TITLE
Recommendation to request City Auditor to conduct a review of the City's 25 parking structures and lots to verify the number that collect cash and are not automated. For those lots and structures that are on a cash basis, the City Council requests a report documenting the controls that are currently in place to ensure all cash is being deposited securely and timely into the City's treasury and to make recommendations as warranted that will benefit the ongoing operation of our parking lots and structures.
The City Council is further requesting information on the timetable regarding the City's plans to convert the cash lots into automated lots and any other information the City Auditor deems necessary to ensure the City's parking operations are protected from any potential fraud, waste, or abuse during this transition period.
DISCUSSION
With the recent approval of a citywide parking management contract we have an important opportunity to further evaluate and collect information on how our parking lots and structures operate. It would be in the city's best interests to conduct an in depth assessment of our parking operations and management citywide to ensure we can proactively address any issues and understand opportunities for performance improvements in operations, management, and infrastructure of the city's various parking lots and structures.
Whenever there is a transaction of cash changing hands there is potential for impropriety, so it becomes necessary for the city to be proactive in safeguarding against violations of policy in these instances. It is essential that our city proceed prudently to ensure we adhere to policies of transparency in parking lot and structure operations as well as in all other areas.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact to the general fund for the preparation of this report as this research is anticipated to be completed by existing city staff resources.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully ...
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