TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Update on Installation of Pay Stations in Parking Lot 5
DATE: November 24, 2003
The purpose of this memorandum is to provide an update on the installation of pay stations in Town Parking Lot # 5.
On May 12, 2003, the Council adopted a resolution to reconfigure Lot 5 (see Attachment 3 – Parking Lot 5: Parking Configuration Study) in order to provide public parking access to both the Franklin Street and Rosemary Street portions of the lot. On October 27, we reported that automatic pay stations had arrived from the vendor and that installation was in progress. Staff training took place during the week of October 27.
Pay Station Installation and Operation
Vendors installed the two pay stations in Lot 5 during the week of October 20. The stations became operational on November 5. We installed one of the units in an area near the sidewalk at the pedestrian access at the east corner of the lot. The other unit was installed in a parking space near the tree on the Rosemary Street portion of the lot. Since our last report we also have completed the following:
· Removed meter housings
· Removed card reader and gate equipment
· Completed reassignment of rental spaces
· Installed new lot signage
Pay stations will currently accept cash and coins. Initial response to the pay stations appears to be positive. We expect to have the credit card feature in operation in January. We have been delayed in offering the credit card payment option by delays by the State contracting office and by the bank that is handling our credit card business.
Our next steps include improvements to the signage in the lot, addition of directional signage and a media announcement to publicize the installation of the pay stations. We expect to release the media announcement during the week of December 1.
Leased Spaces
FGI, which has leased parking spaces from the Town in Lot 5 since 1994, confirmed that they would be moving their operations to Meadowmont at the end of the year. Their lease will terminate effective December 31, 2003. This will mean that we will have an additional 70 spaces available for public parking, or for a mix of public and rental parking.
With the impending termination of the parking arrangement with FGI, we are attempting to maximize the use of this facility. We will be able to provide additional public hourly parking, and we will market the availability of rental parking to maximize the use of the lot, as we do at the Wallace Parking Deck. We have begun recruiting potential leased-parking patrons, with the goal of filling most of the 70 vacant spaces by January 1, 2004.
This fall, we completed most of the reconfiguration of Lot 5 and have also coordinated the installation of two new automatic pay stations, which are currently being used by the public.
ATTACHMENTS
1. October 27, 2003 Memorandum to Town Council (p. 3).
2. May 12, 2003 Memorandum to Town Council, with adopted resolution (p. 6).
3. Parking Lot 5: Parking Lot Configuration Study (p. 15).