passes are issued from a station and displayed in vehicle windows.
Either option could have the added methods of electronic payment via credit cards and cellphones.
The city is hoping companies who submit an expression of interest include details on how to deal with leftover meter time.
If remaining time can’t be reused and a new payment starts with each new vehicle, revenue to the city would increase by 20 per cent.
“If people think they can conduct their business in 15 minutes opposed to an hour or two hours, then that’s what they should pay. And if they pay more… That’s their choice,” said Councillor Pat Lorje.
Once council hears from the industry, it will determine what parking meter features are mandatory before issuing a request for proposals.
The city hopes the current machines are replaced by the end of 2013.
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