Res 2018-117/adopting the “Parking Program Framework Plan” as a guide for the development of a comprehensive and strategic approach to managing parking in and around Downtown San Marcos, identifying key program objectives, draft program vision and mission

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Development of mid to long-term surface parking resources. Identify potential sites, or other opportunities, for mid to long-term surface parking lots capable of meeting the needs of downtown employees and longer-term parkers. New surface parking supply will support implementation of on - street paid parking. Future parking lots should have sufficient footprint accommodate a parking structure (124'W x 2801). Identify preferred parking access and revenue control system for lot management. Land acquisition, partnerships, or agreements should be factored into the funding plan for the Parking Districts and considered part of the program's core responsibilities. j le One of the primary strategies to make downtown parking more visitor friendly, improve operational efficiencies and enhance parking revenues is to upgrade the parking system's technologies. Developing a parking management technology master plan to provide a web -based parking management platform that is capable of providing the latest customer services and revenue/access control functionality is highly recommended. Appendix XX provides a parking technology overview and a peer cities review for more detailed information related to current technologies and specific management applications in similar municipalities with more advanced parking management programs. Implementing paid on—street parking is a well-documented best practice and would help the City address several issues identified in the course of this study. However, on -street paid parking is somewhat controversial and if pursued will require significant additional public outreach and planning. It has been documented in many cities across the country that implementing new "smart parking meters" (either multi -space or single-space credit card enabled meters) improves customer parking availability on -street through increased parking turnover and provides an important funding source to pay for future parking system capabilities in terms of staffing, technology (such as mobile LPR enforcement systems, etc.) as well as funding for parking structure maintenance and repair work. • Pay -by Cell Phone/Mobile Apps are additional payment options that the City should consider due to the very tangible customer benefits that this option provides. • The Parking program should develop an RFP process for new parking technology and potentially on -street meter acquisition as a first step to get a range of parking management functions and new customer service offerings. This should be followed by a thorough analysis of what the City can afford in terms of its initial investment and based on the projected revenue increases, lay out a defined plan to continue system upgrades going forward. Consideration should also be given to alternative purchasing strategies such as equipment leasing or other special offers such as lease -to -own or partnerships where by equipment is provided at no or reduced cost based on a sharing of system revenues. The latest on -street technology includes features that enable improved operational efficiencies by reducing the need for daily meter collections (just -in -time -collections), reduced number of meters (if multi -space meters are chosen), enforcement route optimization based on improved management data from the meters, etc. Investment in mobile license plate recognition technology for parking enforcement is also highly recommended. The introduction of this new technology will also come with some increased costs related to communications fees, credit card and cell phone transaction charges, etc. To help defray these new system costs, setting initial on -street parking rates to $1.00/hour is recommended. This