HomeMy WebLinkAboutA001 - Council Action Form dated August 24, 1993 q0
COUNCIL ACTION FORM r�
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Item #
C
Date: August 24 1993
SUBJECT: Resolution for Implementing a Handicap Parking Permit System
BACKGROUND:
During the June 8th meeting, City Council directed staff to evaluate a
handicap permit system to allow handicapped motorists to legally park in
the metered spaces without putting coins into the meters. This permit
would be purchased from the City and would be displayed in the front
windshield where visible for the police enforcement personnel. Annual fees
for this permit would be approximately $10, or the average fee paid by
City residents for metered parking.
In order to evaluate the logistics of implementing this system, staff re-
ceived a listing of motorists who have handicap parking permits in the City
and Story County from the Iowa Department of Transportation. This
information contains the names, addresses and number of motorists who
have been issued handicap parking permits by the Iowa Department of
Transportation. According to this information, there are approximately
1,200 handicap parking permits issued to motorists in the City. Attached
is the listing that shows the number of permits issued to motorists in
Story County.
In response to Council's request, staff has developed a process to manage
the permit system. For instance, if one-third of the handicap permit
holders want a $10 City permit to park free at the parking meters, staff
would need to issue 300 permits over a period of a few days. Staff be-
lieves that logistically we can handle the mass issuance of permits. It
would be achieved by utilizing the part-time traffic engineering personnel,
and printing permits with the division's computers. An initial cost for
the program would be approximately $700 to cover the postage for the a
mass mailing to notify handicapped residents of the City permit, and the
printing of the permit tags.
After evaluating this permit system, staff believes that the better alterna-
tive is to provide "free" parking at the metered spaces in order to insure
accessibility. Under this permit system, parking meters would still have
to be used by out-of-town handicapped motorists without permits, as well
as handicapped motorists in the City who have elected not to purchase the
permit, and so would need to be accessible. Problems would still be
encountered since accessibility to parking meters by these motorists may
be hindered due to the meter height and physical operation needed to put
coins into the meter mechanism. To provide a meter that is at a proper
height to be accessible by all handicapped motorists would be difficult.
Shorter meters that are accessible to handicapped motorists in wheel chairs
may not be accessible to handicapped motorists with arthritic conditions.
GAF Handicap Park Permit System
August 24, 1993
Page 2
Also, accessibility would be hindered by the physical operation of the
meter. Many handicapped motorists may not be able to turn the meter
handle or deposit coins in the meter slots.
Also, this permit system may be unfair economically for the handicapped
motorist who may seldom park in metered spaces. The $10 permit fee is
equivalent to 50 hours of paid parking at a metered space with a typical
$.20/hour rate. However, this fee should not be lowered since it is highly
probable that the revenue generated from this fee will not cover the City's
cost for administrating the program. In fact, staff estimates that only 30
to 50 handicap residents would purchase the permit. With this number of
permits issued, the City's cost would be approximately $1,000 over the
expected annual revenue. This cost includes staff time, postage, and
materials. It should be noted that the total annual revenue from the
City's 14 handicap meters is only $1,100.
Staff believes that the best alternative is to provide "free" parking at the
handicap spaces in the City. To regulate this parking, staff proposes
designating a maximum two-hour limit at the handicap parking spaces.
This period is the same as meter durations at most parking spaces. With
this two hour limit, these spaces would accommodate more parking by
increasing the turnover. Ames Human Relations Commission member Sheryl
Andre has reviewed this plan, and feels that the free parking with a
two-hour limit is the preferred alternative.
ALTERNATIVES:
1. Provide "free" parking and designate a maximum two hour limit at all
existing metered handicap parking spaces.
2. Implement a handicap parking permit system as described above.
3. Provide "free" parking without a maximum time period.
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 providing "free" parking and designating
a maximum two hour limit at all existing metered handicap parking spaces,
and directing the City Attorney to prepare the necessary ordinance chang-
es for Council approval.
COUNCIL ACTION•
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