[HISTORY: Adopted by the Village Council of the Village of
Ridgewood 8-13-2014 by Ord. No. 3430. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Vehicles and traffic — See Ch. 265.
The purpose of this chapter is to permit and regulate valet
parking services operating within the existing public streets and
public rights-of-way in the Village of Ridgewood's Central Business
District in order to reduce the demand for public parking spaces.
The chapter establishes a valet parking operator permit program in
the Village.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
The Village of Ridgewood's designated individual authorized
to issue permits for valet parking operators as well as adjudicate
issues related to this chapter and its functions. The authorizing
agent shall be the Village Manager or any person so designated by
the Manager.
For the purpose of this chapter, any area dedicated for public
use as a street, pedestrian way or other thoroughfare, including but
not limited to roadways, parkways, streets, alleys, ingress and egress
rights-of-way for abutting lots, sidewalks, and pedestrian ways.
The designated zones within the public right-of-way, in accordance with § 265-72, Schedule XXII, of the Village Code, to be utilized by the valet parking operator for collection and return of vehicles to users of the valet parking service.
Any employee or agent of the valet parking operator who receives,
takes possession of or moves any vehicle or handles the keys to any
vehicle left with the attendant for valet parking.
The firm, business or person engaged in providing valet parking
service for patrons of any business establishment, including its own,
in the Village of Ridgewood.
The annual permit issued by the Village of Ridgewood to a
firm or business desiring to perform the functions of a valet parking
operator or desiring to hire a valet parking service in accordance
with the terms of this chapter and Village requirements.
The service of receiving, taking possession of, driving,
moving, parking or storing of any vehicle that is left at one location
to be driven to another location for parking, over the public right-of-way,
whether or not a charge or fee is imposed for the said service.
No firm, business, person, or entity shall engage in, conduct,
or operate a business providing valet parking services that entails
the movement of vehicles on or over any public right-of-way or public
property without first obtaining a valet parking operator annual permit
from the Village's authorizing agent, in accordance with the
requirements below.
A.
Permit application and review.
(1)
Applications for valet parking operator annual permits shall be filed
in the Village Clerk's office.
(2)
Permit applications shall be reviewed by the Engineering Department,
which may refer the application to any Village agency or department
that the Village Engineer deems appropriate.
(3)
Permit applications shall be reviewed within 30 days of their filing
with the Village Clerk, unless it is determined that the application
has not provided all required information or that the information
provided is inaccurate or ambiguous, in which case the applicant shall
be requested to provide or revise the deficient information.
(4)
Upon approval by the Village, a valet parking operator shall be issued
an annual operating permit. The annual permit shall run from January
1 to December 31 of each year. Prior to issuance of the permit, the
operator shall submit the following to the Village Clerk:
(5)
Applications for permit renewal shall be reviewed as provided above
for the initial permit. In order to ensure sufficient time for permit
review and issuance before January 1 of the following year, applications
for permit renewal must be submitted in the 11th month of its annual
cycle.
B.
Application submission requirements. All parties seeking a valet
parking operator annual shall submit the following information:
(1)
A completed permit application, which shall include:
(a)
The name and location of the business the valet permit operator
is proposing to serve.
(b)
The legally permitted seating capacity of the business/venue
to be served by the valet permit operator.
(c)
The hours and days of operation of the valet parking service.
(d)
The street address and lot and block location, as identified
on the Village's Tax Map, of the off-site parking lot where all
valet-parked vehicles are to be parked or stored for the businesses
served.
(e)
A signed and executed statement from the business/venue certifying
that it is requesting the services of the valet parking operator.
(2)
A map of the routes to the off-site parking lot and back to the designated
valet/loading and unloading zones being served.
(3)
A copy of the agreement between the proposed lot's owner and
the valet parking operator permitting vehicles to be parked on the
lot by the valet parking operator.
(4)
The required application fee of $250 for the annual permit.
C.
Modification of terms of permit application. In the event there is, or is proposed, any change, modification, transfer, amendment, or termination of any agreement for services provided to any business/venue in the Village or with the lot where vehicles are to be parked, or any change in any other information submitted with the permit application, the valet parking operator shall inform the Village of Ridgewood Manager's office within 14 consecutive calendar days of such change. Any change which violates the provisions of this chapter shall subject the responsible party to permit revocation or suspension or fines as provided in § 263-5.
[Amended 2-11-2015 by Ord. No. 3458]
D.
Insurance requirements. Prior to the issuance of a valet parking
operator annual permit, a certificate of insurance must be submitted
to the Village Clerk evidencing comprehensive general liability, automobile
liability, workers' compensation and employer's liability
insurance in accordance with this subsection.
(2)
The certificates shall evidence comprehensive general liability (occurrence
form) coverage with a combined single limit for bodily injury, personal
injury and property damage of $2,000,000 per occurrence and aggregate,
where applicable. The limit may be provided through a combination
of primary and umbrella/excess liability policies. This insurance
shall include:
(a)
Premises/operations coverage.
(b)
Coverage for the operation of a valet parking service if the
applicant wishes to conduct such service on its own.
(c)
Personal injury liability coverage (contractual exclusion deleted).
(d)
Products/completed operations coverage.
(e)
Independent contractor coverage for the operation of a separate
valet parking service independent of the applicant if hired separately.
(f)
Contractual coverage for obligations of hold harmless and indemnification
provision.
(g)
Broad form property damage coverage.
(h)
XCU hazards, if applicable.
(3)
If the aggregate limits shown have been reduced by claims paid, the
certificate of insurance is to be accompanied by a letter stating
that those reductions do not substantially affect the coverage.
(4)
The certificate of insurance must state that all insurance coverage
shown thereon is primary and not contributing to any insurance maintained
by the Village of Ridgewood.
(5)
The certificate of insurance shall state that the Village of Ridgewood
has been added as an additional insured to the policies shown on the
certificate.
(6)
The certificate shall provide that the Village of Ridgewood, 131
North Maple Avenue, Ridgewood, New Jersey 07450, Attention: Village
Manager, receives 30 days' advance written notice by certified
mail, return receipt requested, of the cancellation of the policy
for any reason or any material change in the policy's coverage
set forth in the certificate.
All valet parking operations regulated by this chapter shall
be conducted in accordance with the following requirements:
A.
The valet parking operator is permitted one temporary sign identifying
the debarkation/pickup point for the valet parking services at the
business at which the services are being provided. Such sign shall
be no larger than 12 inches by 18 inches, located on a stanchion and
not placed higher than 42 inches above the grade level beneath the
sign. The sign shall be removed at the end of every evening's
operation and reinstalled the following evening.
B.
A properly permitted valet parking operator may utilize the streets
and public parking lots of the Village of Ridgewood as thoroughfares
only for the performance of its services.
C.
At no time shall the valet parking attendants of a valet parking
operator be permitted to violate any State of New Jersey or Village
of Ridgewood traffic regulations in the performance of their duties.
D.
The collection of vehicles and subsequent return of vehicles to patrons
shall only be conducted at designated loading and unloading zones
within the public right-of-way.
E.
At no time shall a valet parking operator be permitted to block or
occupy any Village of Ridgewood reserved metered parking spaces.
F.
In the event of a snow, ice, or other weather emergency, the valet
parking operator shall conduct its operations in a manner so as to
not interfere with the Village's efforts. The Village shall have
no responsibility for clearing of routes used by the valet parking
operator, other than the normal effort expended for an event.
G.
The valet parking operator shall not cause any pedestrian path or
walkway to be obstructed by its operations at either the vehicle collection
location or the vehicle parking location.
H.
The valet parking operator shall employ a sufficient number of valet
parking attendants in order that traffic on Village streets and in
Village parking lots shall not be impeded by the activities of the
valet parking operator. Each operator shall meet the requirements
of this chapter and any rules and regulations for valet parking operators
promulgated by the Village Manager and adopted by the Village Council
by resolution. Records of this action shall be made available for
inspection upon request of the Village of Ridgewood.
I.
The valet parking operator shall lock all vehicles parked at the
off-site parking area. Security of the vehicles shall be the operator's
responsibility. Vehicle keys shall not be left with the parked vehicle.
J.
The valet parking operator shall ensure its operation does not cause
any queuing in the loading or unloading area of patrons within the
public right-of-way. No vehicle is permitted to stop or stand at a
dropoff or loading area for longer than 10 minutes, as long as the
vehicle does not impede traffic flow.
K.
Use of designated valet loading and unloading zones.
[Added 12-9-2015 by Ord.
No. 3512]
(2)
Use of valet loading and unloading zones outside of prescribed times
shall be permitted only under the following conditions:
(a)
Any request to use a valet loading and unloading zone outside
prescribed times by a valet parking operator shall be made to the
office of the Village Manager at least 72 hours in advance of the
desired time period.
(b)
The Village Manager or designee shall approve or deny the request
for relief within 48 hours of its receipt.
(c)
If the Village Manager or designee fails to act within the forty-eight-hour
period, the request shall be automatically deemed denied.
(d)
If a request for relief is approved, all parking meters in designated
valet loading and unloading zones shall be bagged by the valet parking
operator and the appropriate fee remitted in accordance with the fee
schedule[1] for a bagged parking meter [§ 145-6, fees, § 249-45A(12)].
L.
Valet parking operator conduct. All valet parking operators shall
ensure their employees conduct themselves in a courteous and professional
manner with all patrons in the Village.
[Added 12-9-2015 by Ord.
No. 3512]
M.
Each valet parking operator shall cover all of the signage installed by the Village to identify the parking spaces on the public street permitted to be utilized by the said valet parking operator whenever their service is not in operation. Failure to do so shall be considered a violation of this chapter, subject to the terms of § 263-5.
[Added 1-11-2017 by Ord.
No. 3568]
N.
As a condition of their operating permit, all valet parking operators and valet parking attendants operating in the Village of Ridgewood shall be subject to, upon request of a Village police officer, a full New Jersey Division of Motor Vehicles driver's license lookup. Failure to comply can subject the valet parking operator, valet parking attendant, or business employing a valet parking service to the penalties in § 263-5.
[Added 8-8-2018 by Ord.
No. 3653]
O.
As a condition of their operating permit, a valet parking operator shall maintain a log of all attendants employed, along with a copy of their driver's license. Said log shall be available for review by the Village Police Department upon their request. Failure to comply can subject the valet parking operator to the penalties in § 263-5.
[Added 8-8-2018 by Ord.
No. 3653]
P.
As a condition of their operating permit, all valet parking operators and valet parking attendants, upon the completion of the use of the designated valet loading zones, shall securely cover the valet loading zone signage with opaque materials until such time the load zone is used again. Signage shall not be uncovered before 3:00 p.m. on a date the valet loading zone is desired to be used. Failure to comply can subject the valet parking operator, valet parking attendant, or business employing a valet parking service to the penalties in § 263-5. In the event a valet operator desires to offer their services prior to 3:00 p.m., for a specific date, they shall seek written permission from the Village Manager to do so.
[Added 8-8-2018 by Ord.
No. 3653]
Q.
As a condition of their operating permit, no valet parking operator
or valet parking attendants, operating within the public right-of-way
and hired by a private business, shall be permitted to charge or request
compensation from those using their valet parking services.
[Added 8-8-2018 by Ord.
No. 3653]
[Amended 2-11-2015 by Ord. No. 3458]
A.
Any valet parking operator, valet parking attendant, or business
employing valet parking services, found to be in violation of the
terms and conditions of this chapter shall be subject to suspension
or revocation of their permit(s). Grounds for suspension or revocation
of the permit(s) shall include, but not be limited to, the following
acts.
B.
The valet parking operator, valet parking attendant, or business
employing valet parking services, through carelessness, negligence,
or failure to make proper provision for the safeguarding of vehicles
left in their custody, have knowingly or unknowingly facilitated or
contributed toward the theft or damage to such a vehicle, or the contents
thereof.
C.
The valet parking operator, valet parking attendant, or business
employing valet parking services, fails to cooperate with the Village
Police Department in any investigation of any theft or other crime
committed related to the valet parking operations.
D.
The valet parking operator, valet parking attendant, or business
employing valet parking services knowingly delivers a vehicle in their
custody to a person that is not the registered owner nor entitled
to its possession.
E.
The valet parking operator, valet parking attendant, or business
employing a valet parking services operation creates a negative impact
to the traffic in the Central Business District or disrupts the peace
and quiet within any area of the Village.
F.
Any valet parking operator, valet parking attendant, or business
employing valet parking services that fails to adhere to the operating
provisions of their permit, including not parking vehicles at the
designated off-site parking area, storing vehicles within the public
right-of-way, obstructing designated fire lanes and traffic through
lanes in Village-owned parking facilities, obstructing public parking
spaces, shall be liable to the following penalties:
|
Number of Violations per Calendar Year
|
Penalty for Each Violation
|
|---|---|
|
1 to 5
|
$100
|
|
6 to 10
|
$150
|
|
11 to 15
|
$200
|
|
Violations shall be cumulative for any and all valet parking
operators and valet parking attendants working anywhere in the Village
of Ridgewood.
|
G.
The Village Manager or designee shall designate such officers and
personnel of the Village of Ridgewood Police Department and various
Village-authorized Code enforcement staff as deemed necessary for
the enforcement of applicable provisions of this chapter.
[Amended 12-9-2015 by Ord. No. 3512]
H.
Any valet parking operator, valet parking attendant, or business
employing a valet parking services operation found to be operating
within the Village of Ridgewood without proper authorization from
the Village of Ridgewood shall be liable for a fine of not less than
$500 per violation, per day.
[Added 12-9-2015 by Ord.
No. 3512]
