Title
Recommendation to Award a Contract in the Amount of $156,359 to IPS Group, Inc. for the Upgrade of Alameda’s Single Space Parking Meter Revenue Collection and Vault Equipment. (Public Works 224)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Jill Keimach, City Manager
Re: Recommendation to Award a Contract in the Amount of $156,359 to IPS Group, Inc. for the Upgrade of Alameda’s Single Space Parking Meter Revenue Collection and Vault Equipment.
BACKGROUND
On June 16, 2014, the City Council approved parking improvements for the Park Street and Webster Street shopping districts to make parking more readily available and achieve a parking occupancy rate of 85% or lower. One of the approved recommendations was to update parking equipment. Following a single space “smart” parking meter trial in October 2014, City Council approved the procurement of IPS Group Inc.’s single space “smart” parking meters to update meters city-wide (February 2015).
In 2016, Alameda installed single space “smart” parking meter mechanisms to allow payment for parking via credit card. Staff is now ready to update the revenue collection and vault equipment that sits below these “smart” meter mechanisms.
With the adoption of the Fiscal Year 2015-17 Capital Budget, the Parking Capital Improvement Project (91616) was approved authorizing additional parking equipment improvements including upgrading the single space parking meter revenue collection vaults and locks, as the existing equipment is now at the end of its usable life and in need of replacement.
To determine the best equipment available for updating this equipment, staff worked with industry experts at Walker Parking to evaluate available options for replacing the equipment and to ensure Alameda’s revenue operations are consistent with industry best practices.
Based on the evaluation, staff recommends installing Medeco Nexgen electronic locks and simultaneously updating the mechanized vault lock system and supporting revenue collection equipment at all of Alameda’s single space parking meters. This includes updating the separate lock that allows access for routine maintenance and repair to all mechanical functions of the meter mechanism. Additionally, the collection cans at the individual meters and the collection carts used to remove revenue will be updated.
These improvements bring Alameda’s revenue collection operation current with industry standards, provide the highest level of security available and support the 2014 Council goals to better manage the paid parking supply. Electronic collections equipment will allow for optimization of revenue collection activities and updating assets at the end of their life will minimize meter down time.
DISCUSSION
To obtain the best possible pricing, staff proposes entering into a cooperative purchase agreement with IPS Group Inc. (IPS) based on its contract with the City of Sacramento. IPS is a certified Medeco vendor and as the manufacturer and service provider of Alameda’s single space “smart” credit card enabled meter mechanisms, is an ideal vendor for the City.
Through this cooperative purchase, Alameda benefits from the volume discount afforded to Sacramento, even though Alameda has a significantly smaller parking operation. Sacramento’s public procurement process was extensive and produced a lower per-unit cost than other recent regional purchases.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The funds for this project are budgeted in the Capital Improvement Program (Project 91616), with monies from the Parking Fund (Fund 224).
MUNICIPAL CODE/POLICY DOCUMENT CROSS REFERENCE
Cooperative purchase agreements are authorized by Alameda Municipal Code section 2-61.7, “Joint Purchases with Public Agencies.”
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3).
RECOMMENDATION
Award a contract in the amount of $156,359, to IPS Group, Inc. for the upgrade of Alameda’s single space parking meter revenue collection and vault equipment.
Respectfully submitted,
Liam Garland, Acting Public Works Director
By,
Liz Acord, Acting Public Works Coordinator
Financial Impact section reviewed,
Elena Adair, Finance Director
Exhibit:
1. IPS Contract