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HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 4.B 04/05/2005CITY OF PETALUMA, CALIFO" A p ri 14, 2005 4 AGENDA BILL Agenda Title: Meeting Date: Introduce Ordinance amending Chapter 11.44 of the Petaluma April 4, 2005 Municipal Code; and adding language to Sections 11.44.010 through Sections 11.44.060; establishing minimum distance Meeting Time: ® 3:00 PM movement requirements (out of block face) for vehicles parked in ❑ 7:00 PM restricted time zones when proper signs are posted Cateeory (check one)': F-1ConsentCalendar El Public Hearing ® New Business F-1UnfinishedBusiness ❑ Presentation Department: I Director: Contact Person: Phone Number: Administrative ServicesJos Nett r Joseph D. Netter 778-4352 Greg Mcclish Cost of Proaosal: None Account Number: N/A Amount Budgeted: N/A r Name of Fund: N/A Attachments to Agenda Packet Item: 1. Ordinance 2. Agenda Report 3. City Attorney's memorandum Summary Statement: The City of Petaluma currently employs two parking enforcement officers to administer and enforce the City's parking regulations. Prior to March of 2005, the parking enforcement officers used a chalking system (placing a chalk mark on the vehicles tire) to enforce time zones in restricted parking area of the downtown and other area of the City. The City recently purchased a Global Positioning License Plate recognition system that allows the City's parking enforcement unit to control parking violators in a more efficient manner. With this technology, the parking enforcement unit is able to identify which vehicles have parked in a specific space (or block) beyond the designated time zone area. With this technology the parking enforcement unit is recommending that the City establish Minimum Distance Movement requirements for each vehicle parked in a BLOCK within a posted time zone. Therefore, the parking enforcement unit is recommending that a vehicle must move out of a "Block Face" following the expiration of a posted time zone in a specific block that the vehicle is parked to avoid a parking citation. A Block Face is defined to be a Block (on street parking) that is bordered by an intersection at each end. Once a vehicle has been parked in a block for the designated time, that vehicle may not return to the same block after expiration of the initial time period for a minimum of 2 hours. If a vehicle is identified as parking in the same block, beyond the designated posted time period, then the vehicle is subject to citation. Recommended Citv Council Action/Sugeested Motion: Introduce Ordinance amending Chapter 11.44 by adding new language to Sections 11.44.010 through Sections 11.44.060 as follows: "For purposes of this section, a vehicle will be deemed to have been stopped, parked or left standing for longer than the time allowed in this section, if it has not been moved at least "Out of the Block Face" after the expiration of the designated time zone. A Block Face is defined as the block in which the vehicle is parked, bordered by an intersection at each end." /IFevik mance Director: C ; y; r AateMAR 14 Yod�dAV's Date: ate: Reviewed by City Attornev: 20 Date: Revision # and Date Revised: by City Manager: $� Date: File Code: CITY OF PETALUMA, CALIFORNIA APRIL 5, 2005 AGENDA REPORT FOR AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 11.44 OF THE PETALUMA MUNICIPAL CODE BY ADDING LANGUAGE TO SECTIONS: 11.44.010; 11.44.020; 11.44.310; 11.44.031; 11.44.040; 11.44.040; 11.44.050; AND 11.44.060; TO ESTABLISH MINIMUM DISTANCE MOVEMENT REQUIREMENTS IN EACH RESTRICTED PARKING TIME ZONES WHEN PROPER SIGNAGE IS POSTED 1. Executive Summary The City of Petaluma currently employs two parking enforcement officers to administer and enforce the City's parking regulations. Prior to March of 2005, the parking enforcement officers used a chalking system (placing a chalk mark on the vehicles tire) to enforce time zones in restricted parking area of the downtown and other area of the City. The City recently purchased a Global Positioning License Plate recognition system that allows the City's parking enforcement unit to control parking violators in a more efficient manner. With this technology, the parking enforcement unit is able to identify which vehicles have parked in a specific space (or block) beyond the designated time zone area. With this technology the parking enforcement unit is recommending that the City establish Minimum Distance Movement requirements for each vehicle parked in a BLOCK within a posted time zone. Staff researched several cities that are currently using the Global Positioning License Place Recognition system in its parking enforcement programs. The City of Palo Alto uses a color zone designation, which includes five zones. The other method discovered was called the "Block Face" designation. For the City of Petaluma, staff feels that we should keep the parking enforcement relatively simple and adopt the "Block Face" designation. If a vehicle is parked longer that the permitted time in any block (bordered by an intersection at each end) then that vehicle would be subject to a parking violation. Therefore, the parking enforcement unit is recommending that a vehicle must move out of a "Block Face" following the expiration of a posted time zone in a specific block that the vehicle is parked to avoid a parking citation. A Block Face is defined to be a Block (on street parking) that is bordered by an intersection at each end. Once a vehicle has been parked in a block for the designated time, that vehicle may not return to the same block after expiration of the initial time period for a minimum of 2 hours. If a vehicle is identified as parking in the same block, beyond the designated posted time period, then the vehicle is subject to citation. 2. Backeround The City currently has two parking enforcement officers that enforce the parking regulations in the downtown and other areas of the City. The parking enforcement unit currently uses a "Chalking" system to identify vehicles that are violation the parking time zones currently established. The chalking system has been abused by citizens rubbing off the chalk or moving vehicles short distances to avoid citations. The City recently purchased a Global Positioning License Plate Recognition System through AutoVu out of Canada. This system has been installed on the parking enforcement units and is currently being used to enforce parking regulations. This system uses a satellite positioning system to identify where the vehicle is parked and to determine if it moved within the designated time to avoid a citation. In order to use this technology to its capacity, the parking enforcement units is recommending that the City establish rules and definitions (establish laws) that would allow for better enforcement, public safety, traffic flow and parking availability. By establishing laws for parking, it gives the authority for the parking enforcement unit to cite violators who do not move out of a certain block following the expiration of a designated time set for that block. By the Introduction of this ordinance and ultimate adoption, it would establish the law that the parking enforcement would rely on if challenged by a parking violator. 3. FinancialImoacts None, establishes rules only. 4. Conclusion/Recommendation It is recommended that the City Council Introduce the presented Ordinance. 5. Alternatives • Do not introduce the ordinance and make no changes to the parking regulations • Establish Parking zones (color) like the City of Palo Alto • Consider other alternatives ORDINANCE NO. N.C.S. AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 11.44 OF THE PETALUMA MUNICIPAL CODE BY ADDING LANGUAGE TO SECTIONS: 11.44.010; 11.44.020; 11.44.310; 11.44.031; 11.44.040; 11.44.040; 11.44.050; AND 11.44.060; TO ESTABLISH MINIMUM DISTANCE MOVEMENT REQUIREMENTS IN EACH RESTRICTED PARKING TIME ZONES WHEN PROPER SIGNAGE IS POSTED WHEREAS, The City of Petaluma has determined that parking time zones are a necessary enforcement means to regulate and control parking in the downtown and other areas of the City; and WHEREAS, The City's Traffic Engineer has the authority to identify specific parking restricted area and establish time zones by authorizing signs, parking meters or curb markings giving notice thereof such restricted parking; and WHEREAS, Chapter 4.11, "RESTRICTED OR PROHIBITED PARKING" of the Petaluma Municipal Code currently includes Sections 11.44.010 through Sections 11.44.060 establishing certain parking time zone restrictions to assist in traffic flow and public safety in certain areas of the City; and WHEREAS, The City feels it necessary to establish minimum distance movements for vehicles in said time zones to assist in the parking traffic enforcement; and WHEREAS, The following findings are established to support the minimum distance movements of vehicles in the restricted time zones: • Traffic parking spaces are limited in the downtown and other areas of the City requiring parking enforcement • Certain time zones have been established and authorized by the City Engineer in the downtown and other areas of the City and noticed by signage, painted curbs or other means • The time zones established have been determined based on parking space availability and frequency of use • The movement of traffic in downtown area and other areas are important to the economic well-being of the City because the City relies heavily on Sales Tax revenues generated by businesses in the downtown and other area WHEREAS, The City recently purchased a new Global Positioning License Plate Recognition System to assist in the enforcement of Parking regulations throughout the City; and WHEREAS, With the new Global Positioning License Plate Recognition System, the City is able to detect vehicles who violate the intent of the time zones by moving out of one space to another in close proximity to avoid a citation, and WHEREAS, The City desires to establish minimum distance movement requirements for each time zone to assist in enforcing the City's parking regulations assisted by using the new Global Positioning License Plate Recognition System. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PETALUMA as follows: Section 1. Section 11.44.0 10 through Section 11.44.060 the following sentence shall be added to the end of each section: "For purposes of this section, a vehicle will be deemed to have been stopped, parked or left standing for longer than the time allowed in this section, if it has not been moved at least "Out of the Block Face" after the expiration of the designated time zone. A Block Face is defined as the block in which the vehicle is parked, bordered by an intersection at each end. A vehicle may not return to the same block sooner then 2 hours following the expiration of the initial time period. " Section 2. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause of phrase of word of this ordinance is for any reason held to be unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portion of this ordinance. The City Council of the City of Petaluma hereby declares that it would have passed and adopted this ordinance and each and all provisions thereof irrespective of the fact that any one or more of said provisions be declared unconstitutional. Section 3. This ordinance is hereby declared to be necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety and shall take effect and be in force thirty (30) days following its passage by a majority of the City Council present at the time of it's adoption. Section 4. The City Clerk is hereby authorized and directed to post/publish this ordinance for the period and in the manner required by the City Charter. INTRODUCED. ADOPTED and ORDERED this 4'h day of April, 2005, by the following vote: AYES: NOES: