HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-12-2013 pc storton & horchCITY OF SAN LUIS OBISP O
Win city o fsat)LUIS OBISp O
Evaluation of the utilization of parkin g
meters as a means to donate funds on behal f
of social service entitie s
City of San Luis Obispo White Pape r
Keith Storton, Police Lieutenan t
Robert Horch, Parking Services Manager
RECEIVE D
JAN 03201 3
SLO CITY CLERK
Parking Meter Donation Station s
December 19,201 2
CURRENT SITUATION :
The City of San Luis Obispo has recognized an increase of homelessness in our community over
the years . Social service providers in SLO have indicated 50- 60% of their clients come fro m
outside San Luis Obispo County . Existence of a genuine compassion for those in need an d
willingness to provide meaningful services and money to a segment of this population has been a
variable making San Luis Obispo an attractive destination location for homeless individuals .
Although several public and private assistance programs are available to those who see k
assistance, a segment of this population utilizes solicitation or "panhandling" as a means t o
produce an income . This population frequently loiters in more populated areas such as shoppin g
centers and the downtown core to solicit funds from passing pedestrians and motorists . Social
service providers believe the majority of panhandlers are considered "program resistant",
meaning they are not willing to commit to positive life choices needed to transition out o f
homelessness . Many in this subset have severe substance dependencies and cash handouts man y
times support addictions, and consequently have adverse impacts on a community by creating a n
enabling environment, drawing more program resistant individuals from other areas .
Solicitation can take many forms to include passive verbal requests, the placement of sign s
requesting money or a more aggressive approach where the panhandler uses intimidating o r
threatening tactics to obtain money . Some of these panhandlers interfere with traffic, bloc k
sidewalks/benches and disrupt the operations of businesses . There are several laws that control
the act of panhandling as to specific locations or when conducted in an aggressive manner ,
however, generally it is a legal act that has limited enforcement options available to the polic e
department .
POLICE CALLS FOR SERVICE AND CONTACTS :
Since March of 2012, the police department has attempted to capture the number of calls fo r
service that are generated pertaining to the act of solicitation or panhandling . During the tim e
period covering March 1, 2012 through November 30, 2012 the police department has responde d
to approximately 169 complaint calls for panhandling and 103 complaint calls for loitering .
Other calls for service may have involved the act of solicitation or panhandling, however, the y
were not coded as such due to another crime or activity taking place . These are primarily citize n
complaint driven calls for service and the problem is much more wide spread than what i s
reported and captured statistically .
Through numerous contacts and experience the police department has recognized that many o f
the individuals found panhandling have also been contacted for drug and/or alcohol relate d
crimes or other illegal activities . A successful panhandler can quickly make enough money t o
purchase more alcohol or drugs as a means to feed their addiction . The act of panhandling alon e
or coupled with the consumption of alcohol and/or drugs can further the adverse behavior tha t
can disrupt a business, or interfere with citizens and visitors to our city. This disruption ca n
initiate a call for service to the police department resulting in further contacts to includ e
aggressive panhandling, public drunkenness and drug influence .
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Parking Meter Donation Station s
December 19, 201 2
An unknowing or uninformed public rightfully feels a sense of duty and obligation to help thos e
in need. The act of providing money to a panhandler who appears helpless or "down on thei r
luck" creates a false sense of satisfaction that the money donated will be used by the panhandle r
to find a meal or better their situation . Frequently, the money is quickly spent to support a dru g
or alcohol habit .
Many people who choose to donate directly to a panhandler may be unaware they are alread y
receiving benefits from providers in the form of food, money, shelter and other services .
Some panhandlers, recognizing the profit opportunity of soliciting will prey off the sensitivitie s
and kindness of a donor even though they have no social service needs .
PARKING METER DONATION STATIONS :
A number of communities have examined the possibility of using parking meters as "donatio n
stations" for citizens that feel compelled to give money to help others in need . Money collecte d
at these donation stations can be earmarked for specific entities or causes depending on how th e
program is developed . It's recognized that the value of a dollar can go much further in the hand s
of a social services outlet as opposed to directly giving that dollar to a panhandler where there i s
no accountability to its benefit . This outlet allows a conscientious donor an immediate alternativ e
to provide assistance to a responsible entity that can facilitate adequate services for those wit h
legitimate needs and subsequently reduce the odds that a program resistant panhandler will b e
able to perpetuate their condition and/or addiction, strain local resources and detract from th e
quality of life in San Luis Obispo .
CITY OF DENVER - EXAMPL E
Several agencies in the Denver Area have teamed together to initiate and oversee a mete r
donation station program in their city . These entities included Denver Public Works, Denver's
Road Home (the entity that oversees Denver's 10 year plan to end homelessness), Denve r
Leadership (our Leadership SLO equivalent), Mile High United Way and other social servic e
and business entities .
The effort is twofold, to increase awareness about homelessness and make an effort to redirec t
money that the general population is giving to panhandlers . Like many other cities across th e
nation, Denver is dealing with an increase of panhandlers and the adverse environment that i s
associated with that behavior . According to the Denver's Road Home website many panhandler s
in their community are not homeless and 1/3 of their homeless population has jobs . To educate
the public and raise money the Denver community has installed 86 donation meters and expect s
to generate an excess of $100,000 annually in sponsorships and donations . The funds frequentl y
provided as a hand outs on the street can now be used to provide meals, job training, substanc e
abuse counseling, housing and other programs for those in need .
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CITY OF SAN DIEGO - EXAMPLE :
Parking Manager Robert Horch conducted research regarding parking meter donation station s
that were installed in the City of San Diego in 2011 and 2012 . To date nine of an anticipate d
twenty five meters have been installed . The City of San Diego has supported and promoted th e
program, however, the installation, service and collection of the funds are done privately throug h
a non-profit organization known as the Downtown San Diego Partnership . The meters ar e
installed on private property and have a different look as to not be confused with real parkin g
meters in the public right of way .
At this time the nine meters generate approximately $50 .00 a month in income, although
program facilitators are currently working to improve their marketing campaign . But, in additio n
to the tangible donations a desired result is to educate the public and change perceptions abou t
panhandling and the adverse behavior associated with it . The campaign wants thoughtful donor s
to understand helping the homeless population through a social service provider generates mor e
buying power and service than a direct handout . The public education process has bee n
successful and has highlighted the issue even spurring an increase of direct donations to th e
sponsoring program .
The donation station meters in San Diego are similar to the exiting IPS (the meter manufacturer )
meters in the City of San Luis Obispo . They are capable of accepting coins or credit cards . There
is a great deal of community effort in making the program successful . The Downtown San Dieg o
Partnerships' Clean and Safe division manages the program and provides maintenance an d
collections . Another company completed installations at a reduced cost (approximately $150 .0 0
per meter). Some businesses welcomed the installation and placed meters on their own propert y
and absorbed some of the costs . IPS donated the 25 meters and waived their monthly fee whic h
earned them the Vic Kops Humanitarian Award in October of 2012 . 1st Data, the company tha t
provides merchant credit services, waived their monthly minimum fee and offered lowere d
merchant fees .
OTHER EXAMPLES :
Currently the City of Macon, GA and City of Athens, AL are considering similar projects . These
entities too are looking to non-profit groups that can manage a meter donation program . The
locations have like meters and anticipate working with IPS and 1 s`Data to provide reduced costs
or services to help their programs succeed .
As recently as December 10, 2012 an article in the Los Angeles Downtown News revealed tha t
the City Council will be looking into converting old parking meters (they are replacing wit h
electronic meters) into donation stations for the homeless . Under the proposal "the devices woul d
be relabeled to indicate they are for collecting donations that the city would then distribute t o
homeless service providers . In theory, it could reduce panhandling because fewer pedestrian s
might give change if they can instead donate to a blanket of services ."
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The City of Laguna Beach, while developing its program, had local artists paint the outside o f
the meters to bring more attention to them . The City of San Luis Obispo has had a long standin g
appreciation for public art projects . A decorative meter concept can encourage community
involvement and awareness to the meter, but to the program as a whole .
An internet search revealed there are several cities utilizing donation parking meters (o r
researching the idea) as a means to collect money for homeless services . These cities includ e
Atlanta, Baltimore, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Little Rock, San Francisco and Seattle .
PUBLIC EDUCATION/ADVERTISING COMPONENT :
The success of a directed giving campaign through meter donation stations would be dependen t
upon a strong marketing plan . This plan would include an education component about th e
adverse results of providing money to panhandlers and the benefits of giving on behalf of a
social service agency .
Providing business owners, their employees and public service personnel with the knowledge t o
pass this information on to those who may ask creates an environment that is unified in effor t
and consistent in the messaging process . Providing literature and flyers in key locations t o
inform the giving public featuring QR code access and internet links to appropriate website s
where a citizen can become further aware, informed and involved would build in an additiona l
layer of success and credibility to the project .
RECOMMENDATION :
A unified directed giving campaign allows a concerned public the ability to give in a manne r
where those funds can be managed responsibly and productively . This shared message by th e
public, the city, business owners and the social service agencies that provide services ca n
discourage panhandling and the adverse behaviors associated with that activity . Moreover, such a
campaign helps demonstrate that SLO is a compassionate community, yet one that is committe d
to not perpetuating an enabling culture that is counter to the welfare interests for the individua l
and community as a whole .
There appear to be numerous meter donation station examples in which the City of San Lui s
Obispo can model . The concept is worthy of additional research and consideration fo r
implementation . Further discussion needs to take place to identify the proper entities to establis h
direction, oversight and continuing maintenance should a program be developed . Many meter
donation programs are operated through a private entity with supportive roles provided by th e
city in which the program is located. The facilitating organization could conceptually decide ho w
to disburse donated funds to social service outlets and homeless related causes, providing anothe r
opportunity to more effectively address the issue of homelessness and reinforce the benefit o f
giving to the appropriate agency rather than individual panhandler .
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Parking Meter Donation Station s
December 19, 2012
Donation Meter in Denver, Colorad o
Donation Meter in San Antonio, Texa s
Donation Meter in San Diego, C a
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Parking Meter Donation Station s
December 19, 2012
Donation Meter in Iowa City, Iow a
Donation Meter in Nashville, T N
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