City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: SEPTEMBER 4, 2019
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MARK B. JINKS, CITY MANAGER /s/
DOCKET TITLE:
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Introduction and First Reading. Consideration. Passage of an Ordinance to Amend Section 5-8-93: Parking Meters; Hours and Days of Operation, Maximum Time Limits, Rates.
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ISSUE: Consideration of an ordinance to amend Section 5-8-93 to allow for metered parking sessions of longer than four hours.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council pass the proposed ordinance on first reading and schedule it for second reading, public hearing and final passage on Saturday, September 14, 2019.
BACKGROUND: Parking meter time limits were previously specified in the City Code. In June 2016, the City Council approved the current language of section 5-8-93 to allow for metered parking sessions that do “not exceed” four hours, which accommodated the change to allow 3-hour time limits on the parking meters west of Alfred Street.
In December 2018, the City Council approved an amendment to the City Code that included a new process for establishing or changing parking meter time limits and rates. The updated Code allows for the City Council to approve meter hours and rates by resolution rather than being established in the Code. This allows flexibility in adopting different meter rate structures in different locations, rather than the standard $1.75 per hour rate, but it did not change the maximum time limit of four hours.
During the FY 2020 budget process, the potential to adjust meter time limits to better meet demand and improve utilization was discussed. Allowing all day parking in areas that are typically underutilized was one potential adjustment. In order to implement these changes, the City Code must to be amended to remove the four-hour limit.
DISCUSSION: Section 5-8-93 (b) currently requires that maximum time limits for metered parking not exceed four hours. This limitation precludes using metered on-street parking in places suitable for all-day paid parking.
The updated language will remove the four-hour limit (see Attachment 1). Time limits for metered parking would still require a Council resolution. This is consistent with the preceding Section 5-8-92 (a) (2), which states that the “maximum time limit of the meters shall be determined by resolution of the City Council.”
This amendment would apply to on-street metered parking and create a consistent process for setting parking rates and time limits both on- and off-street. Off-street parking lots (Section 5-8-112) currently allow for parking sessions longer than 4 hours, with rates and time limits set by Council resolution. The parking lot at Union Station currently allows for all-day parking.
The Traffic and Parking Board reviewed this change to the City Code at their July 22, 2019 meeting and voted to recommend approval to the City Council. There were no public speakers for this item.
Allowing for longer parking sessions may encourage better use. Several metered parking locations are suitable for time limits longer than four hours. One such location is the 1400 to 1600 blocks of Jamieson Avenue, where meters have not been well utilized with the current 2-hour maximum time limit.
In April 2019, the Traffic and Parking Board recommended a $1.00 hourly rate as well as a maximum all-day rate of $5.00 for the 1400 to 1600 blocks of Jamieson; however, the City Code must be amended to enable parking sessions of more than four hours. If approved, a resolution will be brought before the City Council to approve this new rate and hour structure for these blocks.
FISCAL IMPACT: The cost to implement this ordinance is minor. This Code change will not change any metered parking spaces; each metered block will still need City Council approval via resolution to set meter rates and time limits. Allowing for all-day parking at underutilized meters could generate additional revenue for the City, but each location would need case by case evaluation.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1: Ordinance Cover
Attachment 2: Ordinance
STAFF:
Emily A. Baker, Deputy City Manager
Yon Lambert, AICP, Director, T&ES
Hillary Orr, Deputy Director, T&ES
Dori E. Martin, Assistant City Attorney
Katye North, Division Chief, Mobility Services, T&ES
Alex Block, Principal Planner, Mobility Services, T&ES
Megan Oleynik, Urban Planner III, Mobility Services, T&ES