Thursday, November 15, 2012

C  I  T  Y    O  F    A  T  L  A  N  T  A

COUNCIL MEMBER H. LAMAR WILLIS INTRODUCES LEGISLATION TO IMPROVE PARKatlanta OPERATIONS

ATLANTA – Members of the Atlanta City Council will soon consider an amendment to improve operations of the city’s parking management program.  Atlanta City Council Member, H. Lamar Willis, introduced legislation during Monday’s full Council meeting that will address residents’ concerns about PARKatlanta’s customer service, signage visibility and complaint processes.

Willis says, “I’ve met with residents and businesses throughout the city who have expressed their concerns about our current parking enforcement program.   I shared these concerns with the Mayor’s administration as they continue to fine tune our agreement with Park Atlanta.  As a result of these discussions, I think we will be able to address many of the concerns that my colleagues and I have heard about our parking enforcement.”

Some of the key provisions under the proposed amended PARKatlanta agreement are:

·         PARKatlanta maintain all parking related signage in right-of-way.

·         PARKatlanta  must provide an online process for filing complaints on its website

·         PARKatlanta must respond to all online complaints within 2 days

·         PARKatlanta must share with the City all complaints, as well as PARKatlanta’s response

·         PARKatlanta must have a specific phone number dedicated solely to questions and complaints

·         Amendment calls for improved employee training that is approved by city

Citations may not be issued…:

·         where meters are non-functioning

·         Where unclear, conflicting, or hidden signage is in place

·         Where signage needs to be repaired, replaced, or relocated

·         Where signage is not installed, has been removed, or is otherwise missing from metered area

*If a ticket is issued in any of these cases, the ticket shall be promptly voided by PARKatlanta once they are made aware.

As a result of these concessions, PARKatlanta will pay the City $5.3 million annually instead of $5.5 million.

The legislation will be discussed during the City Council’s Transportation Committee meeting at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, November 14 at Atlanta City Hall, Committee Room No. 2 (Second Floor), 55 Trinity Avenue, S.W.