DEPARTMENT: Center City Development & Operations
DEPARTMENT HEAD: John Jacks
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Council District 1
SUBJECT:
RFI to Identify Prospective Valet Parking Providers
SUMMARY:
A briefing on a proposed Request for Interest (RFI) to identify a Valet Service provider for parking in the downtown area. The City is looking for a valet service provider that provides multiple drop off points and will provide a return service at the customer’s specified location. The Valet Service provider must provide a technology platform that at minimum allows for payment and monitors the process from drop-off to pick-up.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Parking in an urban environment can be a frustrating and inconvenient experience for many reasons. In an effort to expand parking options for visitors to our downtown, the City will advertise an RFI to seek interested parties in providing a parking valet service in downtown San Antonio.
The City is looking for a valet service provider that provides multiple drop off points and will provide a return service at the customer’s specified location. The Valet Service provider must provide a technology platform that at minimum allows for payment and monitors the process from drop-off to pick-up. Valet Service providers currently offer similar services in other cities such as Austin, San Francisco, Seattle and Boston.
Through this RFI, the City will provide public right of way through a license agreement that can serve as a drop-off and staging areas for vehicles. The selected vendor, however, will not be limited to these opportunities and may make other contractual arrangements to use private property to serve as drop-off and staging areas. The city has identified 5 areas that can be made available to the vendor for vehicle drop-off and has identified 3 facilities that can provide parking for the vehicle until the driver is ready for their car to be delivered.
All expenses for the valet service will be covered by the selected Valet Service provider. The provider will be allowed to charge parking fees to the general public for use of the valet services, and allocate a portion of the revenues to the City of San Antonio in exchange for the license to provide this service in the downtown area. Additionally, the valet provider may charge for additional services such as car washing and refueling.
The RFI will be issued for at least 30 days and it is anticipated that the entire process would be completed to include Council consideration of an agreement by late Spring of 2016.
ISSUE:
This item provides a briefing on the proposed Request for Interest.
ALTERNATIVES:
This item is primarily for briefing purposes, however, the Neighborhoods and Livability Committee could elect to recommend that staff not proceed with the proposed Request for Interest.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This item is a briefing on a proposed Request for Interest and revenues generated by a final agreement will be deposited in the Parking Fund.
RECOMMENDATION:
This item is a briefing for informational purposes.