Council deems it to be in the interest of the residents of the
City of Washington to provide for the establishment of a parking permit
program to ensure primary access to available parking spaces by neighborhood
residents as well as to provide for a cleaner ambient air level. The
powers and duties as contained in this article shall be performed
by the Parking Authority.
The Parking Authority is hereby authorized to designate, subject
to approval by Council as hereinafter provided, public highways and
other areas within the City on which the parking of vehicles may be
restricted on weekdays, excepting holidays, in whole or in part, to
residential vehicles and vehicles bearing a valid parking permit issued
pursuant to this article. This authority shall be in addition to and
may be exercised in conjunction with any other authority to regulate
the times and conditions of motor vehicle parking.
For the purpose of this article, the following terms shall have
the following meanings designated for each:
COMMUTER VEHICLE
A motor vehicle, not more than seven-passenger, parked in
a residential area by a person not a resident thereof.
PROPRIETOR
A person who owns or leases real property within a residential
area of which he is not a resident, but owns or manages a business
enterprise or professional office maintained at that address.
RESIDENT
A person who owns or leases real property within a residential
area and who maintains either a voting residence or a bona fide occupancy,
or both, at that address.
RESIDENTIAL AREA
A contiguous area containing public highways or parts thereof
primarily abutted by residential property or residential and nonbusiness
property, such as schools, parks, churches, hospitals and nursing
homes.
[Amended 9-7-1995 by Ord. No. 1503]
A. A residential area shall be deemed impacted and thereby eligible
for permit parking, if:
(1)
During any twenty-four-hour period of time during any weekday
or weekend, except holidays, the number of vehicles parked or standing,
legally or illegally, on the streets in the area is equal to 70% or
more of the legal on-street parking capacity of the area. For purposes
of this criterion, a legal parking space shall be 20 linear feet.
B. In determining whether an area identified as impacted and eligible
for permit parking shall be designated as a nonresidential permit
parking area, the Parking Authority shall take into consideration
the following factors:
(1)
The local and metropolitan needs with respect to clean air and
environment.
(2)
The possibility of a reduction in total vehicle miles driven
in the City.
(3)
The likelihood of alleviating traffic congestion, illegal parking
and related health and safety hazards.
(4)
The proximity of public transportation to the residential area.
(5)
The desire and need of 75% of the residents for nonresidential
permit parking.
(6)
The need for parking in excess of the permit parking program
in proximity to establishments located therein and used by the general
public for religious, health or education purposes.
C. Seventy-five percent of the residents in the residential district
or portion thereof not less than one-block-street segment shall request
implementation of the designation in their district or portion thereof
by presenting a petition to the Mayor and Council signed by them.
The petition shall be filed with the Parking Authority, which shall
verify the accuracy and regularity thereof and report thereon to the
Mayor and Council.
D. The Parking Authority's report to Council shall include, among other
things, a recommendation of specific hours and streets as it pertains
to the particular needs of each designated residential area.
E. At the request of 75% of the residents, a permit area may be removed from such designation as in Subsection
C.
Following Council approval of the designation of a permit parking
area, the Parking Authority shall issue appropriate permits and shall
cause parking signs to be erected in the area, indicating the times,
locations and conditions under which nonresident parking shall be
by permit only. A permit shall be issued upon application and payment
of the applicable fee.
The application for a permit shall contain the name and address
of the owner or operator of the nonresident motor vehicle and the
vehicle license number. The permit shall be renewed daily, weekly,
monthly or as needed.
Any duly authorized employee of the City under the direction
of Mayor and Council shall notify such person of the unlawful parking
charge by placing a written notice or ticket under the windshield
wiper or in some conspicuous place on such vehicle, indicating the
time of the violation, the amount of the unlawful parking charge,
and that such charge shall be paid to the City, and the place where
such charge shall be paid and the manner of payment. The unlawful
parking charge shall not be more than $25 for each offense and shall
be paid to the City no later than 10 days after the date of the violation,
and the notice or ticket placed on the vehicle at the time of violation
shall advise the owner or operator of such vehicle that, unless the
unlawful parking charge is paid within the time limits herein specified,
the fine payable upon conviction of such unlawful parking and failure
to pay such charges shall be $25 and costs.