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The New Residential Parking Permit Program Questions & Answers

1. Why does the RPP program exist? A community may ask for residential parking restrictions to protect their street(s) from excessive parking in the area. Residents of the community petition through The City of Calgary's Traffic Operations to have their area restricted. City Council must approve the creation of new zones. If a restricted zone is implemented, residents living in the zone must have a parking permit at all times to park on the affected streets. There are currently 77 RPP zones.

2. Who uses the RPP program? Residents living at a qualifying address within a residential parking zone are eligible to use this program.

3. What are Residential Parking Permits? A residential parking permit is a permit issued by the Calgary Parking Authority to residents living at a qualifying address within a residential parking zone. Qualifying residents can apply for two permits at no cost, as long as any previous permits issued to the dwelling for the current permit year have been returned to the CPA, with additional permits available at a cost of $50+GST. Exceptions are the AAA and YY permit zones, where only one permit is available per qualifying address at a cost of $25+GST.

4. How will the RPP program be changed?

The CPA is proposing to modernize the way the residential parking permit program is administered and enforced. By moving to an electronic, technology-based system, residents will experience an easier, faster and more convenient permit application process while receiving a consistent level of enforcement in the residential parking zone you live in.

Additionally, with the introduction of this new online approach permits will be valid for two years from the date of issuance, rather than one year. When the two-year renewal date has been reached, if you have not moved, you will not be required to submit new documentation when you request a permit renewal.

5. What does this mean for citizens who use the RPP program?

Residents will experience an easier, faster and more convenient permit application process. You will apply for and manage your permits online from any device connected to the internet. Once you have applied, the CPA will review the application and either approve or decline it (you will be notified as to why your application was declined so you can make the appropriate adjustments to your application, if required). For citizens without access to the internet, our customer service representatives (CSR) will be here to help you. Our CSRs will set up your online account for you after verifying the required documentation you’ve submitted. This option requires you to come to our office with

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your required documentation; citizens can also either mail or fax us your documentation ahead of time and then phone our team to begin setting up the online profile.

6. Will there be any additional costs for residents to use this new system?

No. The framework of the residential parking permit system is not changing and no new fees will be introduced.

7. Will the eligibility for residential parking permits change with the new RPP system?

No; the new RPP system will not impact your eligibility to receive residential and/or visitor parking permits.

8. How much does it currently cost to administer the RPP program?

Presently, it costs approximately $665,000 annually to administer over 34,000 permits.

9. How will the new online RPP system be rolled-out to residents? It will take a full 12 months to transition to the new online RPP system as a result of the current rolling renewal process that is in place. When a residential zone comes up for renewal during the 2017/2018 year it will be transitioned to the new online RPP system. During this first year, residents will be asked to register for an online account (or come to our office so we can set one up for you) during their regular renewal time. As per usual, we will mail residents a reminder notice as to when you are eligible to renew your permit.

10. What is the cost to taxpayers to create this new parking system?

The cost to implement the changes to the RPP program is approximately $400,000. The CPA operates without any taxpayer funding and in fact, we’ve returned more than $135M in revenue and taxes to The City in the past five years.

11. How were citizens consulted about the proposed new RPP system? Between October 2013 and September 2015, we conducted a Residential Parking Permit survey that examined the views of citizens in residential parking permit zones and their perspectives on ideas to improve the current administration of these permits. During this time, 32,500 cards containing the survey link were distributed to residential parking permit holders by mail (all residents who had previously obtained a permit from the CPA were mailed a survey card) and by hand at the front desk when customers came in person to apply for their residential parking permits. A link to the survey was also added to the email signature of the cparpp@calgaryparking.com email address. In addition, the survey link was posted on the CPA website and promoted through CPA’s social media channels to make the survey available to all interested residents.

Residential Parking Permits 1. How is a residential parking permit applied for and obtained presently?

There are four ways you can apply for an RPP:

1. By email to cparpp@calgaryparking.com

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2. By fax to (403) 537-7001

3. By mail to Calgary Parking Authority, 620-9th Ave SW, Calgary, AB T2P 1L5, or

4. In person at the CPA Office

2. What are some of the limitations/challenges to the present system?

Presently some of the challenges include:

Residents move and do not return their permits which results in the new residents having to pay for any vehicle-specific permits they require. Additionally, the new residents are unable to obtain visitor permits if a previous renter does not leave them behind or return them to CPA. The CPA is not authorized to produce duplicate visitor permits.

Manual enforcement is slow and inefficient.

Paper permits are also often lost or stolen, and the bylaw expressly prohibits re-issuing visitor permits in these instances.

Although the current bylaw stipulates that visitor parking permits shall not be sold, traded, rented or used except to visit the dwelling to which they were issued, it is extremely difficult to enforce these provisions.

3. How will I apply for and obtain a residential parking permit when the new system is

implemented? Residents who are eligible to participate in the residential parking permit program will go online to quickly set up an account. Once the account has been set up, you will fill in your information outlined in the program then upload a digital copy of your documentation. After the application has been submitted, we will review it and either approve or decline the application (you will be notified as to why your application was declined so you can make the appropriate adjustments to your application, if required). A physical permit will no longer be issued. Instead, once the application has been approved in the online management system, the permit will “attach” to the license plate of the vehicle that is registered to your address. Residents will receive an email notification alerting you when your application has either been approved or declined.

4. How will I sign up if I don’t have access to the internet or a computer/mobile device?

If you do not have access to the internet, our customer service representatives will be here to help you get set up on the online management system. Residents in this situation have two options to choose from to register: you can come into our office with the required documentation or send us copies of your documentation via mail or fax then call us at a later date and a member of our customer service team will create your account for you over the phone. Once your account is set up, our CSR will verify the supplied documentation and approve the permit. If there are any changes to your vehicle(s) registration or any other information that needs to be updated on your profile you can call our customer service team and have us update

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this information on your behalf. Internet access is not required to manage your visitor permit(s), as you can use the phone-in option instead.

5. What documentation is required to provide to obtain a vehicle-specific permit? The documentation required to obtain a residential parking permit remains consistent with what has been required in the past. For a vehicle-specific permit, a valid Alberta Vehicle Registration must contain the applicant’s current address where the permit is required within the residential parking zone. A complete list of documents accepted for residential parking permits can be found online at calgaryparking.com under ‘parking permits’. Alternatively, residents can contact our office at 403-537-7000 to speak with a customer service representative and they will provide you with this information.

6. If everything is done electronically, how will I show CPA my documentation?

Residents using the online management system will upload a digital copy of their documents to their profile for review by our customer service representatives. If you do not have access to the internet, you can either come into our office with your documentation or mail or fax us a copy of your required documentation in advance and then contact us to set up your account on your behalf.

7. How will I know if my application has been approved or rejected? After our customer service representatives review your documents our CSRs will either approve or reject your application. You will receive an email notification alerting you when your application has either been approved or rejected.

8. If I apply online, how will CPA notify me if something has gone wrong with my application?

Our customer service representatives will post a message on your online profile with details which you can access when you log into your account.

9. How long are RPPs valid for now? How long will they be valid for in the new system?

Each RPP zone currently has a set expiry date, with different zones expiring at different times throughout the year. Regardless of when you obtain your residential parking permit, the expiry date is fixed. In the new RPP system, permits will be valid for a period of two years from the date the permit is approved.

10. With the new management system will the renewal dates remain the same?

The online management system provides the ability for a resident to apply for a permit whenever you require a permit. This system eliminates the need for us to renew permits on a rolling zone basis because it will be automated. This means that once you are in the system, you

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don’t need to worry about remembering which month you are supposed to renew in. The permits will be valid for two years from the date the permit is approved. Plus, if you don’t move and your vehicle registration documentation hasn’t changed, you won’t need to submit your documentation when you apply to have your permit renewed.

11. Will CPA still notify me when my permit is about to expire and remind me to renew? Yes, two months before the permit expiry date, CPA will send you an email reminding you to log into your account and apply to have your permit renewed. If you haven’t moved and your vehicle registration documentation hasn’t changed, you won’t need to submit your documentation when you apply to have your permit renewed. If you do not have access to the internet and have had one of our staff members set your account up for you, you must come into the office or mail/fax us your required documentation every two years (or whenever you move or there is a change to your vehicle registration). A notice will be mailed to your address.

12. Will I still be able to park my vehicle(s) anywhere within the permit required zone? Yes, your permit(s) will continue to allow you to park anywhere within the zone to which your vehicle is permitted. Residents will still not be allowed to park in violation of safety or traffic flow restrictions or in a ParkPlus zone without payment. Visitor permits can only be used within 150 metres of the address to which they belong.

13. Will students, dual residents, people who drive company vehicles, or people who drive their parents vehicle still be able to apply for a permit with the new system? Yes; the framework of the residential parking permit system is not changing and the documents required to obtain these permits will remain the same.

14. If I apply for my permit in person, will CPA scan or photocopy my documentation and keep it

on file? No. If you apply in person CPA will not scan or photocopy your documents nor keep them on file.

15. If I get a new vehicle, what will I need to do in the new system to transfer the permit? If the vehicle’s licence plate remains the same, you do not need to do anything. If you are changing licence plates, you will need to cancel your existing permit within your RPP account and apply for a new RPP permit with the required documentation for your new vehicle. The new application will need to be reviewed and approved by a CPA staff member before you can use your new permit.

General Enforcement 1. How does the enforcement component of the program presently work?

Currently, residential parking permit zones are enforced by patrol and on a complaint basis. The process itself is manual, and officers are required to check for the presence of the permit, ensure the permit matches the licence plate and the vehicle is parked in the appropriate zone.

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2. What are the challenges in enforcing the RPP program as it is administered presently?

Over the years, residents have told us they want the RPP program enforced more frequently and consistently. To date, it is a challenge for us to provide the level of enforcement expected by these residents because of the manual nature of the way it is administered. There are 77 residential parking permit zones in Calgary and we can only provide enforcement services by our mobile patrol which also has the task of providing all other types of parking enforcement across the city at any given time. We do not have the staffing capacity to enforce the RPP as consistently as residents would like. It is very difficult to enforce visitor permits that are being misused because no licence plate is attached to the permit, the permit is only registered to the address; additionally, we have no way to revoke a physical permit.

3. How will enforcement services be provided under the new recommendations?

Enforcement of the residential parking zones will be done primarily by photo enforcement and supplemented by our mobile enforcement officers who will respond to requests from residents via our Customer Solutions Centre. ParkPlus automated enforcement vehicles will regularly drive through each residential parking zone which will provide a consistent and efficient approach to enforcing these areas.

4. Will there still be 24/7 enforcement? Yes, enforcement of the residential parking permit program will be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week using a combination of photo and manual enforcement techniques.

5. Will I and other residents still be able to call in a complaint and have an officer come out to check the vehicle and issue a ticket? Yes, residents still have the ability to call our Customer Solutions Centre to request enforcement. Enforcement of the residential parking zones will be conducted by manual enforcement (an enforcement officer) and photo enforcement.

6. How will automated enforcement using ParkPlus camera cars enforce RPP zones?

The technology being used to enforce residential parking zones is the same technology that is used to enforce on-street parking in Calgary as well as all Calgary Parking Authority parking facilities, the ParkPlus System.

The ParkPlus photo enforcement vehicles will drive through a residential parking zone recording images of the vehicles parked. These observations are then uploaded onto a secure system which uses software to read the plates and compare it to permit registration information. If the plate was validly registered as resident or visitor, the observation is discarded and no further action is taken. If the software cannot find a match, a CPA staff member reviews the images and the registration data to ensure no errors were made. No tag is issued until it has been verified at least twice. If the observation indicates that a violation has occurred, a parking tag will be issued and sent to the address of the registered owner of the vehicle in question.

7. How frequently will CPA be able to enforce RPP zones with automated enforcement vehicles?

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Using photo enforcement is a much more efficient way to provide enforcement support than manual enforcement, as the vehicles simply drive through the community. The vehicles can cover a much larger area faster than we could ever cover on foot using our enforcement officers. The frequency that we would patrol residential parking zones has not yet been determined; however, we can assure you that enforcement will be much more consistent and frequent than it is presently enforced.

8. What does CPA do with the information it collects via automated enforcement vehicles?

The CPA only uses the information collected by the ParkPlus automated enforcement vehicles for the purpose of issuing parking tickets after a parking violation has been observed. As a local public body, the Calgary Parking Authority is subject to the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIP) of the Province of Alberta.

9. Will CPA be tracking my vehicle or monitoring who is coming and going from my home? No. CPA only uses the information collected by the ParkPlus automated enforcement vehicles for the purpose of issuing parking tickets after a parking violation has been observed. It is illegal under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act for us to use the information collected in any other way.

10. Without the use of a paper permit, how will I know which vehicles are parked in my zone

legitimately and which vehicles I should be calling CPA to report? Photo enforcement is a more efficient way to provide enforcement services and it will reduce the need for residents to call in and report vehicles. With the new system, you will not have the ability to reference a physical paper permit that attaches it to a specific address. A feature of digital visitor permits is the protection of privacy aspect for the resident whose visitor is using the permit as well as the visitor. We want to protect the privacy of both parties.

11. Is this system being put in place just to generate revenue from tickets? No. The system has been modernized to provide an easier, faster and more convenient way for residents to apply for and manage their permits and for us to provide the level of enforcement we have heard is expected of us. The increase in patrols will lead to either an increase in compliance as vehicle owners modify their parking behaviour or an increase in ticket revenue if behaviour stays the same. An increase in revenue is not the primary reason for modernizing this program. It should be noted that enforcement-related ticket revenue is returned to The City for things like maintaining roads and infrastructure, keeping taxes low and other public realm enhancements.

Visitor Parking Permits 1. How are visitor permits obtained and used presently?

Each single family, semi-detached, triplex, fourplex and rowhouse unit that qualifies for visitor permits can apply for two visitor permits per permit year (with the exceptions of Zone YY and AAA, where only one transferable permit per residence is allowed

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Visitor permits are not replaced if lost or stolen before they expire. If you move, the visitor permit(s) must remain at the address. Residents cannot sell a visitors permit. These permits are not valid in ParkPlus zones or where other parking restrictions apply.

2. What are some of the limitations to how visitor permits are presently administered? Some of these limitations include residents moving and not returning the visitor permits for the address. The result of this is that the new resident will not have access to visitor permits until the existing permits expire. If the paper visitor permits are not returned, lost or stolen, the bylaw expressly prohibits CPA from re-issuing them so the resident is left without visitor permits until the renewal date. Another example is that some landlords, who don’t reside at the address, will collect the visitor permits then do with them what they please which may include selling them, using the permits for themselves or giving them to friends or other third parties. Similarly, residents who have obtain visitor permits may sell, use or give them to friends to use on a long-term basis. Presently there is no mechanism to enforce misused visitor permits.

3. Will I still be eligible for visitor permits when the new system is implemented? Yes, if your address previously qualified for visitor permits, this will remain unchanged.

4. How will I obtain and use visitor permits with the new RPP management system?

Residents who are eligible to receive visitor permits will go online to set up an account. The same account can be used for your vehicle-specific and visitors permits. Once the account has been set up, you will fill in your information outlined in the program then upload a digital copy of your documentation. After the application has been submitted, our CSRs will review it and either approve or decline the application (you will be notified as to why your application was declined so you can make the appropriate adjustments to your application, if required). To use a visitor permit, you must activate and deactivate your visitor’s parking session using either the online management program or by using the phone-in option. If using the online option, you will easily input your guest’s licence plate then start the session whereas the phone-in feature will require both the licence plate and time of activation to be provided. Note that the maximum duration a visitor permit is valid is two weeks and are only valid if used within 150 metres of the address to which they are registered.

5. Will I still receive two visitor permits for my residence? If your address previously qualified for two visitor permits it will continue to have access to two permits.

6. The paper hang visitor permits work - why does CPA want to use digital visitor permits?

Photo enforcement is only possible if all of the permits are electronic. In order to move to a faster, more efficient enforcement process, all of the permits must be electronic.

A feature of digital visitor permits is the protection of privacy aspect for the resident whose visitor is using the permit as well as the visitor as the address will no longer be displayed inside the vehicle on a physical permit. We want to protect the privacy of both parties.

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We also anticipate a reduction in the misuse of visitor permits with the introduction of photo enforcement.

7. Why is the onus being put on me to ‘register’ my visitor using a cumbersome process rather

than simply giving me a piece of paper to give to my visitor (which is essentially ‘registering’ the vehicle to the area while the paper is in use)? Residents have been telling us for years that they want better, more consistent enforcement of residential parking zones and enforcement specific to the misuse of visitor permits. Transitioning visitor permits online along with all other RPP related permits allows us to efficiently manage and provide enforcement support. Currently, we do not have an effective way to enforce visitor permits. The ultimate goal for us is to help manage the usage of street space in each residential parking zone so residents and their guests have somewhere to park and the curbside isn’t filled with vehicles that aren’t permitted to be parked there.

8. If I don’t give my visitor a paper permit – how will my guest(s) avoid being ticketed?

You must activate the visitor permit on behalf of your visitor when they park in the restricted zone. You can activate a visitor permit using any device that has internet capability or by using the phone-in option and providing your visitor’s licence plate and time they arrived. The phone-in option is available during the regular business day or by leaving a message after hours. When your visitor leaves, you can either deactivate the session or wait for it to expire. If you forget to deactivate the session, it will automatically expire in two weeks.

9. How do I start a session for my visitors? You can activate a visitor permit using any device that has internet capability or by using the phone-in option and providing your visitor’s licence plate and time they arrived. The phone-in option is available during the regular business day or by leaving a message after hours. When your visitor leaves, you can either deactivate the session or wait for it to expire. If you forget to deactivate the session, it will automatically expire in two weeks. Visitor permits are only valid if used within 150 metres of the address to which they are registered.

10. What if I’m not home to start the session for my visitor? My visitor is a landscaper,

housekeeper etc. The resident is responsible for registering the licence plate of each of the vehicles using their visitor permits. You can start a visitor session from any desktop computer or mobile device. If internet access is not available, you can call in to our office to have an administrator start a session for you. Visitor sessions can also be started in advance and may run for a period of up to two weeks. With this feature, you can cover a time period if you don’t know exactly when your visitor would be at your residence (as long as only two consecutive visitor sessions are started at a time).

Contractors can obtain their own special parking permits from The City of Calgary to enable them to park in residential parking permit zones and therefore do not need to be provided with a visitor parking permit.

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11. What if I don’t know exactly when (or even what day) my visitor will be arriving? For example,

when someone checks on their house while I’m away. The resident is responsible for registering the licence plate of each of the vehicles using their visitor permits. You can start a visitor session that lasts for up to two weeks, so a time period could be covered if you do not know exactly when a visitor will be attending your residence.

12. How long can a visitor use an electronic permit?

Visitor permits may be activated for up to two weeks at a time. These permits are not intended for long-term use and are only valid if used within 150 metres of the address to which they are registered.

13. What if I don’t have access to the internet? How will I start a session for my visitor?

Residents without access to the internet can activate a visitor permit by using the phone-in option during the regular business day or by leaving a message after hours and providing the licence plate of their visitor as well as when their visitor arrived. Providing an accurate time for when the visitor arrived is important to ensure they are not ticketed. There is a two-day processing delay prior to issuing any tickets to ensure all parking sessions have been properly logged. If you forget to activate a session on behalf of your visitor and the visitor is ticketed, the visitor may request an administrative review to determine the validity of the ticket.

14. What if I forget to start a session for my visitor when they arrive? Will they be ticketed?

If you forget to activate a session on behalf of your visitor and a photo enforcement vehicle patrols the area during the time the visitor is parked there, they should expect to receive a ticket in the mail.

15. If my visitor is ticketed, can it be appealed?

Yes. Any ticket issued by the Calgary Parking Authority on behalf of The City of Calgary can be submitted for an administrative review. Information on how to do this is available on the home page of our website: www.calgaryparking.com.

16. Will CPA be tracking the people coming and going from my residence?

No. The information collected by our photo enforcement vehicles (licence plates) is only used for the purpose of determining whether or not vehicles are in violation of municipal bylaws and that the permits are being used according to established terms. All of our information is strictly controlled by the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIP).

17. How do you know it is actually me who has activated a visitor session for someone using the

call-in method? Residents activating a session for their visitors by phone will provide an identifier specific to their residential parking permit account that will allow the CPA to confirm the authenticity of the request.

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18. An electronic visitor permit isn’t going to work for me due to a variety of circumstances in

which I need one; how can I obtain a physical permit? Once the residential parking permit system has been transitioned online, physical visitor permits will not exist. We encourage you to contact us directly so we can help identify some potential solutions and tactics about how you can best use virtual permits to fit you needs.

19. Can I give access to my RPP account to people/contractors that frequent my home and use my

visitor permits so they can input their licence plates on their own? We strongly suggest you do not provide direct access to your account to accommodate these types of permitting requests from contractors or anyone else so to protect your personal information. Contractors are eligible to receive their own permits from The City to park in RPP zones and do not need to be provided with visitor permits.

20. I live in a residence that has multiple units in it that share the same address. How will the visitor permits be allocated? Each qualifying address is entitled to two visitor permits. If the address you live in has multiple units that share the same address, the visitor permits need to be shared between all residents in the dwelling, same as they would with physical visitor permits. The residents are responsible for finding a solution that works best for them. Each resident that provides the required documentation will have the ability to activate visitor sessions from their account. A maximum of two consecutive visitor sessions can be started for one address.

21. How will I know if someone from the other unit is using one or both of the visitor permits?

Within your online profile, you will have the ability to see whether or not either of the visitor permits is available for use. If the visitor permit field allows you to enter a licence plate there is a permit available to be used. However, if there is not a place to input a licence plate, all of the visitor permits available for your address are currently in use.

22. What if the person in the other unit ‘hogs’ the visitor permits?

The CPA does not have the ability to allocate visitor permits to separate units within a residence that shares one common address. Parameters around the usage of the jointly owned visitor permits must be worked out amongst each other, the same as they would with physical visitor permits.

23. Will the CPA be able to revoke the usage of a visitor permit if it is deemed to have been used

or obtained fraudulently? Yes. The CPA has the ability to revoke a permit if the permit holder has contravened the provisions of the Calgary Traffic Bylaw 26M96.

24. How will the new system be any better than the old system at preventing abuse of visitor

permits? By using photo enforcement to patrol residential parking zones, we are able to provide consistent enforcement across all types of permits. Photo enforcement technology will allow the

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CPA to effectively enforce the requirement for visitors to park within 150 metres of the residence they are visiting by using GPS locators. This will help eliminate the practice of visitors parking on the edge of residential parking zones and then leaving the zone to take transit or another destination outside the zone.

25. How will community associations/religious institutions/organizations, that qualify for permits manage their visitor permits in the new system? The online management system has the ability for an internal administrator for the community association/religious institution/organization to manage the permits on their organizations behalf. The process is the same as activating a visitor permit in that the adminstrator for the organization will activate and deactivate sessions on behalf of the licence plates they wish to provide parking for.

26. How would residents who host book clubs, writing groups, Board and Committee meetings at their home ensure their guests are not ticketed during these types of events? The easiest way for residents in these situations to ensure their guests are not ticketed while attended these functions in their home is to call our Customer Solutions Centre at 403-537-7100 and request an enforcement relaxation for the date and time your event is schedule.

Enforcement – Visitor Permits 1. How are visitor permits enforced presently?

Currently, enforcement officers manually check vehicles parked in RPP zones to determine if they have a residential parking permit or a visitor parking permit displayed in their vehicle. If neither of these permits is visible, the vehicle receives a parking ticket.

2. What are the challenges to doing it this way?

One challenge we face is that we cannot ensure that the misuse of the permit will end following receipt of the letter we send. We would like to be able to fully support and maintain the integrity of the residential parking permit program and ensure it is being used as it is intended. However, without the ability to enforce visitor permit abuse we cannot do this for the residents who use the program fairly. The introduction of photo enforcement will resolve this issue.

3. What has the CPA heard from residents?

Residents tell us they are frustrated when they see people who are misusing their visitor permits because it directly impacts those who choose to follow the rules of the program negatively. They express that they would like us to enforce misused visitor permits and revoke the permits of chronic offenders.

4. Can I start a visitor session after my guest has left to ensure they do not receive a ticket?

No, it is not possible to backdate a session. However, any ticket issued by the Calgary Parking Authority on behalf of The City of Calgary can be submitted for an administrative review. Information on how to do this is available on the home page of our website: www.calgaryparking.com

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5. How long do I have to start a session for my visitor so they don’t receive a ticket? Will there be

a grace period? Similar to the ParkPlus System in pay parking areas on-street, which provides a grace period to allow for payment and allow the driver to return to their vehicle after their parking session ends, there will be a grace period from the time a visitor parks and when a visitor parking session needs to be started. The details on this are still being determined.

6. What safeguards are in place to ensure my guests don’t receive tickets if I call in their session?

There is a two day ticket processing delay to ensure all visitor permit activations have been logged.

7. Why can’t CPA use foot patrol/mobile enforcement officers to check for visitor permits? Residential parking zones will be patrolled using the ParkPlus automated enforcement vehicles and supplemented by foot patrol/mobile enforcement officers when required. Residents living in residential parking zones will experience a much more consistent level of enforcement if photo enforcement is used to ensure the vehicles parking in the area are permitted to do so. Photo enforcement is only possible if all of the permits are electronic. In order to move to a faster, more efficient enforcement process, all of the permits must be electronic.

Privacy 1. How will my privacy along with the privacy of the people visiting my residence be protected?

Protecting the privacy and personal information of residents and their visitors is of utmost importance to the CPA. As a local public body the Calgary Parking Authority is subject to the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIP) of the Province of Alberta. The information collected by our photo enforcement vehicles (licence plates) is only authorized to be used for the purpose of issuing parking tickets after a violation has been observed. The data itself is stored in a secured database that complies with the most stringent, advanced cyber-security protocols currently in place. If you have started a visitor parking session for your guest, then no parking violation will be found and no further information on your visitor will be collected. In addition to the stringent requirements around use and storage of personal information, by moving to a virtual permit we are adding another level of protection of privacy because citizens will no longer have the ability to identify a vehicle and whose permit it is using to park in the zone as physical visitor

2. Does CPA share the information obtained by its automated enforcement vehicles?

Under no circumstances (except for search warrants and observed stolen vehicles pursuant to Section 40(1)(q) of FOIP) do we share information with the Calgary Police Service or other city departments.

3. Is the CPA or The City going to use my licence plate or anyone else’s to conduct research/analysis? No. The CPA is only authorized to use the licence plate information for issuing a parking ticket if a violation is observed, and no other purpose.

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4. How do I know that CPA isn’t cataloging the frequency of my guest’s visits?

The CPA only uses photo enforcement information for the purpose of issuing a ticket if a violation has been observed. Licence plate information collected by the ParkPlus System is stored on a secured online server; however, we are not able to utilize this information for any other purpose than for issuing tickets, as outlined by the strict rules of both the FOIP Act and our agreement with Service Alberta. The CPA respects the privacy and personal information of Calgarians.

5. How long will CPA retain my personal documentation required to obtain a permit? We would like to retain these documents for two years to support our ability to offer residents a two-year permit option instead of having to maintain the annual renewal process currently in place.

6. Presently CPA doesn’t retain a copy of the documents I provide you – why do you want to

retain them now? Currently, there are four ways to apply for a residential parking permit: in person, by mail, by email or by fax. If a resident applies for a permit in person, their documentation is not retained as we have visually verified the document(s). If a resident applies by mail, email or fax, we are required under the FOIP Act (Section 35(b)) to retain the application documentation for a minimum of one year. Documents that have been mailed to us are stored in a secure storage area for the one-year period whereas documents we receive by email or fax are stored on a secure online server.

Under the updated residential parking permit program rules, we would like to retain these documents for two years to support our ability to offer residents a two year permit option instead of having to maintain the annual renewal process currently in place.

7. How long will licence plate information be stored in CPA’s system?

The CPA retains all licence plate information collected by the ParkPlus System for one year on a secured server. Any licence plates associated with an infraction are retained for a period of seven years in the event the registered vehicle owner decides to pursue the matter in court.

8. How is CPA ensuring that the data stored in the new RPP system (licence plates and

documentation provided) is kept secure? The CPA complies with the most stringent, advanced cyber-security protocols currently in place. We are Payment Card Industry (PCI) Level 1 Service provider compliant, which is the same level of cyber security required of banks and financial institutions. When RPP users submit copies of their documents for the purposes of receiving a permit, this information is stored as a “picture” file. Individual fields in the information provided are not linked to a database and only stored for a one-year period to comply with section 35(b) of FOIP.

9. If I apply for a permit in person, will you scan or photocopy my documentation and keep it on file? No. if you apply in person we will not scan or photocopy your documents and keep them on file.

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Non-Resident Landlord Permits 1. What is a non-resident landlord permit?

A non-resident landlord permit is issued to the owner of a rental unit for purposes of maintenance or rent collection. One non-resident landlord permit will be issued to the owner per zone. The intent of a non-resident landlord permit is for occasional usage only to attend the property as needed and it is not to be used day after day.

2. How will the application for and use of this type of permit change with the introduction of the new RPP management system? Individuals applying for a non-resident landlord permit can do so using the RPP online management system on any device that has internet connectivity. Alternatively, you can come into the CPA main office with your required documentation and one of our customer service representatives will help you set up an account. Similar to visitor permits, non-resident landlord permits will be electronic. Once the permit has been approved, the landlord must activate the permit when parking in the restricted zone. To use an non-resident landlord permit, the permit holder must activate the permit by notifying the CPA of (1) the licence plate of the vehicle for which the permit is being activated; and (2) the time period for which the permit is being activated (up to a maximum of 2 weeks). Landlords will be able to activate their permit through a stand-alone computer or mobile device. Landlords without internet access will be able to phone in a request to activate a plate during the regular business day or leave a message after hours. As with the ParkPlus System, there will be a two-day processing delay prior to issuing any tickets to ensure that all parking sessions have been properly logged.

3. Can a non-resident landlord obtain both visitors’ permits for the address they own? No. A non-resident landlord permit does not have access to visitor permits at the address. Visitor permits are intended to be used by the resident(s) at the address, not a landlord or manager of the property.

Special Parking Permits 1. I live in a special parking permit zone (zone AAA or YY). How will I use my permit in the new

system? Once you have created your profile in the online management system and applied for and have had your permit approved, your permit will be valid within the zone, as per usual. The documents required to obtain a special parking permit and the rules surrounding their use will not change. Like visitor parking permits, special parking permits will also be electronic. If you have applied for a special parking permit, and the permit has been approved, you must activate the permit prior to the special parking permit being used for a vehicle parked in the restricted zone.

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To use a special parking permit, you must activate the permit by notifying the CPA of (1) the licence plate of the vehicle for which the permit is being activated; and (2) the time period for which the permit is being activated (up to a maximum of 24 months for special parking permits). Residents will be able to activate their permit through a stand-alone computer or mobile device. Residents without Internet access will be able to phone-in a request to activate a licence plate during the regular business day or leave a message after hours. As with the ParkPlus System, there will be a two-day processing delay prior to issuing any tickets to ensure that all parking sessions have been properly logged.

2. What is the cost of a special parking permit currently?

The cost to obtain permits within Zone AAA or Zone YY is $25 plus GST and only one permit is allowed per residence per permit year.

3. What will be the cost of a special parking permit in the new system?

Under the new system, permits will be valid for two years prior to having to renew. Therefore, the cost for a permit within Zone AAA and Zone YY will be $50 plus GST (or still $25 per year). Only one permit will be allowed per residence per permit year.

4. Will this system be used for CBZ permits?

No, the management of Central Business Zone (CBZ) permits will not change.

Other Questions 1. Will delivery vehicles be expected to start a session?

No. Due to the nature of the work that delivery vehicles are typically used for, residents will not be required to activate and deactivate parking sessions on their behalf. If the vehicle is clearly marked and identifiable as a delivery vehicle they can conduct their delivery within a residential parking zone without being ticketed. If a delivery vehicle is not clearly marked with a company name, etc. and they are ticketed while performing their delivery in the zone, they can appeal the ticket by providing evidence, such as an invoice or receipt that illustrates that the vehicle was in the zone conducting a delivery at the time the violation was observed.

2. How do I pay for an additional vehicle-specific permit? If you would like a third or subsequent vehicle-specific permit, there is a fee of $50 plus GST per permit per year; this would mean a $100 plus GST fee per permit for the two-year permit. You can obtain these additional permits using the online management system as well as make your payment online. Alternatively, you can apply for the permit in person at our office at 620 9th Avenue SW where you can make payment using cash, debit or credit.

3. If I move before the permit expires, can I get a refund for a chargeable permit?

The CPA administrative policy outlines the refund procedure if permits are cancelled prior to the expiry date. The policy will be available on the CPA website prior to the rollout of the new RPP system.