Oshkosh committee backs move to digital parking permits, recommends ordinance updates

The Oshkosh Transportation Committee voted unanimously March 11 to recommend that the Common Council pursue ordinance changes to update Chapter 27 of the municipal code and allow a web- or app-based parking permit and enforcement system, including use of license-plate readers and digital permits.

Committee members and staff described the change as a modernization that would replace physical hang tags and obsolete references to parking meters with a Passport-hosted platform the city plans to adopt. Staff said the system will let users apply for, purchase and renew daily, monthly and annual permits online or via mobile app, allow businesses to issue validation codes for customers, and manage wait lists and location-eligibility automatically.

The committee’s recommendation covers a set of ordinance edits needed to support the technology; committee members emphasized the motion was not intended to lock the city to one vendor. “We’re writing it so that it says web based or web or app based,” a staff member said, noting the language is intended to accommodate future platforms.

Staff told the committee they had discussed earlier enforcement arrangements with a previous vendor (referred to in the meeting as Duncan Park and Solutions) and that the city intends to replace that system with Passport’s software and integrate existing license-plate readers for enforcement. The city also plans to bring two areas currently managed by the university (on High Avenue and Osceola Avenue) into the city system so users can access all paid and permit parking through a single app.

Committee members discussed fee levels for daily permits. Staff said the current downtown daily permit price of $1.50 is low and that Passport staff suggested typical Midwest daily rates range higher; committee members discussed a recommendation to the council that the fee schedule be adjusted and proposed a starting recommendation in the $3–$5 range, with the formal fee schedule to be set separately by the council. Staff said current code already sets some fees (for example, $1.25 per hour for certain on-street university-area parking, $30 monthly permit and $10 overnight), and that the ordinance clean-up and fee schedule are separate steps.

On procedure, staff said the city intends to present the ordinance changes to the Common Council for two readings (first reading March 25, second reading April 8) and seek council approval to move forward; the committee’s vote was a recommendation, not final approval. The committee moved and seconded the recommendation to proceed with ordinance amendments; the roll call vote recorded Staple, Armstrong, Hartman, Eslinger and Martin as voting “aye.”

Committee members and staff also discussed access for people who do not use smartphones or computers. Staff said the city will continue to assist applicants in person at the collections counter and will accept temporary overnight permissions by phone for short one- or two-night needs.

The committee asked staff to work with the university and provide 90 days’ notice before shifting enforcement in the university-managed areas so the change coincides with a low-demand period in summer. Staff said they hoped to begin implementation work in April and that some components might launch later in the spring.

Votes at a glance: The committee approved two procedural items on the March 11 agenda. The committee approved the February 11 meeting minutes and unanimously recommended that the council proceed with ordinance amendments to permit web- and app-based parking management and enforcement. The roll call vote for the recommendation registered five “ayes” and no opposing votes.