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 Bo...
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