Title
A Resolution authorizing the City to enter into a Parking Agreement with ZipCar, Inc. to implement a car sharing service pilot project and providing for a location.
Body
The population of Coral Gables nearly doubles each week day when employees commute to our city for work. This influx of traffic creates a significant impact on traffic throughout our city, particularly within the Central Business District. One of the primary benefits of operating the Coral Gables Trolley along Ponce de Leon from the Douglas Road Metro-Station to Flagler is to provide employees coming to Coral Gables an alternative to driving an automobile. Studies indicate that the trolley system reduces the number of vehicles coming to the Central Business District by 750 cars a day.
Implementation of a car sharing program will further encourage the use of transit for commuters working in Coral Gables. A car sharing service, will allow employees with an occasional need for a vehicle to use transit for their commute and then rent a vehicle on a short-term basis anytime transit service is not available for a meeting or appointment.
Zipcar, Inc. (vendor) will initially rent four parking spaces from the City and provide four vehicles at two separate locations as an initial implementation of the car sharing program. Two vehicles will park at or near the intersection of Alhambra Circle and Ponce de Leon Boulevard and two vehicles will be available at the intersection of Salzedo Street and Alcazar Avenue. The car sharing service will be operated and paid for by the vendor; the City has no operational responsibilities related to the car sharing business. The City’s primary interests are regulatory in nature. The vendor agrees to meet requirements in City Code related to providing the car sharing service and hold the City harmless/indemnify the City for any claims resulting from operations of the car sharing business.