The Guadalajara Reporter

Chapala’s parking meter controversy has no end in sight

For those who are puzzled about the facts concerning Chapala’s parking meter system, the Reporter reveals the low down on a heated public controversy that seems to take new twists week by week.

Legitimacy

The pay-to-park zones located on Paseo Ramon Corona, the south end of Avenida Madero and a short stretch of Avenida Hidalgo operate under management of a private enterprise, based on a legally binding contract with the municipal government subscribed in June of 2011. Before that, the original deal was put up for public bid, awarded to sister corporations MK Ideas Tech and Comers following a proposal review by the city’s acquisitions board, and finally, approved by a unanimous vote of the city council during its regular session of May 24, 2011.

Under the terms of the 15-year public-private association (APP) contract, the user rate was set at six pesos per hour, with future fee hikes contingent upon city council approval and inclusion in the municipality’s annual Ley de Ingresos (income statutes).  In allowance for the joint corporation’s investment in the project, the city was slated to gain 10 percent of profits during the first 12 months, with an automatic increase to 20 percent for subsequent years.

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