TIME-LIMITED PARKING POLICY

City Council hereby adopts the following procedural policy with respect to the consideration of any time-limited parking zone within the city.

From time to time, residents or businesses in a particular block or district may request the establishment of a time-limited parking zone, or the amendment of an existing time-limited parking zone, to address traffic or parking problems. To be considered by Council, proposals should be submitted in the following manner:

Business areas. Business area proposals must be agreed to by a majority of the property owners in the proposed zone, and by a majority of the tenants or occupants.

Residential areas. Residential area proposals must be agreed to by a majority of the residents in each block of the proposed zone. For purposes of this policy, “block” may mean either (a) the entire length of a street between intersecting streets, or (b) the definition of “block” as set forth in the Zoning Code. If the proposal will only affect parking on one side of the street, only a majority of residents of that side must agree to the proposal.

Council may accept the proposal for consideration, or may reject the proposal, based on immediate knowledge of the area in question. If accepted, it will be forwarded through the City Manager to the Department of Public Safety for a study of the potential impact of proposed time limitations on parking and traffic patterns in the area. The impact study should include consideration of the following:

  1. Impact of the proposed time limitations on traffic and parking beyond the proposed zone;
  2. Impact of the proposed time limitations on nearby businesses, institutions, or organizations;
  3. Comparison of the proposed zone to similar problem areas within the city, if appropriate;
  4. Any precedent that may have been previously established for similar time limitations, and possible precedent that may be created by approving the proposal;
  5. The rationale and general reasonableness of the proposal;
  6. Alternative means of alleviating traffic and parking problems within the proposed zone;
  7. Any other relevant factors.

Proposals should be submitted to Council in writing, and should include descriptions, diagrams, and any other material that may be relevant to consideration of the proposal. In considering a proposal, Council may request the petitioners to present facts to justify the need for time limitations, with or without a formal public hearing on the question. If Council determines that a public hearing is necessary, it will be scheduled and advertised in the same manner as other public hearings before Council.

Adopted on January 9, 2023.