The city council hereby finds and declares that the ordinance codified in this chapter should be enacted to allow imposition of on-street parking restrictions in certain designated areas of the city through the creation of residential permit parking blocks and downtown perimeter permit parking blocks, generally called restricted parking blocks. Such restrictions are needed in order to reduce or prevent congestion and hazardous traffic conditions in residential areas, to protect those areas from polluted air, excessive noise, and other adverse environmental impacts of automobile commuting, to protect the residents of these areas from unreasonable burdens in gaining access to their property, and to preserve the residential character of such areas and the property values therein.
(Code 1985 § 16-151)
Certain words and phrases in this chapter and its related regulations shall be defined as follows:
(1) 
"Downtown perimeter permit parking block"
means a predominantly residential block or blocks that borders the central business district, that can be considered as adversely affected by commuter vehicles pursuant to SCC § 10.25.440, and is approved as such by city council.
(2) 
"Residential permit parking block"
means a residential block or blocks that can be considered as adversely affected by commuter vehicles pursuant to SCC § 10.25.440 and is approved as such by city council.
(3) 
"Affected household"
means a dwelling unit located in a one- or two-family structure with an address on a public street within an existing or proposed restricted parking block. It also means a dwelling unit located in a multifamily structure with an address on such a public street when that multifamily structure does not have sufficient off-street parking spaces to meet the city's minimum off-street parking requirements for new construction.
(4) 
"Block"
means that portion of a city street between two intersecting streets or, in the case of a dead-end street, between the street's end and an intersecting street.
(5) 
"Commuter vehicles"
means those vehicles registered to persons who do not live in existing or proposed restricted parking blocks.
(6) 
"Residential area"
shall mean that portion of any city street running in front of and abutting property which has a residential use or uses.
(7) 
"Restricted parking block"
means any residential area (a block or group of blocks) so designated pursuant to the provisions of SCC § 10.25.460 thereby implementing restricted on-street parking within that block. (Amended during the 2003 reformat; Code 1985, § 16-152).
The following areas of the city are hereby designated as permit parking blocks, within which it shall be unlawful for any motor vehicle to be parked in excess of two hours on a public right-of-way or street unless such vehicle shall properly display a parking permit validly issued in accordance with regulations adopted pursuant to this article:
(1) 
Downtown Perimeter Permit Parking Blocks.
(a) 
The north side of East Beverley Street from its intersection with Market Street through its intersection with North Coalter and continuing to its intersection with Berkley Place. The south side of East Beverley Street beginning at its intersection with Market Street to its intersection with North Coalter Street is hereby designated as a parking zone not subject to the perimeter permit parking requirements hereunder.
(b) 
Kalorama Street from its intersection with Market Street to its intersection with South Coalter Street.
(c) 
Church Street on its west side from its intersection with West Johnson Street to its intersection with West Beverley Street.
(d) 
West Frederick Street from its intersection with North Lewis Street to its intersection with North Washington Street.
(e) 
North Lewis Street from its intersection with West Frederick Street to its intersection with the driveway of the Holiday Court.
(f) 
North New Street from its intersection with East Frederick Street to its intersection with Prospect Street.
(g) 
South Coalter Street from its intersection with East Beverley Street to its intersection with Kalorama Street.
(h) 
Berkley Place from its intersection with East Beverley Street to its intersection with North Coalter Street.
(i) 
The east side of South Market Street from its intersection with East Beverley Street to its intersection with Kalorama Street.
(2) 
Residential Permit Parking Blocks.
(a) 
Sycamore Street from its intersection with North Coalter Street to its termination point.
(b) 
North Market Street from its intersection with Academy Street to its intersection with Prospect Street.
The streets designated as boundaries in this section shall be considered to be portions of such blocks.
(Code 1985 § 16-153; Ord. 5-26-94; Ord. 3-12-98; Ord. 1-11-01; Ord. 2-14-02; Amended during the 2003 reformat; Ord. 2008-24)
There is hereby established the regulatory details pertaining to the permitting of resident vehicles and their guests in the restricted parking blocks. The various regulatory measures for the residential and downtown perimeter parking blocks can be amended by city council. The establishment of these regulatory measures shall not restrict or prohibit the city manager's authority to implement processes or procedures for implementing these requirements or the authority for the city manager to regulate traffic and parking as specified in SCC § 10.05.090 and § 10.25.040.
(Code 1985 § 16-154)
(1) 
Vehicle Permits.
(a) 
Each vehicle registered to the resident of an affected household within a restricted parking block may be assigned a permit upon application by the registered owner. Such permit shall state thereon the street or streets whereon parking is permitted.
(b) 
Each vehicle not registered to the resident of an affected household but which vehicle is for the exclusive use of such resident may be assigned a permit upon application by such resident who shall be required to show proof of such use.
(c) 
Notwithstanding the above provisions, no more than five vehicle permits shall be issued to any affected household, rooming house, or other multifamily structure within a restricted parking block unless the curb frontage allocable to such household or structure shall be more than five car lengths, in which case the larger number shall be used. For the purpose of calculating the number of permits to which such household shall be entitled, curb-parking restrictions shall be disregarded, but driveways shall not be included, and a curb length of 20 feet shall be assumed for each parking space.
(2) 
Guest Permits.
(a) 
Upon application, two guest permits shall be issued for each affected household in a restricted parking block. A rental unit without a full kitchen, such as a room and bath, shall not qualify as an affected household under this subsection. The guest permits for each affected household shall be issued to the owner of the household, but the owner may assign his permit to the tenant or occupant of such residence.
(b) 
Notwithstanding subsection (2)(a) of this section, no more than two guest permits shall be issued to any residential address, regardless of the number of dwelling units at such address, unless such address shall be eligible for a larger number of vehicle permits as determined in above.
(3) 
General.
(a) 
All permits shall be issued for a period of 12 months beginning on April 15th for the fees established as follows:
(i) 
For each vehicle permit, $5.00 per year.
(ii) 
For each guest permit, $1.00 per year.
(iii) 
Except as otherwise noted, permits are nontransferable.
(b) 
A person who sells or otherwise disposes of a vehicle during the permit year may surrender his vehicle permit and apply for a new permit for his newly acquired vehicle. The fee is $0.50.
(Code 1985 § 16-154.1; Ord. 2004-08)
(1) 
The city council shall designate residential permit parking blocks and downtown perimeter permit parking blocks where permit parking may be implemented as a method to control parking. There may be as many different permit blocks as council deems necessary.
(2) 
The department of public works and/or police department may recommend the specific residential blocks or portions thereof which will be designated as restricted parking blocks for approval by the city manager and consideration by city council.
(3) 
Permit parking restrictions, where and when established, shall be applicable only to residential frontage, but not to frontage allocable to commercial, public, or special uses, and parking adjacent to such uses shall be unrestricted unless otherwise restricted by the traffic regulations or by authority of the city manager. Said restrictions will be requested by the owner or operator of the commercial, public, or special use property.
(4) 
A valid downtown perimeter parking permit shall be displayed on each vehicle parked within the downtown perimeter parking blocks above, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. A valid residential parking permit shall be displayed on each vehicle parked within the residential permit parking blocks 24 hours a day, seven days a week, except holidays; except that the operator of a commercial vehicle may so park in both blocks while actually engaged in business at a residential address within or reasonably near to a designated restricted parking block. For the purposes of these regulations a "commercial vehicle" shall be any vehicle used in a business and clearly identified with the name of the business affixed to the vehicle. The burden of proof shall be on the operator of such commercial vehicle to show that he was actually engaged in business at a residential address within or reasonably near to a designated restricted parking block. A violation of this section shall incur a fine in an amount as specified in a schedule as promulgated from time to time by the city manager.
(Code 1985 § 16-154.2; Ord. 1-11-96; Amended during the 2003 reformat; Ord. 2004-09; Ord. 2016-11)
(1) 
Permits shall be issued by the office of the city treasurer. The treasurer shall maintain, open for public inspection, records showing for each permit, the permit number, the state and city license number of the vehicle for which the permit was issued, the name and address of the person to whom the vehicle is registered, and the name and address of the person for whose use the vehicle has been authorized if different from a person to whom registered. Each permit, including guest permits, shall bear a separate serial number.
(2) 
The city manager shall furnish the city treasurer with a list of residential blocks which have been designated for permit parking, a list of those affected households, and the addresses eligible for additional permits as provided in SCC § 10.25.480(1)(c); and a list of those addresses not eligible for permits as provided in SCC § 10.25.480(2)(a).
(3) 
Permits, except guest permits, shall be in the form of a decal to be displayed by attachment to the back of the interior rearview mirror so it is readily visible from the front of the vehicle.
(4) 
Guest permits shall be prominently displayed by attachment to the interior rearview mirror. Such permits shall be displayed only while the operator of the vehicle is a guest at the affected household to which the permit has been issued, or is employed and actually at work at such household; provided, however, that this subsection shall not prohibit the temporary loan of guest permits from one affected household to another for the purpose of accommodating a large gathering of guests at a particular residence.
(5) 
Guest permits, once lost, shall not be re-issued within the same year. Vehicle permits may be reissued upon satisfactory written explanation and payment of additional fee.
(6) 
Any person who knowingly allows a permit issued to a vehicle registered to him/her or authorized for use by another to be used in violation of these regulations shall have such permit revoked and shall be ineligible for a permit for any vehicle for a period of one year.
(Code 1985 § 16-154.3)
The city council may from time to time delineate additional residential areas of the city as permit parking blocks. Council may create such new permit parking blocks by amending SCC § 10.25.460. All permit parking blocks shall be delineated on the Official Residential Permit Parking Map.
(Code 1985 § 16-155)
(1) 
The Petition. Upon receipt of a petition by the city manager which is signed by at least one member of at least 50 percent of the affected households of any block proposed as a permit parking block, the director of public works will schedule and convene a hearing to consider the requested establishment of a restricted parking block. The purpose of such a hearing shall be to receive facts and testimony regarding the need for the parking restrictions requested. The director of public works shall then schedule an on-street parking survey to be conducted for the proposed restricted parking block.
The petition referenced above shall be advisory in nature only and alleged defects in it, if any exist or are alleged, shall not be grounds for invalidating any restricted parking block that later may be implemented.
(2) 
The Parking Survey. The on-street parking survey shall be conducted on at least three separate days at some time during the hours for which the restricted parking is being sought. The survey shall seek to determine whether at the time of the survey (a) at least 75 percent of the total number of on-street parking spaces in the proposed restricted parking block are occupied, and (b) whether at least 50 percent of the total number of on-street parking spaces in that block are occupied by commuter vehicles. The survey shall be conducted by city staff under the supervision of the director of public works. The petitioner(s) shall also be present during the survey to interpret the parking patterns observed. This interpretation should attempt to differentiate between resident and commuter vehicles.
If the survey shows that the on-street parking spaces are so occupied (meeting both the 75 percent and 50 percent minimum occupancy test), the director of public works shall certify this fact to the city manager along with any recommendation the director may have as to whether the city manager should recommend the implementation of restricted parking in the proposed restricted parking block. The director's recommendation will include a proposed method to accommodate any business or commercial enterprise located in the proposed restricted parking block. The city manager is at liberty to make a recommendation to city council or seek additional information from staff prior to rendering a decision.
(3) 
Notice of Affected Households. Once a date has been set for city council's consideration of the proposed restricted parking block, a letter from the city manager shall be sent to the affected households and businesses within the proposed restricted parking block. It shall provide residents of those households and business owners information concerning the nature of the proposal and notify them of the date on which city council will consider approving the new restricted parking block. This notification letter must be mailed at least 10 days prior to the subject council meeting and shall invite comments and attendance by concerned individuals of the proposed restricted parking block.
(4) 
Council Action. The city council, by amendment to SCC § 10.25.460, may then establish permit parking for the block or blocks in question. In establishing such a restricted parking block the council shall consider, among other things, the following:
(a) 
The purpose and intent of the permit parking ordinance;
(b) 
The adverse impact that restricting parking in such block might have on nearby neighborhoods that do not have permit parking; and
(c) 
The adverse impact that such restrictions may have on the nonresidents of the restricted parking block and their ability to find available parking near their place of work.
(5) 
Notice After a New Restricted Parking Block Is Created. In the event that a permit parking plan is approved for a residential block, the city manager shall notify by regular mail the affected households of that fact, giving residents of those households notice of the effective date and times of the restricted parking and how to obtain permits, and also notify the representatives of all nonresidential properties within such block. Such nonresidential properties may be provided with parking meters, loading zones, or other restriction desired by the affected users and consistent with current city policies.
(6) 
A Moratorium for One Year. In the event that a permit parking plan is not approved for a residential block, the city manager shall not be required to resurvey this block until one year has elapsed, unless in the opinion of the city manager conditions have changed substantially.
(7) 
Removing Permit Parking Restrictions. The signatures representing at least 75 percent of the affected households within a restricted parking block may be presented to the city manager requesting removal of parking restrictions on an existing restricted parking block. If such restriction is eventually removed by council, no request to re-install the restriction shall be acted upon until one year has elapsed.
(8) 
Signs to Be Posted. The city manager shall have signs posted sufficient to give notice of the existence, effect, and limits of the restricted parking block.
(Code 1985 § 16-155.1; Ord. 11-14-91; Ord. 1-11-96)