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Council sends Passport Labs parking contract back to committee amid access concerns
Summary
A proposed three-year contract with Passport Labs to digitize parking enforcement and payments was referred back to the finance committee after alder questions about kiosk placement, app access for elderly residents and implementation timing.
The council considered a finance committee recommendation to authorize a three-year contract with Passport Labs to replace older coin meters and implement a unified digital platform for parking payments and enforcement. The fiscal note presented a one-time implementation cost of $24,255 and recurring annual licensing of $12,000.
Council members asked whether the plan would eliminate coin meters or kiosks, how elderly residents and others without smartphones would pay, and which departments would lead implementation. The police chief said his department's role is in enforcement (using the software for citations) while kiosk placement and public-facing implementation would involve public works.
Following debate about outreach, kiosks and potential joint referrals, the council voted unanimously to refer the item back to the finance and personnel committee for further review of implementation details and stakeholder concerns. The finance director noted the broader operational decision (e.g., whether to remove meters citywide) carries significant fiscal consequences and recommended careful coordination with public works if the policy direction were to change.
