New rules on city cars
The Nutter administration expects to save up to $2.3 million a year with new rules on the use of city cars, reducing the number of cars that city employees take home every night and cutting back parking privileges in Center City.
The Nutter administration expects to save up to $2.3 million a year with new rules on the use of city cars, reducing the number of cars that city employees take home every night and cutting back parking privileges in Center City.
One side effect: ordinary taxpayers who have business around City Hall should find a little more space at on-street parking meters. "Authorized parking only" spaces along 15th Street, between Arch Street and JFK Blvd., are being replaced by meters for use by the general public.
"This initiative is one of many that will distinguish Philadelphia as a high-performing government that continually looks for ways to be smarter, faster, better and greener," city Managing Director Camille Barnett announced in a news release.
She estimated that the new policies would reduce the number of city cars taken home every night from 650 to 450. With fewer cars making those daily trips to and from officials' homes, the city should save on fuel and parking costs as well.
Assistant Managing Director Jeffrey A. Friedman said that the administration is adopting a new general standard for take-home-car privileges. They should be limited, he said, to officials who need to respond to off-hour emergencies about once a week.
The city also expects to reduce the number of parking spots it provides, in both private parking lots and on-street, authorized-parking-only spots. The total is now about 850 parking spots, Friedman said, but the city expects to reduce it to 650.
Officials who have had on-street parking privileges for years will have to apply to the city to keep them. The new rules will take effect next month, Friedman said. *
