Ramp rescue
City investigates communication failure that led to parking ramp incident
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A recent incident involving a Minot woman trapped in a downtown parking ramp for an hour and half has city officials looking into ways to improve communication rendered by parking equipment and emergency responders.
Derek Hackett, Minot public information officer, said the city is investigating why its parking equipment failed to inform a pass holder of the need to pay an additional amount for over-extending the time period of the pass. The city also is checking into why response time took as long as it did.
"Unfortunately, it cost somebody an hour and a half, which we definitely do not want, and we are ironing out our processes to make sure they are the most efficient and the most responsive to the people in the community," Hackett said.
Angela Brabandt, who was unable to drive out of the Renaissance Ramp Tuesday night when the ticketing machine declined to take her pass, said it was troubling to be a woman alone, trapped in a parking garage at night in freezing weather.
"It's just very scary. My cell was dying. It was dark. I didn't know when somebody was going to come to my rescue," she said.
Brabandt had worked a half hour beyond 7 p.m. end time for which the pass was effective. She said the machine refused her pass but presented no message about needing to pay an additional amount, leaving her unaware of what the problem was.
The button to push for aid failed to connect the call, she said.
She was was fortunate to have her cell phone, although the battery was low. She contacted Minot's Central Dispatch and was told an officer would be on the way. Forty minutes later, she called back and was told police officers were busy but she was next on the list. The dispatcher couldn't give an estimated wait time. Not knowing whether an officer might be just minutes from arriving, she stayed with the vehicle rather than have someone come get her.
"It was very frustrating - not knowing when somebody was going to be there," she said. "I desperately just wanted to get home.
Her husband later contacted dispatch and was told the fire station a few blocks away was looking for a key, she said. Firefighters eventually arrived to release the barrier arm.
Brabandt said she is reluctant to park in the ramp in the evening in the future because of the possibility of another equipment problem.
"I can't rely on dispatch to come save me in a timely fashion," she said.
The City of Minot's utility department responds to any equipment issues during the day. After hours, police respond or, if unable to do so in a timely manner, direct the fire department to respond.
"It was just a communication breakdown internally," Hackett said, "which is not something we find acceptable."
He said issues with parking passes occurred in the past, but none since last September. The existing parking equipment came with the ramps when the city took over operation.