[Added 6-1-2015]
The rules and regulations set forth herein shall be part of the Town of Easton's Traffic Rules and Regulations. Valet Parking Permits shall be issued to the establishment serviced by the valet parking operation. Such establishments may contract with outside firms to conduct their valet parking operations. A Valet Parking Permit allows the holder exclusive use of curb space during approved time periods and is authorized under the Board of Selectmen's authority to regulate on-street parking. It is a privilege not a right. Valet parking helps to promote the more efficient use of limited on-street parking spaces. No curb space shall be used for valet parking without a permit issued hereunder. A permit may be modified, suspended or revoked if the valet parking operation is not conducted in accordance with applicable law and these rules and regulations or if the Valet Parking Zone is not being used for a valet parking operation for all or a portion of the approved time periods.
The following terms shall have the following meanings in this Article X:
VALET PARKING OPERATOR
The company/entity that is engaged by the Valet Permit Holder to operate the valet parking service.
VALET PARKING PERMIT
The permit issued by the Board of Selectmen to the Valet Permit Holder allowing it to conduct a valet parking operation in an approved Valet Parking Zone.
VALET PERMIT HOLDER
The establishment holding a Valet Parking Permit and offering valet parking services to its patrons or visitors.
Valet parking shall be the parking of a vehicle in an approved Valet Parking Zone for the time periods listed in § 502-74 below. Vehicles that are valet parked shall be transported to and parked at a designated off-street parking facility/area and shall not be parked in any other on-street parking spaces. Any vehicle parked in violation of these rules and regulations shall be subject to the issuance of a parking citation and the Valet Permit Holder and/or the Valet Parking Operator shall be subject to the enforcement measures identified herein. The Board of Selectmen reserves the right to designate Valet Parking Zones or require that more than one establishment be served from a single Valet Parking Zone based upon local conditions such as traffic congestion, the demand for Valet Parking Zones or the overall impact of valet operations in a particular area.
The Board of Selectmen shall determine the size (measured in linear feet) and location of a Valet Parking Zone taking into account factors including but not limited to the seating capacity of the Valet Permit Holder, the nature of its business, the hours of the valet service operation, and the proximity of the Valet Permit Holder's business to the off-street parking facility/area. In considering the seating capacity of the Valet Permit Holder, as reflected in its fire assembly permit or entertainment license or as visually inspected by the Board of Selectmen, the Board of Selectmen may use the following general guidelines to determine an appropriate size for the Valet Parking Zone:
A. 
One-hundred fewer seats: two parking spaces.
B. 
One-hundred one to 150 seats: three parking spaces.
C. 
One-hundred fifty-one to 200 seats: four parking spaces.
Vehicles may remain in the Valet Parking Zone of an establishment holding a Valet Parking Permit during the hours of valet parking operation listed on the permit for not more than 15 minutes continuously, while engaged in the receiving or discharging of passengers.
A. 
Valet Parking Permits shall be issued to establishments for the period July 1 through June 30. All permits shall expire on June 30 of each year and must be renewed annually. The Board of Selectmen shall convene a public hearing on any initial application and solicit comments on such application.
B. 
The Board of Selectmen may coordinate its review and enforcement of valet parking operations with the Planning Board, Police Department, Fire Department, and the Department of Public Works.
An application for a Valet Parking Permit shall be submitted on a form issued by the Board of Selectmen. Applications must be submitted by the establishment that will be serviced by the valet parking operation. Permits must be renewed annually and updated information must be submitted with a renewal application. The application form shall request the following information:
A. 
The name, address, and telephone and fax numbers of the establishment requesting a Valet Parking Zone.
B. 
The name and telephone and fax numbers, including the daytime and nighttime numbers of the owner or general manager of the establishment.
C. 
The name and address and telephone and cell phone numbers of the Valet Parking Operator that will be operating the valet service, and the daytime and nighttime telephone number and cell phone numbers of the owner or general manager of the Valet Parking Operator. The cell phone number of the owner or general manager of the Valet Parking Operator shall be accessible 24 hours a day. If a Valet Parking Operator will not be used, the same information shall be provided for the Valet Permit Holder.
D. 
The location and number of linear feet requested for the Valet Parking Zone.
E. 
The days and actual hours of operation requested, the estimated number of vehicles that will be valet parked and the estimated number of valet attendants that will be present during each of the days and times requested.
F. 
A letter from the owner and/or operator of an off-street parking facility/area stating an agreement exists between the off-street location and the Valet Parking Operator or Valet Permit Holder for valet parking of vehicles. The letter must state the following information: the location of the facility/area; the total number of parking spaces in the facility/area; and the total number of parking spaces that will be available for valet parked vehicles from the Valet Permit Holder.
G. 
A plan or map and a description depicting the proposed route that valet parking attendants will use to and from the off-street parking facility/area shall be submitted.
H. 
Evidence related to the use of an off-street parking facility/area during the term of a current permit shall be submitted for all renewal applications.
Review, comments and hearings shall be as provided in § 502-75. All applications for an initial permit or renewal of an existing permit are subject to an evaluation by the Traffic Safety Committee to ensure that there is safe and adequate vehicular access to and from the Valet Parking Zone and that the vehicular traffic expected to be generated by the valet parking operation will not cause undue traffic congestion, block or impede the flow of traffic or pose a public safety hazard by delaying or preventing access in or throughout the area of the Valet Parking Zone. The evaluation shall consider the following:
A. 
The existing parking regulations on the block and in the general vicinity of the Valet Parking Zone.
B. 
The anticipated number of vehicles that are proposed to be accommodated at the Valet Parking Zone during each of the operating periods listed in § 502-76 and the corresponding number of valet parking attendants that are proposed to be used during each such period.
C. 
The width and configuration of the streets at and in the general vicinity of the Valet Parking Zone.
D. 
The accessibility issues such as turning movements required for vehicles that will enter and leave the Valet Parking Zone.
E. 
The existing vehicular volumes on the streets and the on-street parking demand at and in the general vicinity of the requested zone during the time periods listed for the operation.
F. 
Pedestrian volumes at and in the general vicinity of the Valet Parking Zone.
G. 
An assessment of the proposed route to and from the off-street parking facility/area under the following criteria: how direct is the route and whether the distance between the establishment and the parking facility/area is within a reasonable walking distance for valet parking attendants.
H. 
The record and history of valet parking operations for the Valet Parking Operator that will be providing the service. If a Valet Parking Operator will not be used, the same information as to the Valet Permit Holder.
A. 
The Board of Selectmen shall determine whether and to what extent an application should be approved based upon the Rules and Regulations and its statutory authority. The Board of Selectmen may accept and consider comments from elected officials, residents and other town departments. Under the provisions of these rules and regulations, an application may be approved in whole or in part, it may be denied, or it may be approved subject to specific additional conditions related to location and use characteristics such as the number of linear feet, the exact location of the Valet Parking Zone, the estimated number of vehicles that will be valet parked during each operating period listed in § 502-76, the required number of valet attendants during each such operating period and use of a single Valet Parking Zone by more than one establishment. An approval notification shall be the Valet Parking Permit and it shall include the information on the permit application, the information set forth below and such additional information as the Board of Selectmen may determine. If an application is denied in whole or in part, or if it is approved subject to specific additional conditions, the grounds for such action shall be in writing and become part of the permit.
B. 
The permit shall include the following:
(1) 
The term of the permit, the exact location and the number of linear feet of the Valet Parking Zone, the approved days and hours of operation, the minimum number of valet attendants required during each of the approved operating periods, the name and address of the designated off-street parking facility/area and the permit fee. Valet parking shall be allowed only during the approved days and hours of operation; and if the Valet Parking Zone is not being used for a valet parking operation for all or part of the approved time periods, the permit may be modified or revoked. The Valet Permit Holder or Valet Parking Operator may request permission to place signage in the Valet Parking Zone during the hours listed on the permit, but only Board of Selectmen -approved signage shall be placed on the street.
(2) 
The requirement that all vehicles shall be parked at the off-street parking facility/area listed on the permit and not parked in the Valet Parking Zone for longer than the allowed time limit or in any other on-street parking space.
(3) 
That the operation of any valet parking operation is the responsibility of the Valet Permit Holder, and a statement that the Valet Permit Holder agrees to comply with the terms and conditions on the permit, these rules and regulations and other regulations of the Board of Selectmen.
C. 
The permit shall be issued upon approval and payment of the applicable fees. Once approved, the Department of Public Works shall install any signs or markings required within the Public Way provided that those signs and markings are paid for by the applicant. Unless a permit is renewed, the valet parking signage will be removed upon expiration of the current permit.
The applicant shall pay the permit application fee as determined by the Board of Selectmen. In addition, the applicant shall be responsible for the costs of any signs, markings, or other such devices required as part of the Valet Parking Permit.
A. 
The Board of Selectmen shall maintain a complete file for each Valet Parking Permit issued. The files shall include all information relevant to the Valet Parking Permit including application(s), approval letters, complaints, correspondence, reports, Valet Parking Operator information, and other related documents and information.
B. 
Conducting or operating a valet parking operation without applying for and receiving a Valet Parking Permit issued hereunder shall subject the establishment serviced by the valet parking operation and the valet operator to a fine not exceeding $300. Each day on which a violation exists shall constitute a separate offense.
C. 
Valet Parking Permits may be suspended or revoked as set forth below; provided, however, that where a violation is a threat to public safety or welfare, a permit may be suspended or revoked prior to initiating the procedures below.
D. 
The Board of Selectmen and the Easton Police Department are authorized to enforce these regulations.
E. 
The Board of Selectmen may issue a written warning to a Valet Permit Holder on the basis of any complaint, compliance inspection, written violation, parking citation, or incident report. A written warning shall identify the nature of the problem and may state corrective action. Copies of written warnings shall also be provided to the Valet Parking Operator associated with the particular Valet Permit Holder receiving the warning.
F. 
The Board of Selectmen may schedule a hearing if it receives complaints, incident reports, or if a compliance inspection reveals a problem. The purpose of the hearing will be to receive additional information and to determine if enforcement measures are warranted. The Valet Permit Holder and Valet Parking Operator shall be provided prior written notice of the hearing and both shall be required to attend. The Valet Permit Holder and/or the Valet Parking Operator may present information at the hearing. Following a hearing, the Board of Selectmen shall issue its determination as to what, if any, additional enforcement measures to take. Such measures may include an additional written warning or a modification, suspension or revocation of the permit. The Board of Selectmen may also schedule a hearing for any of the following purposes: to hear applications for new Valet Parking Permits; to hear requests from an existing Valet Permit Holder to increase or decrease the days or hours of its valet parking operation; requests from existing Valet Permit Holders to decrease or increase the size of the Valet Parking Zone; or to address complaints or violations occurring after written warnings are sent out and that the Board of Selectmen determines warrant immediate attention.
If any section or part hereof is held invalid, the remainder shall not be affected by such holding.
A. 
No Valet Parking Operator who is engaged in providing valet services, including but not limited to receiving or discharging passengers or loading or unloading baggage from a vehicle, making arrangements to remove the vehicle to a designated off-street parking facility, parking a vehicle, or otherwise in control of a vehicle subject to valet parking requirements, may engage in such activities unless the Valet Parking Operator is wearing a jacket or shirt clearly marked "VALET" across the back in reflective lettering that shall be highly contrasting with the background/field/screen (i.e. dark-colored reflective lettering on light-colored background or light-colored reflective lettering on dark-colored background); each individual letter of the word "VALET" shall be no smaller than three inches in height. The front of the jacket or shirt worn by the Valet Parking Operator shall include the name of the person, business, establishment, or corporation granted a Valet Parking Permit.
B. 
Compliance with these sections shall require the jacket or shirt required in this section to be the outermost garment worn by the Valet Parking Operator.