Memorandum

City of Lawrence

City Manager’s Office

TO:	David L. Corliss, City Manager
FROM:	Jonathan Douglass, Assistant to the City Manager/City Clerk
CC:	Tarik Khatib, Chief of Police
DATE:	June 29, 2011
RE:	Donation Meters

This memo provides an overview of donation meters programs and potential next steps for establishing such a program in downtown Lawrence.

Overview

Donation meters are generally parking meters that have been repurposed to accept donations (see attached photos), which donations are then utilized to serve the homeless. The purpose of such programs is to redirect giving from panhandlers to programs which more effectively serve the homeless. Donation meters have been instituted in a number of cities across the nation. The programs are run by downtown associations, homelessness service coalitions or the local government. Some programs seek sponsors for individual meters (often to be located near the sponsor’s business). Information about a few other programs can be viewed online at the links below:

Atlanta:	http://www.atlantadowntown.com/initiatives/stop-panhandling/redirect-giving
Cleveland:	http://downtownclevelandalliance.com/ambassadors/generocity-cleveland.aspx
Denver:	http://www.denversroadhome.org/events.php?id_cat=21
Las Vegas:	http://www.lasvegasnevada.gov/information/21820.htm, http://www.lasvegasnevada.gov/files/DonationStation_Brochure.pdf
Miami:	http://www.miamidade.gov/homeless/
Nashville:	http://www.thekeyalliance.org/adopt-a-meter
There are also reportedly such programs in Athens, Orlando, Salt Lake City and Virginia Beach.

Implementing donation meters in downtown Lawrence

The city has used parking meters which could be repurposed as donation meters. It would cost approximately $300 to place a meter in a location there is not one currently (including sawing the concrete, setting a new pole in fresh concrete, and attaching a meter head). Minor mechanical alterations to the meter heads would be necessary to remove the mechanisms and make the meters secure. The meter heads would need to be repainted (which usually costs $30-$40) and decorated in a unique manner to distinguish them from regular parking meters. Parking control officers could empty the donation meters as needed, keeping the donations separate from the parking meter revenue.

A pre-implementation public education campaign could include creation of a website and perhaps a contest to design the donation meter logo. Ongoing public education campaigns could be spearheaded by downtown stakeholders as well as the recipient(s) of the funds collected through the donation meters.

Significant issues for City Commission discussion may include:

• Location of donation meters – Donation meters may be located in areas where panhandling frequently occurs (such as the midblock crossing areas, corners, and/or breezeways) or the locations could be determined by program sponsors. In some cities the donation meters are sponsored, usually by a business, and the meter is located in front of that business. The cost of sponsorship covers at the very least the cost of retrofitting and placing the meter.
• Recipient(s) of donated funds – The city would need to designate a recipient or recipients of the funds collected from the donation meters. The recipient(s) would likely provide services directly to the homeless population.

ACTION:      Direct staff as appropriate.