Mike Derbyshire, GM Calgary Parking Authority

 
Mike Derbyshire, GM Calgary Parking Authority
By Carmen Goss
 
Sean Miles introduced our speaker, Mike Derbyshire, GM Calgary Parking Authority. We soon found out that Calgary Parking Authority is an $85 million business! Mike has an impressive career, the highlights include:
 
  • 25 years with the EDM Police Department achieving the rank of Inspector
  • Director of Safety and Security for EDM Transit 
  • Assistant VP at Servus Enterprise Risk Management)
  • Various roles with Northlands as a Director Risk, Safety and Security;Executive Director Operations; and Acting VP Business Operations
  • General Manager of CPA – 14 months
 
 
Mike recognizes people have strong beliefs about parking in Calgary.  CPA has a full suite of online services. He has been challenged to sell our services to the world! His talk started off by advising us of the Elephant in the Room – the PRICE of parking!!!!!
 
Reports say we have the 3rd highest rates in North America, despite the downturn. Street rates are set by city council.  Monthly CPA rates are 15-20% lower than many of their competitors. Apparently, the CPA use $0 tax dollars and return $135 Million to the city.
The CPA has less than 20% of the downtown parking. There is also policy in place to encourage a 50/50 split with parking and public transit.
 
What does the future hold– we don’t necessarily know! The CPA encourages community involvement in that the staff of 250 each have a paid day off each year to volunteer at a charity of their choice. Mike is interested in our Club. As any reader of this article can imagine Mike answered a couple of parking ticket questions from our members at the conclusion of his talk.  Our club made a donation to CAWST to thank Mike for speaking to our club. 
 
 
 
Our speaker, Mike Derbyshire