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City council approves Interstate Parking contract for downtown and river parking management
Summary
Council authorized a 3-year contract with Interstate Parking Company to manage enforcement, ambassadors and paid parking at river parks and downtown; staff said projected revenues will cover the annual $265,672 contract cost and rollout will include public outreach and ordinance changes.
The New Braunfels City Council voted to authorize staff to finalize a contract with Interstate Parking Company to manage parking enforcement and customer-facing ambassador services at select city parks and in downtown New Braunfels.
City staff told council the contract under consideration is a three-year agreement with a $265,672 annual lump-sum fee and two one‑year extension options. Staff and Interstate representatives said the service start date for contract work is planned for March 1 to allow implementation tasks; river enforcement is planned for the opening of river season around May 1. Officials said they anticipate no net fiscal impact because paid parking revenue from parks and future downtown implementation is expected to cover the contract cost.
"We anticipate that there will be no fiscal impact because the anticipated revenues from the enforcement will cover" the contract cost, Economic and Community Development Director Jeff Jewell told council during the presentation. Tony Janowick, founder and CEO of Interstate Parking Company, described the firm’s approach as centered on customer service ambassadors and said the company recruits locally for ambassador roles. "One of the core, fundamental components of the services and the majority of the lump-sum contract actually is for the public service ambassador program," Janowick said.
Council and members of the public asked about towing policy, accessibility, device‑based payment barriers and impacts on private lots. Janowick and staff said towing would be a last resort under city policy and that Interstate’s national experience shows tows are rare once a system is in place. The contractor and staff also said the plan calls for a mix of payment options (QR/phone-based payments plus options businesses may help facilitate), a free short grace period for brief downtown visits, and outreach to private •lot owners to coordinate off-street supply.
Public commenters, including Downtown Association President Clarissa DeSanto and resident Richard Kelsheimer, expressed support for better parking management and asked for clear communications to residents and businesses about rollout and pricing. DeSanto offered to assist with public outreach.
Council voted to authorize staff to finalize the contract terms and proceed with implementation work and ordinance changes as needed; the motion carried with unanimous support. Staff said they will return with ordinance language and recommended rates and a communications plan before enforcement begins.
Next steps named in the meeting record include finalizing contract language, staging outreach and communications, publishing an implementation timeline (staff estimated a three‑to‑six‑month downtown rollout), and bringing any rate or penalty changes to council as ordinance items.
