The City of Long Beach expects motorists will find it easier to feed the new multi-space pay meters that will be installed in the parking garage at the Long Island Rail Road station.
The City Council on Tuesday approved City Manager Charles Theofan’s proposal to have the city enter a five year-lease agreement that will cost more than $44,000 to replace the four existing pay stations. The city will lease with the Sayville-based Parkeon, one of two companies that bid for the project, at an annual cost of $8,867. The new machines will allow motorists to pay by credit card.
“The meters right now are really underutilized because, first of all, they don’t take credit cards, and secondly, we’ve had a lot of problems with the bill accepters and people just know they don’t work very well,” City Clerk David Fraser, who oversees the meters at the parking garage and spearheaded the proposal to upgraded them, told Patch. “So we’re hoping with the new meters, we’ll get more usage out of them because they will be a lot easier and friendlier, and there will be more payment options.”
Fraser said the city last year generated $13,000 from the parking meters.
Theofan said the existing meters were purchased in 2004, and the manufacturer, Digital, discontinued them the next year. “In 2009, the manufacturer told us that they would no longer service the machines or provide any parts or support,” he added.
When explaining how the city will pay for the meters, Theofan said the LIRR funded the cost for building the parking garage and when construction was completed it ceded ownership of the structure to the city.
“We had an arrangement with them that all the money that is generate by the meters goes into one pot, and from that pot we’re allow to reimburse ourselves with maintenance for the parking structure, the purchase and maintenance of the meters, and the cleaning and various other services related to the parking structure,” Theofan said. “This will be paid for through the funds generated from the meters.”
Fraser said he expects the new meters will be installed early in 2012.
* This story was corrected and update at 9:40 a.m. on 11/17/11.
"$13,000 that includes revenue from the yearly parking passes" at $250 per pass that works out to only 52 yearly parking passes. Is that correct or a typo? Can anyone say DECO-METER?
An earlier version of this story stated "Fraiser said the city last year generated $13,000 from the parking meters, an amount that also includes revenue from the yearly parking passes that commuters purchase from the city." What exactly did Mr Fraiser say? Or was it the writer that incorrectly reported this? Is the $13,000 an accurate number? Can you find out how much revenue the parking permits generate?
Comparing parking meters to taxes makes little sense.
I don't doubt the numbers are low (though that number is disgustingly suspicious) as parking is underpriced in LB. Plus, why pay for parking in any municipal lot when you can get it for free a street or two away? It would be interesting to know how many parking spots would be open if every person who drove to the LIRR left there vehicles in the designated parking lot versus onstreet. I'm confident it would leave more spaces open thus reduce congestion.
The security company I employ has cameras that work well. They recently assisted the LBPD in identifying the vehicle that caused an accident on my corner. I'm sure they can do the same with the parking garage.
The only time it's used is during a Hurricane then? City Hall needs a classroom monitor.
Hmmmm, $8,867 to Eric Braverman and Parkeon $4,133 to the City of Long Beach Does anyone know whose cousin's brother-in-law, who is 1000% above board, made the intros for this contract?
There was no breakdown as to residents and commuters. That's monthly, not annual.