The City of Riviera Beach is at a major crossroads in both its current ongoing development projects and future economic opportunities. For the first time in the City’s history, public parking considerations are impacting both private and municipal projects. The City and the City’s Community Development Agency (CRA) own developable properties both inside and outside of the boundaries. The parties are seeking consultant services to assist in the development of a comprehensive Parking Master Plan to guide the City through these changing times. The City does not currently operate a true parking system, but with the development of the Marina District and Ocean Mall, now is the appropriate time to discuss the merits of creating such a system.  The creation of a parking system should begin with a Parking Master Plan.

Funding to prepare a Parking Master Plan were included in the FY2016-FY2020 Capital Improvement Plan.

Agenda item #4 on the June 1, 2016 Council meeting was a resolution authorizing the execution of a contract with DESMAN, Inc. to provide Parking Consultant Services. The Council voted to table the item. At this time, I am requesting the Council to remove this item off of the table.

The City Council has identified the need to implement a paid parking system within the city. The city currently does not have a management structure, ordinances or policies and procedures under which to operate a parking system. As part of the FY2016-2020 Capital Improvement Plan, funds were identified to create a Parking System Master Plan. The scope of services requested as part of the RFP was extensive as reflected below.

•      Parking program goals and objectives

•      Parking program policies and procedures

•      Parking standards and performance criteria

•      Public parking opportunities throughout the City

•      Parking solutions for specific public uses (parks, public facilities, beach)

•      Identified zoning requirements

•      Review of existing studies were applicable

•      Regulations for commercial parking

•      Management and regulation of on-street parking

•      Enforcement of laws, regulations and codes concerning parking including adjudication

•      Site specified plans for Ocean Mall property

•      Site specific plans for the Marina District

•      Program and operation assumptions

•      Municipal parking facility fee study

•      Parking permit program for City residents

•      Occupancy study

•      Parking demand and trip generation model, if applicable

•      Design guidelines and scenario testing

•      Operations and financial modeling and recommendations

•      Feasibility recommendations and alternatives

•      Proposed organization model including ordinances, personnel recommendations and outsourcing opportunities

 •      Development of coalitions and partnerships with business community organizations and major stakeholders, specifically identifying opportunities for long-term parking

Prior to issuing the RFP, the staff considered piggy-backing the CRA’s Parking Consultant contract but found that the contract was too restrictive in area (CRA only) and in scope. The CRA’s RFP scope is outlined below.

•      Confirm project assumptions

•      Program and operation assumptions

•      Municipal parking facility fee study

•      Parking demand & trip generation model

•      Design guidelines & scenario testing

•      Operations & financial modeling & recommendations

•      Feasibility recommendations & alternatives

•      Provide integrated district parking plan

Though it may appear that there is some overlap between the two scopes of service, I can assure the Council that the city will not be replicating any of the work previously prepared or completed under the CRA’s contract.

RFP 580-15 Parking Consultant Services was issued on December 27, 2015. On Tuesday, February 23, 2016 an evaluation committee, consisting of Danny Jones, Deputy City Manager; Terrence Bailey, City Engineer; Randy M. Sherman, Director of Finance and Administrative Services; DeAndrae Spradley, Principal Planner; Scott Evans, CRA Director of Planning and Development; and Pamela Daley, Senior Procurement Specialist convened to review and discuss the written responses to RFP #580-15, Parking Consultant Services. Written submittals were evaluated and ranked based on the criteria established in the City’s RFP. DESMAN Inc. received the highest ranking with a score of 105.8.

The contract identifies a number of Tasks to be performed. Work under the contract will be assigned by Task. DESMAN has reviewed all of the work previously prepared by the CRA’s parking consultant and will not replicate that work. Scope for many of the Tasks are clearly defined and budgets have been established. Where a budget has not yet been established for a Task, a budget will be set prior to assigning said Task.

As the Council recently heard at the retreat, parking is a critical consideration at the Marina.  I would add that parking is also a critical consideration city-wide. We need to get out ahead of the parking issues through the development of a comprehensive Parking Master Plan to guide the City.  It is with that in mind that I am respectfully requesting that the contract for DESMAN, Inc. be removed from the table for consideration.