Miami Parking Authority, officially known as the Department of Off-Street Parking of the City of Miami

Miami, Florida

Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...

, was created in 1955 by a Special Act of the Florida

Florida

Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...

State Legislature and incorporated into the City of Miami's Charter in 1968.

Miami Parking Authority provides parking throughout the City of Miami, with more than 29,700 parking spaces under management.

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 September 30, 2010, the Miami Parking Authority had over 29,700 parking spaces under management, including:

• 10 garages
• 80 surface lots
• More than 10,400 on-street spaces

MPA provides parking for approximately 6 million vehicles annually.

Gusman

A 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 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 members meet monthly in a public forum and have the powers and responsibilities similar to board members of private corporations.

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 December 2009.

MPA's fiscal year runs October 1 - September 30. Financial highlights for the year ended September 30, 2010

• Revenue: $23.916 million
• Operating costs and expenses: $15.567 million
• Debt service: $4.107 million
• Capital expenditures (new and fixed assets): $47.007 million
• Net proceeds returned to the City of Miami: $7.500 million
• Parking fine revenue generated for Miami-Dade County and City of Miami: $6.600 million

Financial Information are available to the general public.

Existing Facilities and New Development Projects

As of September 30, 2010, the Miami Parking Authority had over 29,700 parking spaces under management, including:

• 10 garages
• 80 surface lots
• More than 10,400 on-street 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.

The Authority has been very active in evaluating parking demand and anticipating future parking needs in the various areas within the City.
The projects include:

• The Authority continues to monitor potential projects in the Downtown, the Design District and other areas that may support additional parking inventory.
• The Authority will continue to upgrade revenue control equipment and transform our attendant locations into State-of-the-Art pay-on-foot facilities.
• MPA is currently developing several potential joint venture arrangements that will better provide for the public parking needs of the community.

Economic Development

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.

External links

• Miami Parking Authority
• Gusman Center For The Performing Arts

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