Ban IMPARK

[Monsterdriver]

Should the banning of "Impark" from within the city limits of Kelowna be a an election issue?

[The Green Barbarian]

how do you ban them? They own the property you are parking on. If you don't want to support them, don't park on their lots.

[Monsterdriver]

how do you ban them? They own the property you are parking on. If you don't want to support them, don't park on their lots.

No they don't, they are under contract by the city of Kelowna and other companies and departments.. At least they were the last I heard, maybe I need to be corrected.

[GordonH]

City parking lots are managed by Impark: http://www.kelowna.ca/CityPage/Docs/PDF ... _FINAL.pdf

[Monsterdriver]

Who are they contracted to?

[my5cents]

The property owner.

In fact in a lot of cases they don't charge the property owner anything to administer the parking lot. All the parking fees go to the owner. They make there money, fining those who don't pay or don't pay enough. They even get a bonus for writing up violation tickets.

That deal, of course varies depending on the lot.

I've even heard of Impark impounding a vehicle because it is found again on property they manage and the owner hasn't paid a previous fine. Parking in a private lot is the wild wild west.

[GordonH]

Here is a map of Impark lots: https://lots.impark.com/IMP/en?latlng=4 ... sr=(direct)|utmccn=(direct)|utmcmd=(none)&__utmv=-&__utmk=232997406

[Monsterdriver]

I have never been ticketed by them, but I have heard friends remark that they are like the mafia. Have never heard a good thing about them, and that is in comparison to other ticketing agencies, not because someone got a ticket.

[GordonH]

I have never been ticketed by them, but I have heard friends remark that they are like the mafia. Have never heard a good thing about them, and that is in comparison to other ticketing agencies, not because someone got a ticket.

I have no personal knowledge to anything about Impark, since I've never had to use any of parking lots or parkade.

[kgcayenne]

You will notice that on the city web page, you can pay City parking tickets at the Impark office on Leon Ave. If they weren't contracted by the City, why can parking tickets be paid at their office?

[GordonH]

City parking lots are managed by Impark: http://www.kelowna.ca/CityPage/Docs/PDF ... _FINAL.pdf

If you open the link above^^ and read it you would find this:

All City owned parking lots are operated by Kelowna Parking (managed by Impark)

[Monsterdriver]

Even Marketplace portrays them towards the unethical side.

[my5cents]

You will notice that on the city web page, you can pay City parking tickets at the Impark office on Leon Ave. If they weren't contracted by the City, why can parking tickets be paid at their office?

I don't see where anyone said they (Impark) weren't contracted to the City of Kelowna to manage city parking lots. They don't have any involvement in policing on street parking, if that's what you are suggesting.

I imagine they get either of small commission for receiving on street parking fines they collect for the city or it was, in some way, part of the agreement to get the lucrative parking management contract for city owned parking lots.

Parking enforcement be it private/city owned lots or on street is always a contentious business.

It's made far worse when the purpose of the parking is to seek medical care or visit someone who is receiving same.

The entire situation is completely out of control when a medical facility like Kelowna's Regional Hospital has insufficient space for the needs of complex.

Penticton Hospital started pay parking in their lot a few years ago. There was a hue and cry over the issue, but the result was that employee didn't park there. Now, even though you have to pay a few dollars (the big inconvenience is buying an allotted time, not having a clue how long you will be there) there is generally always room to park.

[kgcayenne]

A little over a year ago, I spent three weeks visiting KGH each and every day. I had absolutely no issue finding parking---not even once. Although I did have to walk up & down the stairs in the parkade a couple of times because it was very busy and everything on the first couple of tiers was either reserved or taken, but closer to the top there was lots of parking. Has it changed that much in a year?

Expecting free parking in this day and age is unreasonable.
Expecting professionalism from companies entrusted with dealing with the public is perfectly reasonable.

[Carrs Landing Viking]

A little over a year ago, I spent three weeks visiting KGH each and every day. I had absolutely no issue finding parking---not even once. Although I did have to walk up & down the stairs in the parkade a couple of times because it was very busy and everything on the first couple of tiers was either reserved or taken, but closer to the top there was lots of parking. Has it changed that much in a year?

Expecting free parking in this day and age is unreasonable.
Expecting professionalism from companies entrusted with dealing with the public is perfectly reasonable.

Just FYI the first two levels in the parkade are for visitor parking only. The remaining levels are for STAFF ONLY.

So if you were parking on any of the upper levels you were parking in staff only parking.

Consider yourself lucky you did not get a ticket.