HotSpot has been chosen as the app the City of Moose Jaw will be using for downtown parking meters. 

A Request for Proposals was put out with 12 respondents, with the city deciding to go with HotSpot. 

The app is expected to be up and running by May 31 or sooner. 

City manager Jim Puffalt said there are many advantages to the app. 

“There's no change to our existing parking enforcement, so it's very seamless. It fits in well, and an added feature that we're looking at in the second phase is a transit feature where you can buy transit passes through your phone using the same type of technology,” he said. 

According to Puffalt, HotSpot has been put in place in similar-sized cities including Portage la Prairie, Fredericton, St. John’s as well as parking at Mount Royal University in Calgary. 

Having the app will come at no cost to the city, but there will be a fee to the users.  

There are other options if you don’t have the app. QR codes will be installed on the parking meters that can be scanned. 

“The important part is that the meters are still there, and so if people don't want to use the app and you have some change, you're still welcome to use the meters,” Puffalt said.  

“We want it to be welcoming and friendly to everybody and make it as easy as possible to come to the downtown and visit and this app is a good way to do that.” 

Those who use the app will not receive refunds for unused time, but the app will notify you if your time is about to run out. 

There will be no change to the existing parking enforcement and all existing parking rules will remain once the app working.