Miami Parking Authority

Miami Parking Authority, officially known as the Department Of Off-Street Parking of the City of Miami, was created in 1955 by a Special Act of the Florida State Legislature and incorporated into the City of Miami's Charter in 1968.

Miami Parking Authority provides convenient, safe, and affordable parking throughout the City of Miami. With more than 30,000 parking spaces under management.

Parking is a vital component of the community's public infrastructure and economic health. As an agency of the City of Miami, the mission is to Contribute to an efficient transportation system that serves the needs of the public and promotes economic development.

MPA and the City of Miami offer complimentary, secure parking to City residents and employees during hurricane watches and warnings.

History

MPA manages and develops on and off-street parking in the City of Miami. It shares responsibility with the City of Miami Police Department and Miami-Dade County for enforcement of parking regulations.

MPA is a self-sustaining agency managed by parking industry professionals and financed by parking revenues. Funds not used by operations are returned to the City of Miami, and all ticket citation revenues are payable directly to Miami-Dade County.

As of February 1, 2007, the Miami Parking Authority had over 30,000 parking spaces under management, including:

• 11 garages
• 78 surface lots
• 184 Pay and Display meters
• More than 6,457 metered spaces

MPA provides parking for approximately 6 million vehicles annually.

Gusman

A unique non-parking related responsibility of the Authority is the management of Gusman Center for the Performing Arts and the Olympia Office Building.

The Gusman Center complex was donated to the City of Miami in 1975 with the stipulation that the facility be managed by MPA. The Olympia Office Building has since been leased to a private developer who converted the offices into low-income affordable residential housing, while the historic Olympia Theater at the Gusman Center is home to numerous film festivals and dance, theater and music performances each year.

Governance

The Miami Parking Authority is governed by a voluntary five-member Board of Directors who either live or work within the City of Miami. Board membersmeet monthly in a public forum and have the powers and responsibilities similar to board members of private corporations.

Board Meeting Calendar 2007
The City of Miami Commission retains final authority to confirm appointments to the Board, approve MPA's budget, issue parking revenue bonds, and determine parking rates for MPA-managed facilities.

An Executive Director oversees day-to-day operations of the Miami Parking Authority.

Budget and Finance

The Miami Parking Authority finances its operations through parking revenues generated by MPA-managed meters, lots and garages. These revenues are also used to fund debt service on MPA's bonds, which are issued to finance the development and construction of new parking facilities.

Funds not used by operations are returned to the City of Miami; all ticket citation revenues are payable directly to Miami-Dade County.

Parking rates are set by City ordinance and reviewed periodically by the City of Miami Commission. Current rates were set in April 2005.

MPA's fiscal year runs October 1 - September 30. Financial highlights for the year ended September 30, 2006:

• Revenue: $16.025 million
• Operating costs and expenses: $11.05 million
• Debt service: $2.24 million
• Capital expenditures (new and fixed assets): $9.01 million
• Net proceeds returned to the City of Miami: $2.00 million
• Parking fine revenue generated for Miami-Dade County and City of Miami: $4.784 million

Financial Information are available to the general public.

Existing Facilities and New Development Projects

As of February 1, 2007, the Miami Parking Authority had over 30,000 parking spaces under management, including:

• 11 garages
• 78 surface lots
• More than 6,457 metered spaces

Listing of MPA facilities
Of these facilities, 5 garages are wholly-owned by Miami Parking Authority. The remaining sites are either leased or managed on behalf of other owners, including the City of Miami and other governmental entities, non-profit organizations, or public/private partnerships.

Miami Parking Authority planners, in conjunction with city officials and private developers, have identified a number of development projects in neighborhoods underserved or neglected by private-sector parking facilities. In the 2007-2011 Strategic five-year Plan, $50 million in investments have been earmarked to enhance the quality and availability of parking in these neighborhoods.

Projects include:

• Redevelopment of Garage 1 at The New downtown Federal Courthouse
• Pay & Display Master Meters
• Development of a new facility in the Design District
• Development of a new facility at the Coconut Grove PlayHouse

Ongoing enhancements to MPA's facilities include technology upgrades of on-street meters (see P&D information) improved lighting and security equipment at lots and garages, automated attendants and electronic tags for monthly customers, and neighborhood beautification projects around MPA-managed facilities.

News Release

MIAMI, November 12, 2007 – The Miami Parking Authority (MPA) has announced plans to build an all-new parking facility on the site of its current Garage #1, located at 40 NW 3rd Street. The new, state-of-the-art Courthouse Center Garage, projected to open in summer 2009, will feature increased parking capacity as well as office space and ground-floor retail establishments.

The construction timeline for the new facility calls for the existing garage to be demolished in January 2008. Therefore, the garage (as well as the adjacent MPA Lot #47) will close permanently on December 31, 2007 and all monthly parking contracts for these facilities will be terminated as of that date.

MPA has contacted all monthly-contract parkers at the garage to notify them of the impending closure and assist with arranging nearby, alternative parking solutions. Space is available at MPA’s FEC Lot “B,” located at 430 NW 1st Avenue, at a monthly rate of $75.00. Private parking operators also offer lots and garages in the area.

“We would like to thank our customers for their patronage and hope that they will pardon the temporary inconvenience caused by this relocation,” said MPA Executive Director Art Noriega. “When it is complete, the Courthouse Center Garage will be a tremendous asset to the downtown business community, and we look forward to serving customers there. We will keep all MPA customers updated on the construction progress.”

For further information or to process a transfer to another MPA parking facility, please contact MPA’s Customer Service Department at (305)367-2983, ext. 224.

Economic Development

Parking is an integral component of the transportation and infrastructure system that supports economic development. Availability of parking can:

• Drive consumer and commercial traffic into business districts
• Enhance community re-development efforts
• Complement public transportation initiatives

While numerous parking facilities exist within Miami city limits, many neighborhoods are underserved or lack sufficient operators to keep pricing competitive. As a public agency, MPA helps meet parking needs by investing in the development, construction and management of parking facilities, and doing so when it is not economically feasible for the private sector. The Miami Parking Authority also participates in joint public/private partnerships, wherein MPA manages the parking component of a mixed-use development.

Community Partnerships

The Miami Parking Authority is an active member of the South Florida community, contributing funding and in-kind services to over thirty festivals, events and non-profit organizations each year. Board, management and staff participate in annual United Way campaigns, sit on the boards of area non-profit organizations, and donate their time and resources to community activities.

Event Sponsorship Guidelines

The Miami Parking Authority believes corporate citizenship to be a cornerstone in our mission of supporting the Greater Miami community. It is our intention to play an active role in various local events that allow us to promote and brand Miami Parking Authority and/or Gusman Center for the Performing Arts at a significant level, while furthering our unique mission.

Through in-kind support and donations, we are able to achieve these goals and provide organizations an opportunity to meet their financial needs. Miami Parking Authority and the Gusman Center for the Performing Arts annually provide more than $250,000 in support to organizations and events of all types within the City of Miami and Greater Miami. We do not limit the scope of our sponsorship consideration to any particular event, organization, or mission.

The following guidelines must be followed for your request to be given full consideration.

Submission of a formal, written request on company letterhead must be made a minimum of 90 days prior to the event. This request should state event name, date, location, number expected in attendance, organization it will serve and what is being specifically requested.

This formal letter of request must be accompanied by a detailed sponsorship opportunity/package tailored to Miami Parking Authority and/or Gusman Center for the Performing Arts. We will review the proposal and evaluate it based upon the return for investment model.

There must be a significant opportunity to brand Miami Parking Authority and/or Gusman Center for the Performing Arts in all collateral materials, event web site, event signage, etc. Miami Parking Authority and/or Gusman Center for the Performing Arts generally supports organizations through in-kind donations (reduced parking rates and fees, meter rentals, fee waivers, etc.), but additional opportunities may exist based on the proposal and sponsorship package.

Miami Parking Authority and/or Gusman Center for the Performing Arts may also support organizations with purchase of tickets/tables to events, donations, donation of silent auction items, fee waivers, etc.

The sponsoring organization must follow-up with Miami Parking Authority and/or Gusman Center for the Performing Arts with collateral material showing our ad placement, logo, etc. after the event for our files to be considered for the following year. Failure to do so may result in the event not being funded or supported in subsequent years.

Miami Parking Authority and/or Gusman Center for the Performing Arts will only honor one request per year/per event by any one organization

External links

• Miami Parking Authority
  
• Gusman Center For The Performing Arts
  

[Copyright] Copyright (c) 2007 Miami Parking Authority.

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