Title
Meters for Donations to the Homeless (B)
This agenda item would authorize the City Manager to initiate a pilot "donation meter" program as an alternative for citizens who wish to assist the homeless through established agencies instead of giving to panhandlers.
Explanation
Staff has researched a "donation meter" program that was implemented in Athens, Georgia. According to the Executive Director of the Athens Downtown Development Authority, their donation meter program was started in September 2003 in response to problems with panhandling in the downtown area. It was created to give business patrons, downtown area employees, and others the option of giving to a program that helps homeless persons rather than to an individual who may or may not be homeless.
The Downtown Development Authority, which is responsible for parking meters in the downtown Athens area, collects approximately $200 each quarter using old parking meters that are painted bright white to distinguish them from regular parking meters. The donation meters are also signed so that donors are aware of their purpose. Donations collected by the Downtown Development Authority are given to the Athens Homeless Coalition, which then distributes the funds to member organizations that help the homeless.
Staff has determined that a pilot donation meter program could be implemented in the downtown area of Gainesville for less than $100. This would cover the costs of refurbishing old parking meters by removing their timing and coin mechanisms, painting them, and installing them at selected locations with appropriate signage. We recommend installing the meters at the following locations with high foot traffic:
NE corner of East University & NE 1 Street, next to the Clock Tower
SE or NW Corner of SE 1 Street & 1 Avenue
NE or SW Corner of SE 1 Street & 2 Avenue
This proposal was reviewed by the Downtown Redevelopment Advisory Board (DRAB) twice within the last six months. The Board did not support this proposal, but suggested that if it was initiated, locations other than just the downtown be considered. In light of this request, staff identified the following possible locations for donation meters in the College Park/University Heights Redevelopment Area:
NW or NE corner of NW 15th Street & University Avenue
NW or NE corner of NW 16th Street & University Avenue
The College Park/University Heights Redevelopment Advisory Board reviewed this proposal in December 2006 but voted to not support this initiative. Staff recommends proceeding with a pilot program in the downtown area, and in another high-traffic retail area, to be accompanied by a publicity campaign to make the public aware of this alternative to giving to panhandlers. Additional locations could be added in time (such at the two in College Park) if the pilot proves successful.
If a decision is made to proceed with this pilot program, the Transportation Services Division could have the donation meters installed in about two-three weeks. Monies would be collected on a weekly basis, along with other parking meter collections and deposited in a designated account. Once sufficient funds were collected (e.g., $200), they would be given to the Alachua County Coalition for the Homeless and Hungry, Inc., which has agreed to distribute them to homeless service providers.
Fiscal Note
The initial cost of preparing and installing donation meters (less than $100) would be covered by the Transportation Services Division operating budget. Funds collected in these donation meters would be distributed to local homeless service providers through the Alachua County Coalition for the Homeless and Hungry, Inc.
Recommendation
Recommended Motion: The City Commission authorize the City Manager to initiate a pilot donation meter program with a campaign to urge citizens to use the meters as an alternative to donating directly to panhandlers, and report back on the results of the program after one year of its operation.
Alternative Recommendation A: The City Commission defer action on implementing a pilot donation meter program.
Alternative Recommendation B: The City Commission decline to implement a pilot donation meter program.