IPInsider - September 28, 2010

Following conversations with IPI, the NFL's Director of Strategic Security Programs, sent out information to all 32 NFL teams regarding information about the parking-specific anti-terrorism program First Observer which teaches parking professionals how to protect the public from terrorist activities. The Arizona Cardinals have already held training for 80 parking and stadium personnel, and the Indianapolis Colts are in the process of scheduling training. For more information on the First Observer program and to schedule training for your organization, visit the First Observer page of the IPI website or contact Henry Wallmeyer at 540.371.7535.

 

Since its launch in May, First Observer has now trained more than 1,000 parking professionals, with many more to be trained at upcoming state and regional annual meetings.

On September 14, the International Parking Institute represented the parking industry at the Department of Homeland Security, Office of Infrastructure Protection (DHS IP) Real Estate Subsector Tabletop Exercise. The focus of the exercise was on information sharing and coordination between the Real Estate Subsector of the Commercial Facilities Sector, DHS IP, and state and local representatives during various threat and incident periods in exercise scenarios put forth. The tabletop exercise was an interactive, discussion based exercise focusing on impacts to information sharing activities caused by terrorist threats, acts of terrorism, and the resulting aftermath of such events.

 

IPI was asked to share information about First Observer - the parking-specific, anti-terrorism training program developed by IPI in conjunction with the Transportation Security Administration  (TSA) - to the building owners and managers of commercial real estate;  the security, janitorial and engineering firms supporting these commercial structures; industry associations; and various governmental entities, including DHS's Assistant Secretary for Infrastructure Protection Todd Keil.

 

IPI will continue to work with these organizations and entities to improve the understanding of information sharing and incident management activities, identifying opportunities or problems, and developing recommended actions and procedural adjustments to address potential problem areas in advance of a potential threat.

 

IPI was joined by representatives from AMPCO Parking Systems, Standard Parking Corporation and LAZ Parking. For more information on the First Observer training program or IPI's efforts to prepare against potential terrorist activities, contact Henry Wallmeyer, Deputy Director, at 540.371.7535.

On September 14 and 15, the IPI Board of Directors met for their annual fall meeting to discuss and review the association's program initiatives and projects and focus on IPI's strategic direction. Among the strategic initiatives on the agenda was discussion and formulation of a comprehensive and robust new Professional Development Plan. The Board also formally approved and adopted revised bylaws for the Association.  Members can read the updated bylaws by logging in to the IPI website and clicking to the Members Only section of the Member Services tab.

 

As the voice of the membership, the IPI Board of Directors welcomes and encourages your comments, feedback and ideas on association issues. Contact any member of the Board by visiting the Board of Directors page on the IPI website.

The International Parking Institute is pleased to announce that former Pittsburgh Steeler and four-time Super Bowl winner Rocky Bleier will be the Keynote speaker at the 2011 IPI Conference & Expo in Pittsburgh, Pa. Rocky Bleier's life story - a gripping tale of courage on both the football fields of America and the battle fields of Vietnam - has held audiences in rapt attention for years. Yet, the motivational message behind it, detailing how ordinary people can become extraordinary achievers, defines success in the new American century. For more information and to register for the 2011 IPI Conference & Expo visit www.parking.org/conference.  

On September 22, IPI presented its tenth webinar of 2010 - Money in the Cushions: Have You Overlooked These Ways to Increase Parking Revenues? The webinar, presented by Mark Miller, CEO, Public Parking Associates, Inc., provided insight into ways of increasing revenues other than incremental fee increases. Below is an excerpt of the Question and Answer segment of the webinar.

 

 

Mark Miller:  I'd suggest using two recent, consecutive pay stubs. In this way, you be less likely to accept people that might have worked one short week or have some other one-time aberration that reduced their pay. I have also required payments to provide a statement on letterhead from employers confirming their pay levels. This gave me an additional "stick."  If a business was encouraging and aiding their employees to cheat the parking program, I could threaten to not accept applications from that employer in the future.

 

Members can access the complete Q&A transcript in the Library section of the IPI website. You can also view this webinar, or any of our other on-demand webinars, by going here. 

Snow and ice management in parking lots and other high-traffic facilities is challenging work that exposes the property ownership to a substantial degree of risk. Having a solid and dependable snow and ice control strategy is critical to ensuring continued, uninterrupted operation of the facility as well.

 

Rich Arlington, CSP, Rich Arlington & Associates &

Brian K. Birch, Snow and Ice Management Association

 

This webinar will walk participants through the most important elements in creating a long term strategy for managing snow and ice for parking lots, sidewalks, parking structures, and other high-traffic areas. The webinar will be broken into two parts:

Part 1: Preparation & Logistics
  · Creating a snow response plan and planning for the 'big one'
  · Equipment usage and decisions
  · Communications and recordkeeping

Part 2: In-House vs. Outsourcing
· Pros and cons of performing the work in-house
  · Pros/cons of hiring a third party to perform the work
  · Evaluation criteria and tips for choosing a reliable service provider

 
Wednesday, October 20, 2010  at 2:00 PM EST (60 minutes)
$35.00 for IPI Members
$50.00 for Non-Members*

For more information and to register, visit the IPI e-Learning web site, www.parking.org/webinars. 

The City of Houston
The City of Houston's Administration and Regulatory Affairs Department - Parking Management Division is soliciting proposals from qualified professional firms for "Consulting Services for Parking Management Best Practices and Strategic Plan Development."  Proposals are due Friday, October 8, 2010.  More information is available by searching for document Q23759 on the City's purchasing website.

Greater Sudbury Airport
The Greater Sudbury Airport (GSA) is seeking proposals to upgrade and improve the automation of its parking system by acquiring and installing Pay and Display Units and a comprehensive automated parking system for long term parking compound. Proposals are due Wednesday, October 27, 2010.  More information is available on the Greater Sudbury website.

The October issue of The Parking Professional has been mailed and should be arriving in your mailbox any day now.  Featured this month are two articles on designing and operating parking facilities in harsh winter conditions as well as how parking in downtown districts will continue to play a vital role in all elements of a city's economy, facilitating transportation, commerce, shopping, entertainment and sociability. Members can also view the current issue and past issues on The Parking Professional page of IPI's website. 
 
Interested in submitting an article for The Parking Professional?  Contact Henry Wallmeyer, Managing Editor at 540.371.7535.
 
Advertising information is available by contacting Romi Schneider at 703.323.5783.

The latest industry news and vital industry information:
( denotes video news story)

 

·Drivers Skirt Rules on Disabled Parking
·Find Parking by Orlando's New Amway Center With New App
·Police React to Downtown Newark, Ohio, Parking Concerns
·York Parking Solutions Stalled Amid Bureaucratic Spat
·High Road Tax, Parking Rates Can Reduce Car Use in Delhi
·Break-Even for Yakima Parking Meters
·Portsmouth City Council Weighs Downtown Parking Garage Plan
·State-of-the Art Parking Garage in Towson
·Parking Lease is in Pittsburgh City Budget
·Parking Revenue in Downtown Brockton is Down by a Third
·Rutland Will Look at Managing Parking Deck
·Safety Concerns With Parking at Univeristy of Tampa
·Fayetteville to Change Paid Parking Rules Again in October
·Parking On Wheeling Plaza Debated
·Study Says Plenty of Parking in Emmaus
·Debate Over Indianapolis Parking Meters is Refreshing
·Parking Issue Still Prevalent at University of Houston
·Parking Ticket Tranquility in Cambridge
·Easton Touts New Parking Meter Technology, But Small Business Owners Express Concerns
·San Pedro Meters Take Plastic
·New Parking Meters Coming to Alexandria
·Delaware Cities: Parking Wars May Heat up in Wilmington
·UNL Builds Environmentally Friendly Parking Garage
·Parking Woes Test Students' Patience at Moraine Valley
·Durango Considers Solar Parking Meters
·University of Toledo Goes Green With New Bike Pad

 

For these stories plus more, visit the Parking in the News section of IPI's website.