Committee moves to consolidate parking vendors, plans kiosks and to include Apple Pay options

Staff said the committee is preparing a formal RFP to consolidate the town's multiple parking vendors and to install payment kiosks in Lot A as part of a broader move away from single-space meters.

"We sent it down to purchasing. We have to make some adjustments to it, and then we'll post it," a staff member said, describing an open solicitation that will run for 30 days. Staff said the objective is to reduce the current vendor list (about five vendors) to roughly two vendors that can provide kiosks, app payments and handheld enforcement tools.

Committee members discussed specific payment options they want to include—cash/coin, credit-card readers, Apple Pay, and phone-app integration—and noted cost and equity trade-offs. One committee member noted the importance of keeping a cash option for residents who lack cards: "We can't just continue cash because there's people that don't have credit cards." Staff said those choices will affect kiosk pricing and vendor proposals.

Business owners also discussed merchant processing fees and back-office reconciliation. A local business participant described Square's in-person rate as "2.6% plus 10¢ per transaction," and members flagged that processing costs will be part of the city's total operating expense for parking collections. Staff said kiosks, vendor dashboards and consolidated processing could lower labor costs and ease monthly reconciliation for Finance.

Staff said the procurement process will include vendor interviews and that the committee will evaluate submitted proposals and interviews before choosing vendors. The committee will review the RFP responses, vendor qualifications and cost proposals at a future meeting.