Blogs

In a recent blog post, Casey Jones, CAPP, PMP, played a game of two truths and a lie and I thought I would play a game with our readers too. So, let’s play Would You Rather: Fly or be invisible? Travel to the past or the future? Pet dragon or a pet unicorn? For me - fly, future and dragon. Fly because I spend far too much time in traffic in Houston, where we rank #4 on a list of the worst cities to drive in. Future because I am excited about what is going on in the transportation realm and how great to imagine a world where we are no longer making lists of cities with the worst traffic. Finally, dragon because I need a friend to spit fire for me sometimes! All that being said, regardless of your choices – I think I can safely assume that you too are interested in the future of mobility. Download a copy of IPMI’s most recent publication, Smart Transportation for Parking and Mobility Practitioners, where you can review real-world case studies of organizations that have implemented smart transportation programs and the positive impact they have made on their communities. And I would love to hear your Would You Rather choices, so drop me an email at maria.irshad@houstontx.gov. Maria Irshad, MPA, CAPP, is the Deputy Director for the City of Houston, Texas (ParkHouston).

We have components of an aging PARCS that are end-of-life, and our backs were up against the wall to get it replaced as soon as possible. Our PARCS was installed in 2008, and for the most part, we’ve been happy with the performance of the equipment and our vendor. The COVID pandemic threw a giant wrench in our PARCS replacement plan, which is how we ended up in this position. I’m sure many of you dread the thought of RFPs, even if you’re not completely satisfied with your PARCS vendor. As a county department, we have strict purchasing rules. However, we were able to utilize a “bid waiver” to procure new PARCS components from our current vendor without going through the RFP process. The bid waiver was approved through our governing processes as we were able to show significant cost savings and limited disruption by proving that the entire system did not need to be scrapped. We excluded non-revenue-related equipment in the specifications (such as barrier gates, fixed LPR cameras, and HID-only devices) and focused on equipment that was critical to revenue generation, like entry ticket kiosks and exit verifiers. Our existing HID-only gates will integrate into the new system. Our justification outlined this vendor’s capability to install new exit devices that could process entry tickets from the legacy system. We’re hoping for a seamless transition with minimal impact on customer service and day-to-day operations. Airport staff have a deep understanding of the current PARCS, which will help minimize training costs. We also perform the vast majority of maintenance in-house. Our Master Electricians maintain the parking equipment, which has allowed hardware failures to be resolved swiftly over the years. Mike Maromaty, CAPP, is an Airport Parking Manager at Dane County Regional Airport. Mike can be reached at Maromaty.Michael@msnairport.com.

My two truths and a lie: I became submarine and airborne qualified in the same summer. I am the 1975 U10 Mutton Busting Champion for Gallatin County, MT. I was once featured on the Travel Channel. The last one is true and quite an experience. I got to share some of the cool and up-and-coming technology for parking and mobility. That was over 10 years ago now, and some of the solutions have materialized (robotic parking), while others have not (3D holographic car locators). Throughout our industry's history, we've relied on technology and innovation to make the movement of people and goods more resource-efficient, convenient, safe, secure, and equitable.  You'll recognize this as the definition of Smart Transportation, and you can download IPMI's recent publication, Smart Transportation for Parking and Mobility Practitioners: Concepts, Applications and Case Studies to learn more.  This practical guide defines smart transportation and uses real-world and case studies to illustrate how technology can be used to achieve our most important parking and mobility management goals. Casey Jones, CAPP, is the Senior Director of Customer Success for Flash and a member of the IPMI Board of Directors. Casey can be reached at casey.jones@flashparking.com.

As many of you all know the City of Charleston, South Carolina is a coastal city.  Hurricane season runs from June 1st to November 30th.  Hurricane season can provide many challenges for Charleston County.  Parking Operations is a division under the Facilities Department, all parking employees are required to assist in preparation and recovery after a storm.  In addition, we have employees that assist the Emergency Operations Center with the Citizen Information Line. We have three different operating levels at Charleston County- Opcon 1 – Normal Daily Operations Opcon 2 – Enhanced Awareness Opcon 3 – Full Alert At each Opcon Level, the Parking Division is required to take certain action.  This includes securing signage and trash cans, installing flood panels, parking gate removal, securing pay machines, sandbagging, system backups, drain cleaning, shutting down elevators etc.  In addition, as storms approach, City of Charleston and the County of Charleston offer free parking within the garages for residents and visitors during storms.  Parking is limited to cars only.  As everyone knows people don’t always follow the rules, we’ve had boats, grills, golf carts, trailers, everything but the kitchen sink.  Cars must be out of the garages on specific days and times, if not customers will pay the prevailing rate after the day and time has passed.  From a customer service aspect, we do take into consideration people that evacuated and cannot get back in time to remove their car as to whether to require payment.  This is conducted on a case-by-case basis. Paul Whetzel, CAPP is the Parking Operations Manager for the County of Charleston, SC. Paul can be reached at PWhetzel@charlestoncounty.org.

EV’s and EV charging stations have been a popular topic of conversation within the parking industry over the course of the last four to five years. That conversation intensified following COVID as Cities and States across the Country felt a migration of folks moving from west coast and northeastern regions where EV’s have shown to be more popular into cities that have been slower to make the switch. States such as Florida and Georgia which had an influx of folks move in post pandemic had to make the switch to help better serve the needs of folks with EV’s at residential buildings and retail parking areas. So how do we balance offering preferred parking spaces to EV owners while at the same time not pushing members of our community that have had access to preferred spaces for years to the side? Offering incentives to those that have decided to “go green” will certainly help a facility obtain a park smart certification but will also cause some pushback from long term members of the community. Newer multifamily parking facilities will push us to install charging stations while at the same time not offering this as a free service, charging the consumer per KW. That certainly helps the developers cover building cost but may also keep stake holders at bay knowing that the option is there but it does not mean we are catering to EV owners. Elvis Reyes, CAPP, is the General Manager for The Car Park. Elvis can be reached at ereyes@thecarpark.com.

We all hear it whether you are a municipal entity or an academic organization like our own. Here at the University of Mississippi’s main campus in Oxford, MS, we manage and maintain just over 17,000 parking spaces. On even the busiest day, we can pull up video feed showing hundreds of spaces or more that parkers are not utilizing, but still, we hear, "There are not enough parking spaces." Is it just that age-old expectation that everyone should be able to park directly outside the building where they work at or attend classes? Is it a rural university problem or do urban universities with few or no parking spaces at all still experience this? Want to see students completely stumped? Try to explain to them that they should park their cars at one of several remote lots on the edge of campus and then take the convenient shuttle bus to a central part of campus that is likely within 500 feet of the building for their classes. They of course bought a commuter parking permit. We can also show them a half-empty commuter parking zone. Except, it is not where they want to park, and the lots close to where they want to be are "full". When we explain that Commuter permits are authorized to park in these remote lots, something breaks inside their minds. Park car, ride bus, get to class on time! Easy right? Apparently not… Harold Robinson, CAPP, is the Assistant Director of Parking and Transportation Systems for The University of Mississippi. Harold can be reached at hdrobins@olemiss.edu.

Clutter can create a chaotic environment that hampers focus and efficiency, leading to increased stress and decreased productivity. In fact, studies show that 80% of items people keep are never used, contributing to an overwhelming sense of clutter. Americans spend an average of 2.5 days each year searching for misplaced items, and 54% feel overwhelmed by their belongings. This clutter not only distracts but also costs Americans approximately $2.7 billion annually in replacing lost items. A clean and organized workspace, however, can transform your productivity. Research indicates that 78% of workers believe a tidy environment enhances focus, while 83% say it boosts creativity. Furthermore, a clutter-free space fosters a sense of calm, significantly reducing stress levels. To cultivate a decluttered environment, start by integrating small tasks into your daily schedule. Designate specific time slots for organizing and maintaining your workspace. Choose decluttering tools that fit your style—whether digital apps or physical organizers—and consistently apply them. Regularly evaluate your methods to ensure they’re effective. Promoting a culture of cleanliness is equally vital. Encourage daily tidying and set clear organization standards. Celebrate small victories to stay motivated. By scheduling regular decluttering sessions, implementing effective storage solutions, digitizing documents, and fostering a culture of organization, you can create a more efficient and serene workspace. Prioritizing cleanliness not only enhances productivity but also contributes to overall well-being. Start your decluttering journey today for a more focused and creative tomorrow! Lisa Copeland, CAPP, PMP, CUFM, is the Business Operations Manager for Old Dominion University. Lisa can be reached at lcopelan@odu.edu.

Jeri Baker, CAPP, Executive Account Manager of T2 Systems tells us the importance of acceptance and the comfort that comes from a safe environment.

Okay. I may be a bit biased, but nobody does college football tailgating quite like the University of Mississippi, aka Ole Miss! With the football full swing, almost everything revolves around 7 autumn Saturdays—surely not that different from other places. Right? Other schools have long and storied football-related traditions, too. But tailgating? No one takes tailgating to an artform like Ole Miss! A place in the Grove? Check. 10' x 10' tent? Check. Table and chairs? Check. Ole Miss swag and signs? Check. The good silver and dinnerware, linen table cloth and a floral centerpiece along with catered gourmet food? Wait. What? I heard the stories but always thought they were exaggerations. The Grove and Circle on campus turn into a sea of 10 x 10 tents like other tailgating traditions, but mixed in with your traditional tailgaters are those who make Ole Miss special—tents decorated with fresh flower arrangements, tables covered in linens and their best severing dishes and silverware. Imagine someone transplanting Thanksgiving dinner from a formal dining room to a tent under the trees for an event steeped in tradition. There will be food of all varieties—some catered and some home cooked like grandma use to make—and always more than enough to go around. Many tents have small generators. How else will they power the TV and, yes, even the chandelier? Some people come for the game, but almost as many come just for the Grove! Through it all, we park the cars and move people about. Harold Robinson, CAPP, is the Assistant Director of Parking and Transportation Systems for The University of Mississippi. Harold can be reached at hdrobins@olemiss.edu.

Hello Fellow IPMI Friends- Here is a little background of Charleston County Parking Operations, our primary function is to provide support for the County Office Building and the County Courthouse located in downtown Charleston.  As many of you know, the City of Charleston is known for its history, proximity to beaches and many tourist attractions.  When you factor all of this in, parking is at a premium in downtown Charleston. I have been employed with Charleston County for over 16 years and in my time our camera surveillance system has improved significantly.  The camera system plays a vital role in our daily operation at Charleston County.  Our staff utilize the cameras to proactively assist customers, verify customers disabled placards, equipment malfunctions, incidents etc.   An excellent example of our staff utilizing the cameras, a customer had a seizure in the elevator and one of our employees saw this on camera and immediately went to check on them and called 9-1-1.  This is just one instance of our staff assisting customers. One of our biggest benefits of the cameras is recouping damages throughout garages.  Examples are broken gates, hit and runs, breaking and entering, and other criminal activity.  At the garages we have a very complex situation, Charleston County owns and operates garages within the City of Charleston.  This does create some confusion at times on what agency should respond to certain calls. It is extremely important for us to maintain a positive and proactive relationship with the local law enforcement jurisdiction.  The value of these relationships is tremendous not only for us, but for our customers! Paul Whetzel, CAPP is the Parking Operations Manager for the County of Charleston, SC. Paul can be reached at PWhetzel@charlestoncounty.org. I often share with parking employees we have to continue to change to meet the expectations of the future.  Embracing change is hard for so many employees, but it is one thing that motivates me to seek out new parking innovations and sparks my creative side on how to improve the customer parking experience.   How can I lead better? Do I need to change or does my operation need to do things differently to meet customer expectations? I have been in two different arenas from a university parking environment to now the municipal side. While change may bring some angst or anxiety you get used to a certain response or non-response from administrators. Not only is the City of Bloomington getting a new mayor this year, it is also an electoral year.  However, I believe a certain amount of change makes us better professionals, better service agents to our community at large and provides a different look on how we should be doing things differently if it is broken!   I know clear directives and strong leadership ensures that we are on the same path to making our City better each year. My hope not only for my staff but for all the parking professionals going through “the changing of the guard”, that you keep moving forward with your mission, listen, seek to understand first and give the new administration the opportunity to prove themselves.   Always provide honest feedback to your department head about how the staff is transitioning.  Ask questions for clarification if you don’t understand, don’t assume you have all the facts.    Be open to see both sides.    I am probably going to have to read this advice in the coming months as I go through the first administrative change in my professional career in the city. Are you going through changing of the guard, administration and or leadership?   How will approach your next administrative change?   From John F. Kennedy’s perspective will you choose, growth or safety? Michelle L. Wahl, CAPP, is the Parking Services Director for the City of Bloomington, IN. Michelle can be reached at michelle.wahl@bloomington.in.gov. Our two on-campus parking structures have about 200 cameras covering almost every inch of space. Our department has a significant role in installing well over 50 other cameras around campus to oversee parking areas and major points of traffic and pedestrian flow. High volume bus stops and pay-station locations are top priorities, and our dispatcher routinely monitors and checks them for things amiss. Perhaps unusually, we are separated from the University Police Department which has shared access to the cameras providing a valuable safety resource. One person with a virtual presence across half the campus at same time, managing equipment and various situations. We are not cruel, though. One of the TVs in dispatch has the Weather Channel on all the time and sometimes we even let them have visitors! Harold Robinson, CAPP, is the Assistant Director of Parking and Transportation Systems for The University of Mississippi. Harold can be reached at hdrobins@olemiss.edu. Growing demand for EV charging: Global EV sales surge: in 2023, global EV sales hit a record 10 million, up 55% from 2022. EVs are expected to account for 18% of total car sales by 2024. EV adoption rates: the number of EVs on U.S. roads is projected to reach 26.4 million by 2030, compared to 2.6 million in 2021. Consumer demand for charging: 81% of EV drivers expect access to charging at places where they park for extended periods (such as parking lots, multifamily developments, and workplaces). EV charging as a competitive advantage: Attracting tenants and visitors: 40% of drivers have said they’re more likely to choose a parking facility with EV chargers. Increase in property value: properties with EV charging stations have seen rent premiums increase by 3-5%, and property values can increase by 7% in markets where EV adoption is strong. Parking facilities with charging stations: facilities with EV charging tend to experience higher occupancy rates, especially in urban areas where EV drivers actively seek charging options. Courtney Henry-Irwin is the Director of Partner Development for EVPassport. She can be reached at cirwin@evpassport.com.

Have you ever heard the saying “without change there is no future”? How about John F. Kennedy’s perspective, “Change is the law of life.  And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.  In any given moment we have two options: to step forward into growth or step back into safety.” This is one of my favorite quotes personally and professionally. I often share with parking employees we have to continue to change to meet the expectations of the future.  Embracing change is hard for so many employees, but it is one thing that motivates me to seek out new parking innovations and sparks my creative side on how to improve the customer parking experience.   How can I lead better? Do I need to change or does my operation need to do things differently to meet customer expectations? I have been in two different arenas from a university parking environment to now the municipal side. While change may bring some angst or anxiety you get used to a certain response or non-response from administrators. Not only is the City of Bloomington getting a new mayor this year, it is also an electoral year.  However, I believe a certain amount of change makes us better professionals, better service agents to our community at large and provides a different look on how we should be doing things differently if it is broken!   I know clear directives and strong leadership ensures that we are on the same path to making our City better each year. My hope not only for my staff but for all the parking professionals going through “the changing of the guard”, that you keep moving forward with your mission, listen, seek to understand first and give the new administration the opportunity to prove themselves.   Always provide honest feedback to your department head about how the staff is transitioning.  Ask questions for clarification if you don’t understand, don’t assume you have all the facts.    Be open to see both sides.    I am probably going to have to read this advice in the coming months as I go through the first administrative change in my professional career in the city. Are you going through changing of the guard, administration and or leadership?   How will approach your next administrative change?   From John F. Kennedy’s perspective will you choose, growth or safety? Michelle L. Wahl, CAPP, is the Parking Services Director for the City of Bloomington, IN. Michelle can be reached at michelle.wahl@bloomington.in.gov. Our two on-campus parking structures have about 200 cameras covering almost every inch of space. Our department has a significant role in installing well over 50 other cameras around campus to oversee parking areas and major points of traffic and pedestrian flow. High volume bus stops and pay-station locations are top priorities, and our dispatcher routinely monitors and checks them for things amiss. Perhaps unusually, we are separated from the University Police Department which has shared access to the cameras providing a valuable safety resource. One person with a virtual presence across half the campus at same time, managing equipment and various situations. We are not cruel, though. One of the TVs in dispatch has the Weather Channel on all the time and sometimes we even let them have visitors! Harold Robinson, CAPP, is the Assistant Director of Parking and Transportation Systems for The University of Mississippi. Harold can be reached at hdrobins@olemiss.edu. Growing demand for EV charging: Global EV sales surge: in 2023, global EV sales hit a record 10 million, up 55% from 2022. EVs are expected to account for 18% of total car sales by 2024. EV adoption rates: the number of EVs on U.S. roads is projected to reach 26.4 million by 2030, compared to 2.6 million in 2021. Consumer demand for charging: 81% of EV drivers expect access to charging at places where they park for extended periods (such as parking lots, multifamily developments, and workplaces). EV charging as a competitive advantage: Attracting tenants and visitors: 40% of drivers have said they’re more likely to choose a parking facility with EV chargers. Increase in property value: properties with EV charging stations have seen rent premiums increase by 3-5%, and property values can increase by 7% in markets where EV adoption is strong. Parking facilities with charging stations: facilities with EV charging tend to experience higher occupancy rates, especially in urban areas where EV drivers actively seek charging options. Courtney Henry-Irwin is the Director of Partner Development for EVPassport. She can be reached at cirwin@evpassport.com.

Some hate them, some love them, and yes, some may abuse them. I think they are great! Our department uses cameras as a force multiplier as well as a tool for situational awareness. We have our dispatcher in a room with a bank of 6 large screen TVs along with 6 monitors on the desk. The dispatcher watches over access control gates, carpool parking areas, timed and metered spaces, and even bus stops and traffic intersections. Our two on-campus parking structures have about 200 cameras covering almost every inch of space. Our department has a significant role in installing well over 50 other cameras around campus to oversee parking areas and major points of traffic and pedestrian flow. High volume bus stops and pay-station locations are top priorities, and our dispatcher routinely monitors and checks them for things amiss. Perhaps unusually, we are separated from the University Police Department which has shared access to the cameras providing a valuable safety resource. One person with a virtual presence across half the campus at same time, managing equipment and various situations. We are not cruel, though. One of the TVs in dispatch has the Weather Channel on all the time and sometimes we even let them have visitors! Harold Robinson, CAPP, is the Assistant Director of Parking and Transportation Systems for The University of Mississippi. Harold can be reached at hdrobins@olemiss.edu. Growing demand for EV charging: Global EV sales surge: in 2023, global EV sales hit a record 10 million, up 55% from 2022. EVs are expected to account for 18% of total car sales by 2024. EV adoption rates: the number of EVs on U.S. roads is projected to reach 26.4 million by 2030, compared to 2.6 million in 2021. Consumer demand for charging: 81% of EV drivers expect access to charging at places where they park for extended periods (such as parking lots, multifamily developments, and workplaces). EV charging as a competitive advantage: Attracting tenants and visitors: 40% of drivers have said they’re more likely to choose a parking facility with EV chargers. Increase in property value: properties with EV charging stations have seen rent premiums increase by 3-5%, and property values can increase by 7% in markets where EV adoption is strong. Parking facilities with charging stations: facilities with EV charging tend to experience higher occupancy rates, especially in urban areas where EV drivers actively seek charging options. Courtney Henry-Irwin is the Director of Partner Development for EVPassport. She can be reached at cirwin@evpassport.com.