ACTION REQUESTED:
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Communication from City Manager and Director of Public Works with a Request for a FIRST READING Review of an ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 28, SECTIONS 83 and 392 of the CODE of the CITY OF PEORIA Pertaining to EMERGENCY SNOW ROUTES PARKING AND FINES.
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BACKGROUND: Public Works gave a presentation to Council at the September 9, 2014 meeting regarding the Snow Removal and Ice Control Policy. Specific items presented for consideration included the Snow Parking Ban Notification - Policy/Fee Change Proposed; Sidewalk Snow Removal - Policy Direction Requested; and Resources Need to Match Level of Service.
ยท Emergency Snow Route Parking Fine
At the Policy Session, Director Rogers recommended lowering the Emergency Snow Route Parking Fine to $50.00. The current parking violation fine for Snow Routes is $200.00, which raises to $300.00 if the ticket is unpaid after 30 days. The Police Department is hesitant to issue such costly tickets and, instead, officers expend broad efforts to get citizens to move their cars. Only 36 tickets were collected the previous year. In order to make the tickets more effective in discouraging parking on the Emergency Snow Routes, staff recommends lowering the fine to $50, but allowing tickets to be issued every 24 hours for the same offense. Staff feels that lowering the fine will allow more tickets to be issued, which will lead to better compliance of the snow route parking bans and assist in the snow clearing efforts for the City.
The proposal was presented to the Transportation Commission at its meeting on September 16, 2014, and the Commissioners concurred in its recommendation to City Council. Attached is a proposed Ordinance Amending the Code to lower the Emergency Snow Route Parking Fine to $50.00 from $200.00.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: More enforcement of lower fines will be required. Enforcement by Parking Enforcement Officers in place of Police Officers will save their public safety efforts for emergency calls. The lower fine rate may lead to a greater percentage of payment on these violations, which nets more revenue in the long term.
NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERNS: Many tickets issued are on streets where there is no driveway access, making it more difficult for those residents to find alternate parking. Lower parking fines are more affordable, making it less punitive for those residents who don't comply with the ban.
IMPACT IF APPROVED: Lowered fines will lead to more tickets being issued and greater compliance by motorists to find alternate places to park during snow events, which will allow City crews greater access to emergency snow routes for snow removal.
IMPACT IF DENIED: Fines for violating snow bans and posted snow emergency routes will remain at $200.00.
ALTERNATIVES: N/A
EEO CERTIFICATION NUMBER: N/A
WHICH OF THE GOALS IDENTIFIED IN THE COUNCIL'S 2014 - 2029 STRATEGIC PLAN DOES THIS RECOMMENDATION ADVANCE?
1. Financially Sound City Government, Effective City Organization
2. Attractive Neighborhoods with Character: Safe and Livable
WHICH CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTOR(S) FROM THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DOES THIS RECOMMENDATION IMPLEMENT?
1. Invest in our infrastructure and transportation.
2. Reinvest in neighborhoods.
3. Have an efficient government.
DEPARTMENT: Public Works