Parking Control Equipment PurchaseTHE CITY OF
DuB E MEMORANDUM
~,-~-~
March 27, 2007
TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Parking Control Equipment Purchase
Parking Division Supervisor Tim Horsfield has been researching parking control
equipment for the new City-owned lot adjacent to McGraw-Hill Company in the Port of
Dubuque and the new Port of Dubuque Parking Ramp that will be constructed over the
next two years. This research is timely in that the City needs to update the capabilities
of the equipment in the existing parking ramps and the City has also begun to see
failures in the parking control equipment in the existing ramps and also in the software
controlling the equipment.
It is staffs desire to move to a new system that will be appropriate for the complexities
that exist in the City's system and would anticipate future expansion, provide for
extensive revenue control in the system using a "fee for time" rather than the flat fee
concept, and allow for credit card payments.
In order to acquire one of the most sophisticated systems available and to be able to
phase in the project over time and to retrofit some of the current Federal/APD
equipment, Tim Horsfield is recommending that Federal APD be considered as a sole
source provider in this project. He estimates the total cost of equipment and installation
at $570,000.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
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Michael C. Van Milligen
MCVM/jh
Attachment
cc: Barry Lindahl, City Attorney
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
Tim Horsfield, Parking Division Supervisor
Dave Heiar, Economic Development Director
THE CITY OF
DuB E MEMORANDUM
~-~-~
March 26, 2007
To: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
From: Tim Horsfield, Parking Division Supervisor
Subject: Parking Control Equipment Purchase
Introduction
This memo is intended to provide information regarding the replacement of all or part of
the existing parking control equipment currently used in our parking ramps and soon to
be used in certain surface lots.
Background
Over the past several months, we have begun to see serious failures in our parking
control equipment in the ramps and also in the software controlling that equipment.
Some of the equipment that we are experiencing failure with is old enough that we are
no longer able to find replacement parts and the new equipment that replaces this
equipment is not compatible with our operating software. We were unaware that some
of this very old equipment was mingled in with our current equipment.
In addition, new applications for equipment are now requiring substantial flexibility in the
programming to obtain the operability required in the new lots and ramps. We have
also been somewhat limited by our current equipment and software to maintain a
consistent level of revenue control.
Discussion
In light of the information above, in the past several months I have had conversations
with providers of parking equipment and software packages. At the current time, we
have Federal APD equipment installed and Federal has for the most part been the
provider of equipment with the exception of the 4th Street Ramp which is provided by
CPE/APE equipment.
Having spoken with the larger vendors, I have come to the conclusion that Federal APD
has by far the best line of equipment to provide the City of Dubuque with all of the
options we are looking for, to include credit card payment, and "pay for time" rather than
the flat rate we currently use. In addition, we will better be able to phase in the
equipment as we should be able to retro fit some of the existing equipment to work with
the new software package if we use Federal APD as the provider, this will hopefully
save us a substantial amount in equipment purchases. In addition, an informal quote
provided by another vendor was hundreds of thousands of dollars over the quote
provided by Federal APD.
Parking Control Equipment Purchase
March 26, 2007
Page II
We have had a long standing relationship with Federal APD and have been pleased
with the customer service we have received and also have been extremely pleased with
the performance of the equipment placed in the ramps. The equipment has continued to
operate well and it is simply normal wear and tear leading us to the point of having to
replace the equipment. In speaking with one of the equipment competitors, even they
indicated that considering the complexity of the system we are installing, anticipated
expansion, extensive revenue control in the system using "fee for time" rather than the
flat fee concept, the Federal APD system was by far the best for this application.
At the current time, I am estimating that the total costs of the equipment and installation
will be $570,000 for all ramps. We may be being able to reduce this by performing
some of the installation with Parking Division staff and also as I indicated, with the retro-
fitting of some of the current equipment.
I believe it is also important to note, that there are no vendors for this type of equipment
in close proximity to Dubuque. Federal APD is based out of St. Louis, MO,
Cincinnati/Amano is based out of Cincinnati, OH and Zeag is based in Europe, recently
opening an office in Minneapolis, MN. There are no local distributors or installers for
any of these companies either.
The first phase of this will be bringing the McGraw-Hill parking lot on line and the
installation of the new equipment for that lot. This will include many of the foundation
requirements for the entire system, such as the software for the entire system. We will
then begin phasing in all the ramps with the Locust Street Ramp being the second area
to be brought onto the new system.
As indicated above, with Federal APD, we will be able to phase in the project and also
hopefully be able to retrofit some of the current Federal/APD equipment. Therefore, I
am requesting Federal APD be considered as a "sole source provider" in this project
and with your and the City Council's approval, proceed with the initial purchase of
equipment.
After reviewing the Parking Division budget with Budget Director Jenny Larson, we have
determined that funding for this project would be from funds available in the Parking
Division Construction Fund and also from bond funds remaining from the parking ramp
restoration project of this past summer.
Action Requested
It is requested that you review this information, and with your approval, recommend City
Council approval at the April 2, 2007 meeting.
cc: David Heiar, Economic Development Director
Jenny Larson, Budget Director