Supervisors Discuss Switching Out Valet Parking Providers at John Wayne Airport

Orange County supervisors raised a number of concerns today about a proposal to switch valet parking companies at John Wayne Airport.

Parking Concepts Inc. has provided valet parking service at the airport since it started being offered in 2001. The company is now operating on a month-to-month basis, after officials asked for bids from other providers.

County officials have recommended that PCI be dumped in favor of LAZ Parking, a move that could generate the county an additional $665,000 in revenue over a three-year period.

County officials had an independent, five-member committee rank the two companies according to a variety of criteria, including cost and how to woo new customers through online reservations. The committee ranked LAZ higher.

LAZ executive and founder Michael Harth told the supervisors that his company would not lay off any employees and that it was able to offer more revenue to the county because it wants to get its foot in the door in Orange County.

“We’re willing to do it for less profit because we want to be in business with you,” Harth said.

PCI President Gill Barnett said he was “disappointed” in the committee’s rankings and predicted LAZ could not meet its revenue commitment.

Supervisor Patricia Bates said she was “very concerned” that LAZ could honor its promises and noted that the company would charge more for car washes than PCI.

Supervisor Janet Nguyen asked Airport Director Alan Murphy why the committee ranked LAZ higher in experience when PCI has handled valet parking at the airport since the service was first offered.

Murphy answered that LAZ had more experience providing valet parking at large venues such as hotels, which he said are “more challenging than an airport.”

Supervisor Todd Spitzer voiced doubt that the committee acted independently as tasked, saying he suspected that each member compared notes, which was prohibited.

“I don’t believe they didn’t talk to each other and compared their scores,” Spitzer said.

LAZ wants to set up a service that allows airport users the option to pre-pay for valet service with an online application, but Orange County Board of Supervisors President Shawn Nelson questioned whether it could be integrated into an already existing system at the airport called ZipPark.

The contract was put on hold until the supervisors’ Sept. 9 meeting to further research how LAZ’s online-payment method can integrate with ZipPark.

--City News Service

Patch file photo