Emanuel, Parking Meter Company At Odds Over Bills
It’s safe to say Mayor Emanuel and Chicago Parking Meters, LLC are not BFFs these days.
This might have to do with CPM billing Chicago for tens of millions of dollars for compensation for lost revenue per the parking meter lease agreement and Emanuel is refusing to pay.
The problem for the Mayor is, according to the contract CPM is entitled to compensation when metered parking spaces are taken out of commission for construction, street festivals, etc., and for too many drivers using handicap license plates and placards to park for free.
None of this is really breaking news.
But according to the Chicago Tribune, temperatures on both sides are rising over a $14 million bill for street closures.
Despite the fact the city got this bill months ago, it wants more time to review the huge invoice from CPM. But according to a letter from CPM the Tribune obtained, CPM wants their money and is threatening mediation (per the contract) if the city refused to pay up soon.
It is hard to believe, based on a very explicit contract written by what one assumes to be top flight attorneys, that Chicago can get out of paying Chicago Parking Meters the money they are owed.
In fact, because the Chicago Department of Transportation keeps a running database of street closures, it would be hard for the city to disprove CPM’s itemized invoice for street closure incidents as it is a matter of public record.
Here’s the Tribune’s story, “City, parking meter company lock horns.”
There’s a difference between “the city has to pay something” and “the city has to pay exactly what CPM has billed”.
glg…there is a rub on this issue.
CPM is using the exact formula that Revenue used to bill special event closures or other closures by other city departments.
The Dept of Revenue would send a bill of this sort to say, the people that Host the Taste of Chicago and cause all the meters on Columbus to be shut off for the whole week. Or to the People that Host the Printers Row Fest…or any 5k/10k or Race or Celtic Fest or Rib Fest or any other fest or parade or etc that shuts down a street that has meters on it.
CPM is hoisting the city on its own petard thanks to Daley.
The city should get ready for another bill. The parking meters along 95th street from Western to about Damen are out of service because street repairs are being done.