Mayor John Street is preparing to take control of on-street parking operations -- even in the midst of a continuing dispute between his administration and the state-run Philadelphia Parking Authority.
"We are preparing to take over the on-street parking operations on Feb. 16," Street spokeswoman Christine Ottow said, adding that the administration will be working to "ensure a smooth transition" with the PPA as long as it actively cooperates in the process.
Ten years ago, the city entered into an agreement with the PPA in order to allow the administration to manage on-street parking in an efficient manner. That contract is set to expire next week.
In the terms of the contract, the Parking Authority has the right to oversee parking on behalf of the city's best interests, but the ambiguous language of the agreement has left both sides claiming ownership of the necessary equipment. Street is asserting the city's ownership of the new parking meters and tow trucks purchased by the Parking Authority, while the Parking Authority continues to argue their rights to the equipment, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.
The state Senate and the House of Representatives recently passed a bill to continue the contract of the PPA. However, Governor Ed Rendell has an opportunity to veto the bill before Feb. 14. Although the Inquirer reported that he plans to exercise his veto, the governor has yet to make a formal announcement regarding his decision.
If Rendell does veto the bill, the power to decide the rights to control on-street parking will be passed to Mayor Street, who has already made it clear that he will end the agreement.
As the city forges ahead with its plans for takeover, the ownership dispute between the city and the Parking Authority continues.
"I can't comment on those kind of issues right now," Parking Authority Executive Director Joseph Egan said regarding the PPA's claim to ownership over equipment, but he noted that a disagreement does exist between Street and the PPA that has yet to be resolved.
Egan added that the only thing he could do was reiterate the words that are listed on each vehicle used by the Parking Authority's operations. Each vehicle's owner card reads, "Philadelphia Parking Authority, State of Pennsylvania."
The Parking Authority's duties now require the employment of 800 workers and equipment, including parking meters and tow trucks.
Further adding to the hostility, Ottow insisted that the Parking Authority has continually neglected necessary duties, leading the mayor to decline renewal of the contract. "In many ways, it's not good for the city," Ottow said. "We've been unable to get regular revenue figures from them."
Egan said that the city is trying to revert to an old-fashioned system that has failed in the past. He added that almost every city in America uses a system of agreement between the administration and a different party that can manage parking operations.
"You want someone with a single mission," Egan said.
The current system allows the PPA to focus more intensely on its duties, rather than having city police dealing with parking tickets or other issues.
Political Science professor Jack Nagel said in an e-mail that "having parking enforced by a special-purpose agency whose employees are judged by their efficiency ... in issuing tickets is conducive to stricter enforcement," adding that Philadelphians took notice when the Parking Authority was first given jurisdiction over on-street parking.
Nagel also noted that the dispute has political undertones that must be identified. "This dispute is not about efficient public administration, but rather about control of patronage jobs and resulting political power," Nagel said.
The Parking Authority's Republican-led board could be the cause of the politically charged clash with Street over the legislative bill, and the board has continually conflicted with Street on many issues over the years.
