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Manhattan Beach approves new pay-by-plate parking system and ParkMobile contract
Summary
Council approved a three‑year agreement with ParkMobile LLC for pay‑by‑plate pay stations and mobile payments, authorizing up to $2,428,310 for purchase, installation, and services; staff said installation will wait for a coastal development permit and integration with future license‑plate enforcement.
The Manhattan Beach City Council on Feb. 17 adopted a resolution awarding a three‑year agreement to ParkMobile LLC for pay‑by‑plate pay stations, a mobile app and text-to-pay services to replace aging single‑space meters.
Public Works staff presented a parking technology roadmap recommending a transition from single‑space meters to strategically placed pay stations (typically one unit per 8–20 stalls depending on layout), plus a mobile payment application to reduce reliance on physical equipment.
“Ninety percent of our customers may never need to walk to a pay station — the app and text option will let them pay from their phones,” said Nikki Petroff, senior management analyst in Public Works, during the presentation.
The contract award was for a total not to exceed $2,428,310 and includes initial capital purchase costs, first‑year fees and two optional one‑year extensions. Staff said the agreement will proceed to formal design and implementation planning, but pay‑station installation will not begin until a coastal development permit is approved.
Vendors on hand explained technical considerations. Peter McDonald of Dixon Resources, the city’s consultant for the procurement, said manufacturing and lead time support a fall installation target. ParkMobile representatives demonstrated multilingual app support and described convenience fees for mobile transactions (a 35¢ per-transaction convenience fee for app/text payments, with physical pay‑station payments charged only the meter rate).
Council members asked about accessibility, multilingual interface options, potential impacts on curbside space and whether pay stations would permanently replace existing single-space meters. Staff said most existing single‑space meter hardware would be removed and that the city has budgeted for ~130–140 pay stations; placement will prioritize ADA access and operational efficiency.
The council adopted Resolution No. 260017, awarding the contract and authorizing the city manager to execute the agreement and any necessary amendments; the motion passed unanimously (5–0).
What happens next: Staff will finalize design and placement, conduct public outreach and implement pay‑station procurement subject to coastal permitting and a separate enforcement procurement for license‑plate recognition.
