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HomeMy WebLinkAboutA001 - Council Action Form dated August 24, 1993 3 COUNCIL ACTION FORM Item # Date: August X4, 1993 SUBJECT: Resolution increasing Overtime Parking Fines BACKGROUND: Staff recommends that the overtime parking fines be increased from $2.00 to $3.00 to offset the higher costs associated with the parking system. Currently, the overtime parking fines are $2.00 if paid within seven days, and $5.00 after that time. This rate has been in effect since 1984, when the fines were increased from $.50 to $2.00. Staff believes that this amount should be increased to $3.00 since costs have increased significant- ly throughout the system. This rate may also discourage users from risking paying a fine instead of paying the parking meter rate. At some metered locations in the Campustown Business District, it may be less expensive to pay a fine, than to pay the meter rate. Currently, the rates are $.50 per hour at parking meters on Welch Avenue, Lincoln Way, and in the Welch Avenue parking lot. At these locations, it may be less expen- sive to pay a fine, than to pay for parking after four hours. In comparison with other Iowa Cities, the City has a lower than average initial fine rate. Currently, other cities have an average of a $2.50 fine, with fine rates ranging from $.50 to $5.00. There are two cities with a $5.00 fine (Council Bluffs and Des Moines) and four cities with a $3.00 fine (Iowa City, Sioux City, Dubuque, and Davenport). The maximum overtime parking fine that can be imposed by Iowa law is $5.00 if paid within 30 days, and $10 if paid after this period. Shown on the attached sheet are the fine rates for selected other Iowa Cities. Also, it is recommended that the overtime parking fine be increased from $5.00 to $10.00 if paid after 30 days. This increase is needed to offset the higher cost of processing and serving violators that have long overdue fines. It will also encourage parking violators to pay fines within the 30 day period. This rate increase is similar to ones established in Des Moines, Cedar Falls, Cedar Rapids, and Waterloo. Other cities have no rate increases for tickets paid after 30 days. The increase in fine rates would generate additional revenue to offset increased costs for maintaining and constructing parking lots. Currently, problems exist with poor surface and other conditions in the City parking lots. In order to reconstruct these parking lots to the City's standards, an increase of $20,000 to $25,000 per year should be budgeted in the next five years. With these additional monies, staff would also make plans to provide landscaping to enhance aesthetics. CAF - Overtime Parking Fines August 24, 1993 Page 2 Also, this revenue is needed to offset the decrease in revenues currently being generated from overtime and illegal parking fine activities. This decrease may be a result of the new policy implemented to resolve issues by the parking meter attendant when patrons believe they have been issued an unjust ticket. Revenues from this activity have decreased by approximately $23,000 this year compared with last year's revenue. This measure has been presented to the Downtown Betterment and Campustown Betterment Associations during their August meetings. Both groups have approved this fine increase in order to offset higher costs associated with the parking system. The Downtown Betterment Association has requested that when the parking tickets are reprinted, they read "$3 Parking Fine" on the top of the ticket instead of the "$5 Parking Fine". Currently, the Police Department has 10,000 remaining tickets and expect to use these in the next five months. ALTERNATIVES 1. Raise the initial overtime meter fine paid within seven days of issu- ance from $2.00 to $3.00, and raise the fine paid after 30 days from $5.00 to $10.00. 2. Raise the initial overtime meter fine to $4.00. 3. Raise the initial overtime meter fine to the maximum $5.00 allowed by the State. 4. Do nothing. MANAGER'S RECOMMENDED ACTION: It is recommended by the City Manager that the City Council adopt alter- native number 1 above, thereby directing the City Attorney to prepare an ordinance raising the initial overtime meter fine paid within seven days of issuance from $2.00 to $3.00, and raising the fine paid after 30 days from $5.00 to $10.00. COUNCIL ACTION A . FINE RATE SURVEY METER VIOLATIONS Rs) CALL IOWA CITIES WITH PARKING METE INITIAL CITY FINE SUBSEQUENT FINE Ames $2 . 00 $5 after 7 days Burlington $1 .00 $2 after 1 days Cedar Falls $1.00 $3 after 1 day, $5 after 10 days, $10 after 30 days Cedar Rapids $2. 00 $5 after 3 days, $10 after 30 days Clinton $ . 50 $1 after 1 day, $2 after 5 days Council Bluffs $5.00 -- Davenport $3 .00 $5 after 5 days Des Moines $5.00 $10 after 30 days Dubuque $3 .00 $5 after 7 working days Fairfield $1.00-2 .00 $5 after 2 days Iowa City $3 . 00 Towed after 3 tickets Muscatine $1 . 00 $3 after 3 days Sioux City $3 . 00 $5 after 3 days Waterloo . $2. 00 $ 6 after 2 days, $10 after 7 days TRAFFIC ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT CITY OF CEDAR RAPIDS "ATTACHMENT G" FEBRUARY 21, 1992