City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: JUNE 3, 2015
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MARK B. JINKS, CITY MANAGER /s/
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Introduction and First Reading. Consideration. Passage on First Reading of an Ordinance to Amend and Reordain Title 5 (Transportation and Environmental Services), Chapter 8 (Parking and Traffic Regulations) of the Code of the City of Alexandria, Virginia, 1981, as Amended.
BODY
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ISSUE: Consideration of a proposed ordinance to amend the parking meter section of the City Code (Title 5, Chapter 8) to allow for the Old Town Area Parking Study (OTAPS) Work Group's recommendation to extend the maximum time limit for meters west of Alfred Street from two hours to three hours.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council consider the ordinance on first reading and set it for public hearing and final passage on Saturday, June 13, 2015.
BACKGROUND: In 2010, Old Town Area Parking Study (OTAPS) Work Group was formed to review the results and recommendations of the 2009 Old Town Area Parking Study. The Work Group was reconvened in 2012 to further implementation efforts of the study and the 2010 Work Group recommendations. In the fall of 2014, an updated parking inventory was completed that reassessed parking conditions within the study area. The Work Group has been reconvened a third time to review the updated data and make additional recommendations about meter and residential parking restrictions.
The 2014 parking inventory shows lower occupancy patterns for meters west of Alfred Street in comparison to occupancy east of Alfred Street, as well as a decrease in occupancy in comparison to 2009 data. Business representatives on the Work Group have also noted concerns from their customers regarding the maximum time limit of two hours for the meters. Considering this information, the Work Group provided a unanimous motion to recommend extending the meter hours from two to three hours west of Alfred Street (within the Study Area). The Work Group requested that this recommendation be processed through the appropriate channels for implementation as soon as possible and in advance of other formal recommendations from the Work Group to be finalized this summer.
DISCUSSION: In reviewing the actions needed to implement the Work Group's recommendation, staff reviewed the parking meter section of the City Code to determine the necessary amendments. Currently, the City Council approves the maximum time limits for meters through a resolution, but is limited to the hours specified in the Code which are 20 minutes, two hours, and four hours (for Zones 1 and 3). In order to allow for an option of three hours, staff has proposed a revision to Section 5-8-93(b) to allow for any maximum time limit up to four hours for all three zones. The Council would still assign the maximum time limit for specific meters through a resolution, but would have the flexibility to choose a time limit up to four hours.
The specific recommendation of the Work Group, which was based on the updated parking occupancy data, is to apply the change to the maximum time limit to the meters west of Alfred Street. Currently, the Code divides all the metered areas in the City into three specific meter zones. Although Zone 2 includes the majority of the meters west of Alfred Street, some of these blocks are located in Zone 1. In order to fully implement this recommendation, this amendment includes a revision to Section 5-8-92 to remove certain blocks from Zone 1 and add them to Zone 2. This will allow the Council to review a resolution later this month extending the maximum time limit for meters in the updated Zone 2, which would also be all meters west of Alfred Street within the study area.
No changes to the process for adding or removing meters are included within this amendment. Additionally, no changes to the daily hours of operation or the meter rates are proposed. The existing review process, daily hours of operation, and rates will continue unless changed by the Council through a separate amendment and public hearing process.
The Traffic and Parking Board held a public hearing on May 18, 2015 to consider the Work Group's recommendation to extend the maximum time limit for meters west of Alfred Street and the associated amendments to the Code to implement this recommendation. The Board made a unanimous motion to recommend approval.
FISCAL IMPACT: The fiscal impact is minor because the overall hours the meters will be in operation remain the same. The minor fiscal impact is the cost to change the signs for meters west of Alfred Street, which is estimated to be approximately $5,000.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1: Ordinance Cover
Attachment 2: Ordinance
STAFF
Emily A. Baker, Acting Deputy City Manager
James Banks, City Attorney
Christopher P. Spera, Deputy City Attorney
Yon Lambert, Director, T&ES
Sandra Marks, Deputy Director, T&ES
Carrie Sanders, Division Chief, Transportation Planning, T&ES
Katye North, Principal Planner, Transportation Planning, T&ES