warnings. So it does work. The board also started a program for
inspection/registration violations which gives 15 days. If you have an
inspection that is out of inspection or our of registration, you have 15 days
to remedy and the ticket is rescinded. The AP board has discussed
initiatives which will benefit residents. He stated that this is important. A
Community Relations Specialist was hired in January. His job is to
improve communication and collaboration with the community and
stakeholders. He attends neighborhood groups meetings and visits with
stakeholders, etc. There is much more communication going between the
Parking Authority and the community then there was a year ago.
Unfortunately, there are initiatives that are on hold due to the budget
shortfalls. He wanted to make sure he mentions these quickly: in the last
seven or eight months, they have been discussing internally an internal
payment plan which is really important to us. To his knowledge, most
Parking Authorities don't offer this service, Philadelphia does. The
difference in Philadelphia is they are a city and county. They can do it
much more efficiently. In Allentown, we are separate from the county and it
becomes much more difficult. The Parking Authority has gone to their
software vendor to assist in upgrading their software that communicates
with the state and district courts. The estimate for this upgrade is between
$35,000 - $50,000 and something that they are working on. This will also
help violations from reaching district courts where the amount increases
and fees are added. It is very important for someone to have the ability
hypothetically if they got a violation for $50. Instead of having to pay the
$50 within 10 days, they have the option to pay $12.50 a week for four
weeks. They don't have to may a decision on what not to buy in one week.
They can spread it out and that is really important why they are working on
it. Also, investments in requiring and converting blighted parcels in our
densest neighborhoods to add parking capacity. This was done at
Seventh and Allen Streets. If you are familiar with the surface lot on that
corner and it was successful. It was actually successful in reducing tickets
in that neighborhood. The concept works. They would like to replicate it
over and over in our densest neighborhoods. Again, it is on hold due to
budget shortfalls. If possible, they would like to do a small business
discounts. Some sort of programs for part-time employees working
downtown who parks in the decks. They have a lot of people that work in
restaurants that work hourly rate jobs that they would love to help with their
parking downtown, if that was an option. Lastly, further investment in larger
projects which has the affect of increasing development and therefore,
increasing the tax base for the benefit for all citizens of Allentown. For
instance, when the Parking Authority built a parking deck, it attracts a ton of
development in that area. It benefits everyone with the tax base increasing
it. Lastly, if the Parking Authority continues to have budget shortfalls,
misses its covenant with the bank, there is a risk that the bank could sell its
assets to the private sector. It has happened elsewhere. Most recently, it
has happened in Harrisburg and it resulted in street parking going up to
$4.00 an hour. In Allentown, it is $2.00 an hour and monthly contracts for
their parking decks are between $200 and $275 a month. He stated that
