Title
Recommendation to Award a Contract in the Amount of $567,000, Including Contingencies, to IPS Group, Inc. for the Purchase, Installation, and Operation of 822 Single-Space "Smart" Parking Meters and Authorize the City Manager to Execute any Necessary Documents. (Public Works 224)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: John A. Russo, City Manager
Re: Award a Contract in the Amount of $567,000, Including Contingencies, to IPS Group, Inc. for the Purchase, Installation, and Operation of 822 Single-Space "Smart" Parking Meters and Authorize the City Manager to Execute any Necessary Documents
BACKGROUND
On June 16, 2014, the City Council approved a three-month trial of single-space, credit card enabled "smart" parking meters on Park Street and Webster Street. A public survey in 2014 with responses from more than 800 Alamedans demonstrated that the public much preferred single-spaced, credit card enabled meters over the parking kiosks. Single-spaced, networked meters accept coins and credit cards, are less expensive than kiosks, and alert staff of both malfunctions and the need for coin collection. These meters also offer large, interactive, and easy-to-read LED screens.
On October 6, 2014, the three-month trial began with IPS Group, Inc. (IPS), the provider of the vast majority of smart meters in North America. Forty-one solar-powered meters were installed on Webster Street between Haight Avenue and Santa Clara Avenue, and Park Street between Santa Clara Avenue and Central Avenue. Installation requires replacing the current meter head at each space, utilizing the same meter pole and housing.
DISCUSSION
To evaluate the trial, staff surveyed the public and collected input from City departments and local business associations. The survey was distributed by press release, the web, print (posters and fliers), and directly to members of West Alameda Business Association (WABA) and the Park Street Business ...
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