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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 08/15/2017 - SECOND READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 094, 2017, AMENDINAgenda Item 4 Item # 4 Page 1 AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY August 15, 2017 City Council STAFF Seth Lorson, Transit Planner Jody Hurst, Legal SUBJECT Second Reading of Ordinance No. 094, 2017, Amending Part 18 of the Fort Collins Traffic Code Regarding the Towing and Impounding of Vehicles on Public Rights-of-Way. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This Ordinance, unanimously adopted on First Reading on July 18, 2017, amends the Traffic Code to allow for the immediate removal and impoundment of vehicles on public streets and alleys as a means of enforcing violations to the Residential Parking Permit Program (RP3) for Colorado State University (CSU) major stadium events. The Code change would also allow the City to create new tow-away zones, if needed in the future. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends adoption of the Ordinance on Second Reading. ATTACHMENTS 1. First Reading Agenda Item Summary, July 18, 2017 (w/o attachments) (PDF) 2. Ordinance No. 094, 2017 (PDF) Agenda Item 7 Item # 7 Page 1 AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY July 18, 2017 City Council STAFF Seth Lorson, Transit Planner SUBJECT First Reading of Ordinance No. 094, 2017, Amending Part 18 of the Fort Collins Traffic Code Regarding the Towing and Impounding of Vehicles on Public Rights-of-Way. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The purpose of this item is to amend the Traffic Code to allow for the immediate removal and impoundment of vehicles on public streets and alleys as a means of enforcing violations to the Residential Parking Permit Program (RP3) for Colorado State University (CSU) major stadium events. The Code change would also allow the City to create new tow-away zones, if needed in the future. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends adoption of the Ordinance on First Reading. BACKGROUND / DISCUSSION Consistent with the intergovernmental agreement (IGA) between the City and CSU, staff has worked with neighborhoods adjacent to the university campus to develop on-street parking restrictions during major events at the new CSU stadium. Non-residents will not be permitted to park in participating neighborhoods during football games or any events with an expected attendance of 12,000 or greater. City Parking Services staff will be enforcing these restrictions four hours prior to the start of an event until the end of the event. Standards in place during stadium events follow:  No non-permitted vehicles may park on public streets in participating neighborhoods beginning four hours prior to an event until the end of the event.  No two-hour parking is permitted may occur on-street without a permit.  No commuter permits are offered.  Residents may use their RP3 permits from the existing weekday program. If a neighborhood does not have a weekday program, 2 permits per household will be issued free of charge.  Residents may have up to two guest permits per event. CITY FINANCIAL IMPACTS Consistent with the IGA, Colorado State University will be paying for implementation of the program. BOARD / COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION The topic of enforcing violations to the RP3 for Stadium Events by towing was not discussed with any boards or commissions. The Parking Advisory Board expressed opposition to the RP3 for Stadium Events program, citing that it is unwelcoming to out-of-town visitors. If the program continues, permits should be made available for nonresidents. ATTACHMENT 1 Agenda Item 7 Item # 7 Page 2 PUBLIC OUTREACH Staff held three communitywide meetings and four neighborhood meetings to discuss the program. Staff presented a $100 fine for violations to the program but did not propose towing. If the towing option is utilized, neighborhoods that have elected to participate in the program will need to be informed of the change of enforcement method. ATTACHMENTS 1. Parking Advisory Board memo (PDF) -1- ORDINANCE NO. 094, 2017 OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS AMENDING PART 18 OF THE FORT COLLINS TRAFFIC CODE REGARDING THE TOWING AND IMPOUNDING OF VEHICLES ON PUBLIC RIGHTS-OF-WAY WHEREAS, on February 18, 2003, by Ordinance No. 16, 2003, the City Council adopted the Fort Collins Traffic Code (“Traffic Code”); and WHEREAS, on April 13, 2015, in anticipation of the new on-campus stadium at Colorado State University (“CSU”), the City and CSU entered into an Intergovernmental Agreement to address the impacts that major events at CSU’s stadium will have on nearby neighborhoods; and WHEREAS, the City wishes to minimize impacts to neighborhoods near the stadium by providing immediate tow-away zones in those neighborhoods during major stadium events; and WHEREAS, when the need arises, the City wishes to have the option of immediately towing illegally-parked vehicles in other areas of the City; and WHEREAS, the City Council believes it is necessary for the preservation of the health, safety, and welfare of the City’s citizens to amend the City Code to permit the City to cause the immediate towing of a vehicle in areas providing notice to vehicles that parking in the restricted area are subject to immediate tow. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS as follows: Section 1. That the City Council hereby makes and adopts the determinations and findings contained in the recitals set forth above. Section 2. That Section 1801 of the Traffic Code is hereby amended by the addition of a new subsection (10) to read in its entirety as follows: Sec 1801. Authority to impound and immobilize. … (10) At any place within the City where authorized signs are posted, giving notice that such area or portion of the street or highway right-of-way is a tow-away zone, it shall be unlawful for any person to park a vehicle in any manner in violation of the provisions contained on such signs except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic, or in compliance with the instructions of a police officer, traffic control signal or device. When a vehicle is found in violation of this subsection, a police officer, community -2- service officer, transit service officer, or parking services officer may do any or all of the following: (a) Cite the vehicle; (b) Cause the vehicle to be moved; or (c) Cause the vehicle to be towed and impounded. Introduced, considered favorably on first reading, and ordered published this 18th day of July, A.D. 2017, and to be presented for final passage on the 15th day of August, A.D. 2017. __________________________________ Mayor Pro Tem ATTEST: _______________________________ City Clerk Passed and adopted on final reading on this 15th day of August, A.D. 2017. __________________________________ Mayor ATTEST: _____________________________ City Clerk