City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: DECEMBER 5, 2023
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
THROUGH: JAMES F. PARAJON, CITY MANAGER /s/
FROM: ADRIANA CASTAÑEDA, DIRECTOR, TRANSPORTATION & ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Introduction and First Reading. Consideration. Passage on First Reading of an Ordinance to amend and reordain Section 5-8-77 (Parking Permits; issuance) of Chapter 8 (Parking and Traffic Regulations) of Title 5 (Transportation and Environmental Services) of the Code of the City of Alexandria, Virginia, 1981, as amended.
BODY
ISSUE: Consideration of an ordinance to amend the Residential Permit Parking (RPP) program to allow residents to obtain a permit for in-home childcare providers.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council consider the proposed ordinance (Attachment 2) on first reading and schedule it for second reading, public hearing and final passage on Saturday, December 16, 2023.
BACKGROUND: The Residential Parking Permit (RPP) program started in 1979 as a response to increased demand for parking, particularly in Old Town and residential areas of the City near Metrorail stations. RPP districts have expanded over the years and currently there are 14 Districts (Attachment 3). This program prohibits on-street parking for more than two to three hours during varying time periods unless a vehicle has a parking permit for the district.
City Code Section 5-8-77 outlines who is eligible for parking permits. In 2008, the City Council approved an amendment that allowed residents to obtain a permit for a healthcare provider performing healthcare services at a home within a parking district. As part of that action, the City Council also asked staff to consider similar options for childcare providers as well. However, a formal amendment was not brought back to the City Council following that meeting due to other staff programs and projects taking priority at that time. During the 2018 RPP Refresh project, staff collected feedback from the community on the top RPP issues to address, including the idea of creating a childcare provider permit, but other issues rose to the top of the list for staff to address first.
During the September 12, 2023 City Council meeting, the Council returned to this issue and asked staff to propose an amendment to address parking for childcare providers.
DISCUSSION: Staff are proposing an amendment to Section 5-8-77 to create a process for issuing permits to residents for their in-home childcare providers. The proposed change follows the process for home healthcare workers by allowing residents who employ an in-home childcare worker to apply for one residential parking permit per year. This proposal will allow in-home childcare workers along with healthcare workers to park proximate to their clients and not have to move their cars every couple of hours, allowing for continuous care of clients.
Permits for both in-home healthcare and childcare workers providing such services at residences within a permit parking district would be subject to the following criteria:
• The resident of the home where the in-home childcare or healthcare is being provided must apply for the permit.
• Only one permit for in-home health and/or childcare workers may be issued per year, per residence.
• The permit is valid for up to one year and will expire on October 5, annually.
• A $150 fee will be charged for the permit, regardless of how many permits have been issued to this address. The fee is equal to the fee charged for a residential parking permit for each additional vehicle beyond a second vehicle.
• The applicant for in-home childcare or healthcare workers must provide a notarized certification that the resident is receiving in-home care at the residence.
• The applicant must provide a copy of the vehicle registration for the initial user of the permit.
Currently, only eight parking permits have been issued for healthcare workers, suggesting this provision is not being abused and is not adding an excessive number of vehicles to the parking districts. Staff believes expanding this section to allow permits for childcare providers will not have a substantial impact on the parking available. Rather this will provide for similar parking allowances for similar care providers and accommodate families who employ childcare providers at home.
The Traffic and Parking Board held a public hearing on October 23, 2023. At that meeting, the Board voted unanimously to make a recommendation to the City Council to amend Section 5-8-77 of the City Code to allow childcare service providers to obtain permits. They approved this unanimously and asked that staff adjust the amendment language to “and/or” so that in instances where a household has healthcare services and childcare services, they would be able to apply for permits for both healthcare service providers and/or childcare service providers.
FISCAL IMPACT: There will be some additional revenue resulting from this Code amendment, although staff estimates it will be less than $5,000 a year. Each permit issued under this new provision will cost $150. This assumes approximately 30 permits are issued each year.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1: Ordinance Cover Sheet
Attachment 2: Ordinance
Attachment 3: Map of Residential Permit Parking Districts
STAFF:
Emily A. Baker, Deputy City Manager
Joanna Anderson, City Attorney
Lindsay Dubin, City Attorney
Hillary Orr, Deputy Director, T&ES
Katye North, Division Chief, T&ES, Mobility Services
Sheila McGraw, Principal Planner, T&ES, Mobility Services