HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo - Mail Packet - 11/16/2021 - Memorandum From Caryn Champine, Dean Klingner, Drew Brooks, Larry Schneider, Nicole Hahn Re: Downtown Overnight Parking281 North College Avenue
P.O. Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522.0580
970.221.6376
970.224.6134 - fax
Planning, Development & Transportation
MEMORANDUM
DATE: November 10, 2021
TO: Mayor Arndt and City Councilmembers
THRU: Kelly DiMartino, Interim City Manager
Kyle Stannert, Deputy City Manager
FROM: Caryn Champine, Director, Planning, Development & Transportation
Dean Klingner, Deputy Director of Planning Development & Transportation
Drew Brooks, Director, Transfort and Parking Services
Larry Schneider, Director, Streets
Nicole Hahn, Assistant City Traffic Engineer
RE: Downtown Overnight Parking
Subject: This memo is a response to Councilmember questions raised at the October 5, 2021
Regular Meeting regarding potential changes to overnight parking in downtown Fort Collins with
the objective of ensuring that parking regulations do not inadvertently provide a disincentive to
taking safe transportation.
Background: Currently, on-street parking is prohibited in several Downtown locations between
the hours of 3 AM and 6 AM. This policy was put in place to allow for street sweeping (twice
weekly) and snow removal (approximately 20 events/year). Overnight parking is allowed in many
areas of the Downtown off College Avenue and in all three City operated parking structures.
Parking Services staff uses flexibility and discretion to accommodate circumstances where
downtown visitors are forced to leave their vehicles overnight. It is rare that this will result in a
ticket and a call to Parking Services can help to ensure this accommodation. If a vehicle is
relocated to allow for snow removal or other maintenance activities, the vehicle is moved to a
nearby side street and there is no cost to the owner.
What Would It Take: Removing overnight parking restrictions in Downtown is an administrative
matter and would not require a change to City Code. Prior to advancing this as a solution, staff
would conduct business owner and other stakeholder outreach to seek input and to communicate
a potential change. If existing signs are removed, Snow and Sweeping Crews would need to pre-
mark the parking spaces 24 hours in advance of the operations, with an estimated cost of $3k per
event.
Considerations: The City Manager will consider the following factors before finalizing an
operational change to overnight parking restrictions and update City Council on the outcome.
Correlation to problem statement: Staff are arranging a meeting with the organization
“Partners Mentoring Youth” to learn more to inform a strategy moving forward and will
reach out to “Partners Mentoring Youth” as recommended by Mayor Pro Tem Francis.
Their “No DUI Larimer” program implies a holistic approach to reducing drunk driving. A
joint conversation to include Police Services will be scheduled to pursue options.
Operational Impacts: Staff are calculating potential impacts to snow and street sweeping
operations, including implications on Parking Enforcement of 2-hour stays the following
morning which may be unclear and require additional resources. The City also envisions
moving to a paid on-street model in the future. Ideally, managing overnight parking,
including adjusting days and/or times for overnight parking restrictions can be aligned and
implemented with that strategy.
Alternative Options: City Staff supports aligning parking policies and safe travel choices.
Current practices allow multiple options to leave a car overnight and if a car is left where
overnight parking is prohibited, the consequences are generally minimal. Two alternative
options have been identified for further evaluation:
o Evaluate payment options in the parking structures to allow free or reduced cost
overnight parking.
o Evaluate a coordinated outreach and communication strategy that promotes visitors
planning their night, finding safe travel choices including transit and other options,
identification of overnight parking locations, and maintaining efficient street
maintenance operations.