City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: JUNE 8, 2016
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 Division 2 (Metered Parking Lots) of Article G (Parking Meters) 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.
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ISSUE: Consideration of a proposed ordinance to update the Metered Lots Division of the City Code.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council consider the ordinance on first reading and set it for public hearing and final passage on Saturday, June 18, 2016.
BACKGROUND: Similar to the Parking Meter Zones section of the City Code, the Code also identifies the public lots that may be metered. In reviewing this section, staff identified that the text was outdated. Seven specific lots are currently listed in the Code. Of these locations, four are no longer parking lots and only one of the three remaining lots is actually metered (the lot on the 900 block of King Street, east of Misha’s Coffee). This section also includes very specific language about the hours and rates for these lots which is no longer consistent with the current meter zones and other off-street parking facilities. As seen in the 900 block of King Street lot and on the street, parking meters that are priced appropriately are an effective tool to encourage parking turnover and improve parking availability. This tool should be considered in other locations where parking management is necessary. However, in order to install meters/pay stations at any other City owned parcel that is used for off-street parking, an update to the Code is necessary.
DISCUSSION: This proposed amendment would revise the process by which meters are approved on City owned, public property that is used for off-street parking. Rather than specifically listing each surface lot and setting the same hours and rates for all by ordinance, staff proposes to conduct an individual review of each lot and have Council by resolution set hours and rates according to conditions proximate to the lot. For example, the specific on-street parking conditions and surrounding context of each lot (and the intended goals of installing meters) would guide the decision for determining an appropriate rate and time limit for the lot. The Code would be updated to remove the specific lot locations, hours, and rates, and reference a new process for reviewing meters on public property.
In terms of the process, the Traffic and Parking Board would review all requests for new meters on City property at a public hearing. Similar to other reviews, the Board would consider the request and make a recommendation to Council. The City Council would then formally approve the lot for meters and establish the rates and hours by resolution. The proposed amendment to the City Code is provided in Attachment 1.
The Traffic and Parking Board reviewed the changes to this ordinance at their May 23, 2016 meeting and voted to recommend approval to the City Council, with the clarification that the Board should include a specific recommendation for the appropriate hours and rates for each lot in their recommendation that is forwarded to the Council.
FISCAL IMPACT: The fiscal impact of the ordinance as proposed is negligible as staff is not proposing to add meters/pay-stations to any City-owned lots at this time. In general, the capital cost to install a multi-space meter is $7,800 and each meter requires approximately $2,000 in annual operating costs (includes collection, maintenance, and back office meter fees). If staff proposed to add meters/pay stations to City-owned lots, the lots will also require more frequent parking enforcement by the Alexandria Police Department.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1: Ordinance Cover
Attachment 2: Ordinance for updates to the Metered Lots Division
STAFF:
Emily A. Baker, Deputy City Manager
Yon Lambert, Director, T&ES
Jeremy McPike, Director, General Services
Earl Cook, Chief, Alexandria Police Department
Carrie Sanders, Acting Deputy Director, Transportation, T&ES
Steve Sindiong, Acting Division Chief, Transportation Planning, T&ES
Katye North, Principal Planner, Transportation Planning, T&ES