According to a release from the Pottsville Parking Authority, the initiative fulfills a campaign promise made by Pottsville Mayor Tom Smith and was developed in partnership with the Pottsville Parking Authority. City Solicitor Gretchen Sterns drafted the ordinance establishing the program, which received its second reading during the July Pottsville City Council meeting and is now set to take effect.
The new program is available to Pottsville residents who are 62 years of age or older. To obtain a permit, eligible residents should visit the Pottsville Parking Authority office beginning the week of August 3 with a valid driver's license showing a Pottsville address.
Each permit allows up to two vehicle license plates to be registered and is provided at no cost. Rather than issuing a physical placard, the Parking Authority will utilize a virtual permit system that is linked directly to each registered license plate.
According to the Parking Authority, when enforcement officers scan a registered vehicle's license plate, the system will identify the senior shopping permit. Officers will then use the authority's CitePro enforcement system to digitally "iChalk" the vehicle, starting a two-hour parking timer.
If the vehicle remains parked beyond the two-hour limit, enforcement officers will return to verify the vehicle's location and issue a parking citation if the time has expired.
To mark the launch of the program, 92-year-old Evelyn Barnwell became the first recipient of the Senior Shopping Permit during a presentation in the City Council Chambers on Tuesday morning.
Residents interested in learning more about how the virtual permit system works, including the digital "iChalk" process used by enforcement officers, will have another opportunity during the next Pottsville City Council meeting on Monday, August 10, at 5:00 p.m. Macola will provide a presentation explaining the technology and answer questions about the new senior parking program.