CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM
ACTION REQUESTED:
title
Waive the first reading and pass an ordinance establishing Tow Away Zones on both sides of Franklin Avenue and Main Street
body
DEPARTMENT: Transportation, Engineering and Development
SUBMITTED BY: Christine Rhoades, Project Engineer
BOARD/COMMISSION REVIEW:
N/A
BACKGROUND:
Following declaration of the local state of emergency and disaster related to the COVID-19 pandemic, Mayor Chirico issued an executive order allowing the expansion of outdoor dining on public and private property without an outdoor dining permit.
On November 16, 2021, the City Council passed an ordinance extending the expanded outdoor dining until May 1, 2022. As part of the discussion surrounding this ordinance concerns were raised regarding the current parking situation on Franklin Avenue near Washington Street. Due to a restaurant’s outdoor dining area customers have been parking illegally on Franklin Avenue resulting in a reduction of the usable width of the road and blocking private driveways.
The parking situation had previously been brought to the City’s attention, and the installation of striped parking boxes had been proposed to help delineate the legal parking areas. However, due to recent material shortage and contractor availability the City was unable to find a vendor to perform the work.
The adoption of this ordinance is intended to address this parking situation.
DISCUSSION:
The City Council passed the outdoor dining ordinance and recognized that various measures are available to address the parking situation on Franklin Avenue created by outdoor dining. One measure, which can be implemented immediately, is establishing Tow Away Zones on Franklin Avenue and Main Street.
The Police Department has been conducting frequent enforcement of the parking violations in this area. Unfortunately, despite a large increase in the number of citations issued this year, illegal parking continues. The proposed ordinance gives the Police Department the authority to tow vehicles that are illegally parked in the existing No Parking Zones.
The Department of Public Works is also evaluating the installation of parking boxes in-house and working to procure the necessary items to complete this work. Adding pavement markings will help drivers provide the necessary clear space around driveways when parking. Once the parking spaces are marked, vehicles that are illegally parked too close to driveways could also be towed under Article 11-2A-14 of the Municipal Code.
If these measures are not effective, then further parking regulation modifications, such as a resident permit program, could be considered. Due to the impact this program would have on residents, staff recommends a more formal process to get resident input, which would require additional time.
FISCAL IMPACT:
N/A