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Parking Services implements RFID gating system
The first parking lot to feature Parking Services’ new radio-frequency identification (RFID) gating system will go live this week.
L Lot, adjacent to Parking Services, will go operational with the new setup on Wednesday, December 2.
The current gating system is run on an antiquated platform that is no longer supported by the original vendor. The new system provides the hardware and software necessary to control the gates, includes a credit card payment system for short-term parking and staff/faculty permit parking with RFID transponders.
The new software interfaces with Parking Services’ current permitting and enforcement software.
Permit holders will no longer have to open their window and insert a card into the reader; instead they will affix the transponder to their vehicle’s windshield. The reader will pick up the transponder’s signal as the vehicle approaches the gate, which will then open automatically. Transponders can be affixed to the inside of a vehicle’s windshield on the driver’s side in the top left corner with a length of adhesive Velcro tape.
If you have multiple vehicles, you may choose to move the transponder from car to car, as can be currently done with the hanging tags and keycards, or you may choose to purchase an additional transponder for $20.
One interesting feature of the new transponder is “antipass back”, that ensures that only one vehicle on the permit holder’s account may use a transponder at a time. This means that once the system recognizes that a car has entered the lot, the system will not recognize the same transponder until it exits the lot, and will not recognize a second transponder on the account until the first transponder has left the account. “This prevents multiple vehicles on the same account parking at the same time,” says a Parking Services brochure. “Transponder holders must not (even in good faith) use their transponder to allow another car entry or exit.”
Parking in any ungated lot will still be available after 4:30 p.m. under the new system, and once all parking lots have been converted, transponders will be programmed to allow such “interzone parking” after 4:30 p.m. in gated lots as well.
“Not only will this technology speed access into the lots for permit holders, but it will allow us to more accurately and efficiently utilize the spaces,” says Parking Services’ Sharon Rumpel. “We will definitively be able to determine how many vehicles are in the lot at peak times and issue additional permits accordingly.”
This new system will move people on the parking waitlists from the outer lots into more centrally located lots, and after a year or so when all lots have had their gating equipment replaced, there will be more flexibility for after-hours lot storage.
During the transition period, drivers will be required to continue to display their hanging tag, but once all parking lots have been converted, Parking Services intends to do away with the tags entirely and manage lot access by transponder only.
People who park in Lot L and H have been invited via e-mail to pick up transponders from Parking Services, as as additional lots come online, permit holders will be similarly notified. The next lot to operate under the new RFID system is Lot D beneath Needles Hall.
Parking Services will be closed on Wednesday, December 2 as staff transfers data from the old system to the new system.
Arthur Carty named AAAS Fellow
Arthur Carty, inaugural Director of the Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology has been honoured as a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). Carty will be officially inducted as a Fellow at the 2016 AAAS Annual Meeting on February 13th in Washington, DC.
The American Association for the Advancement of Science, founded in 1848 is the world’s largest general scientific society and the publisher of the high impact journal Science. The mission of AAAS is to “advance science and serve society”. Election as a fellow is an honour bestowed upon members by their peers. Fellows are recognised for their meritorious efforts to advance science or its applications.
Carty is cited for his enlightened scientific leadership, his seminal role as science advisor to governments and his contributions to organometallic chemistry.
“For a scientist there is no greater reward than to be recognised for one’s work by peers” Carty said. “I am truly delighted to become a Fellow of the AAAS.”
Dr Carty is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and an Officer of the Order of Canada.
Procedures for reporting on gifts and gift cards
A message from Finance and Human Resources
The end of the year is approaching and Human Resources is preparing to buckle down for the tax receipting season. We wanted to remind everyone to ensure that the Gift Reporting Forms required by the Gifts and Gift Cards/Certificates procedure are submitted to HR (GSC 1102) by the end of the year so that they can be tallied and included on year-end slips where necessary.
The new procedure surrounding the proper reporting for gifts and gift cards has been in place for just over a year now. Finance and Human Resources would like to thank everyone for their feedback and assistance in ensuring that the University is in compliance with legislation and Canada Revenue Agency administrative policy related to taxation of earnings and taxable benefits.
If you haven’t checked it out yet, the Gifts and Gift Cards/Certificates procedure outlines general information, identifies the accountabilities and describes the processes for reporting cash, near-cash, and non-cash gifts purchased with University funds. In many cases, giving a cash or near-cash (i.e. gift card) gift results in a taxable benefit to the recipient. Please note that the guidance for Remuneration to Research Participants is unchanged.
Staff and Faculty should also remember that all employee remuneration must be handled by HR. The University maintains a recognition program administered through the Community Relations Department and Human Resources Department to commemorate employees celebrating service milestones with a reception and a gift. As a result, additional milestone or recognition gifts (including holiday gifts) should be avoided.
As a publicly-funded organization, the University falls under the Broader Public Sector Accountability Act. Please keep in mind that any individual incurring expenses on behalf of the University must be able to demonstrate the prudent and responsible use of public funds.
Questions regarding the application of any of this guidance can be directed to payroll@uwaterloo.ca.
Tuesday's notes
When it came time to announce her retirement after 30 years of service, longtime Library staff member Vicki Anne Houley Siegel chose to say it with cake, thus sweetening the message. Siegel's retirement will be a busy one as she is currently pursuing a degree in Earth Sciences. As she puts it, "parting is such sweet sorrow." Indeed!
Two live Skype sessions with students attending the COP21 climate talks in Paris have been scheduled to take place over the next few days.
On December 1 and December 10, members of the University community are invited to join the Faculty of Environment for free pizza and a live, interactive Skype session with the Waterloo COP21 delegation. The event will include a Q&A video call with Environment students overseas, where they will provide updates on the COP21 negotiations and answer any questions you may have. Following the call, the floor will be opened for an informal discussion.
Session 1 takes place today, December 1 from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. hosted by Ian Rowlands, associate dean of the Faculty of Environment.
Session 2 takes place on Thursday, December 10 from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. in QNC 2501.
Check the Facebook event for more information and to confirm your attendance.
The Staff Relations Committee wants all staff to know that it has opened up the first portion of its meetings to members of the university community and regularly has agenda items of interest to staff members in all units of the university. At the meeting this Friday, December 4 starting at 12:30 p.m., there will be an update on the Excellence Canada initiative on campus as well as draft amendments to the weather closing guidelines.
Finally, today is Giving Tuesday, a day set aside for giving back that follows on the heels of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. The Office of Advancement has prepared a short video about the impact that supporting Waterloo can have on students.