For a while there, it looked like San Diego wouldn’t be overhauling its parking meters with the smart, credit card-capable models seen in Los Angeles and other major cities.

But it turns out we’ll get our fancy makeover after all — thanks to a wonkily named “cooperative procurement contract.” Basically, San Diego’s going to piggyback on the deal Sacramento already had in the works.

We still don’t know what happened with the deal the city originally had with local company IPS Group. A mysterious “personnel matter” blew up the contract after a year’s work getting it together.

In this episode of San Diego Explained, NBC 7’s Catherine Garcia and Voice of San Diego’s Scott Lewis lay out what that says about the city’s purchasing and contracting process, and when we can expect to see the new meters.

Catherine Green was formerly the deputy editor at Voice of San Diego. She handled daily operations while helping to plan new long-term projects.

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