It could soon become easier to pay for parking in Moose Jaw, as city hall is moving forward with a project to let motorists pay with a mobile parking app.
During its Sept. 21 regular meeting, council unanimously approved a motion to allow city administration to issue a request for proposals for the development of a mobile parking app, which would let residents and visitors pay for metered parking with their credit card connected to their smartphones.
“Users would not have to keep loose change in their vehicle specifically for parking anymore. Parking times could be extended from a mobile device inside a restaurant or sports (venue) without having to leave and plug a meter,” a report to council explained.
Increased use in digital payments would lead to a corresponding decrease in the amount of money that municipal employees would have to collect, count and take to the bank, the report continued. This could save significant time for staff and improve the efficiency of those employees responsible for parking and meters.
There would also be less wear and tear on current coin-operated meters, while parking fees would automatically go into municipal accounts.
Parking meter labour and equipment costs for the last three years — excluding the pay station behind city hall — were $61,779.49 three years ago, $43,779.49 two years ago, and $45,126.77 last year.
Other benefits of using the app could include paying with a business credit card and receiving a receipt instantly; refunding unused parking minutes back to the user; the ability for businesses to validate parking electronically for customers; selling monthly parking permits electronically; and enhanced reporting based on location.
The licensing models vary depending upon the software vendor selected, the council report said. Some vendors provide all materials and software at no cost to the municipality, while others allow for convenience fees to be added to the cost of metered parking or permit parking to generate revenue. Some vendors also have a small software and hardware cost associated with setup, equipment and annual maintenance.
No funding source has been identified for this project, said the report, adding that the option to pay with coins will remain.
Council discussion
“I’ve used (a similar system) in Regina. It’s an easy program to use,” said Coun. Dawn Luhning. “For all downtown businesses, this will be really beneficial. I like that people can still plug the meters with coins. It’s a good option we need to keep.”
One option the app should have is ensuring motorists can’t continually plug the meter digitally during an eight-hour day, since downtown businesses won’t like that, she added. Some businesses weren’t pleased that motorists didn’t have to pay over the summer, while others appreciated that fact.
Parking attendants will be able to tell how long a vehicle has been at a stall — and can issue parking tickets — by using a handheld device, explained Wade McKay, director of information technology. The device can scan the licence plate and receive information from city hall.
There are transaction fees of 20 cents per use, so if a meter charge is 50 cents, users will pay 70 cents in total, McKay told Coun. Brian Swanson. It will be possible to refund unused minutes; there will not be any transaction fee to do that.
“Looking at the revenues on our parking meters and where they’ve been the last few years, it’s not the cash cow we had hoped for,” Swanson remarked.
The next regular council meeting is Monday, Oct. 5.
