City Council Meeting: November 13, 2007

Agenda Item: 7-D  

To: Mayor and City Council 

From: Eileen Fogarty, Director, Planning and Community Development

Subject: Ordinance Requiring Vehicles to be Moved Within Time Limit

Recommended Action

Staff recommends that City Council introduce the attached ordinance for first reading, providing a new Section 3.12.845 to the Santa Monica Municipal Code that provides specific, enforceable standards for removal of vehicles from time-limited parking areas.

Executive Summary

In order to improve access to parking spaces, the City of Santa Monica has established

time-limited parking zones along some streets and other places. Many of these zones are within preferential parking districts. The purpose of these zones is to provide greater access to spaces for short-term parking by prohibiting long-term parking and increasing turnover of each parking space. However, some motorists attempt to comply with the time limits by moving their vehicles short distances only. The proposed regulation requires that motorists move their cars two blocks, and not repark them in that area unless a minimum of six hours has elapsed, in order to comply with time limits.

Discussion

Parking is in great demand throughout the City. Through time limits, the City can make this resource available to more people, and limit the need for motorists to contribute to air pollution, noise and congestion by circling for parking spaces. The proposed ordinance will make existing time limits more effective by allowing the Police Department Traffic Services Division to express authority to issue tickets for vehicles not removed at least two blocks from a time-limited parking space, or removed and reparked within two blocks from a time-limited parking space within the time period. The ordinance was prepared at the request of Parking Enforcement, as a means of strengthening the effectiveness of parking enforcement in areas with parking time limits.

The Police Department has technology available to enforce these regulations; it can time stamp vehicles by block number. Notice of the regulations will be posted on each block in which they are effective. The estimated cost is $20 per sign; funds for regulatory signage are budgeted in traffic operations.

Public Outreach

The Transportation Management Division has sent a notice to neighborhood groups and alerted the Chamber of Commerce that this ordinance is being recommended to the Council for adoption.

Budget/Financial Impact

Costs for fabricating and installing signs (approximately $20 per sign) can be accommodated within the Traffic Operations annual operating budget.

Prepared by:

Lucy Dyke, Transportation Planning Manager

Attachment: Ordinance

Approved:	Forwarded to Council:
Eileen Fogarty Director Planning and Community Development	P. Lamont Ewell City Manager

Approved:

Timothy J. Jackman

Chief of Police