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Home My WebLink AboutA001 - Council Action Form dated March 28, 2000 A Item # CF 49 Date: March 28 2000 COUNCIL ACTION FORM SUBJECT: SUMNER AVENUE PARKING PROHIBITIONS BACKGROUND: A request was received last year from John Scheppler, Orning Glass Company Owner, to review parking conditions along Sumner Avenue from Lincoln Way to South 2"d Street. According to Mr. Scheppler, the street was being used to store parked vehicles on a short and long term basis. He indicated that these vehicles were frequently towed to the street and typically were sitting to be repaired. This situation was problematic since it did contribute to unsightly appearances and interfered with day to day business since deliveries were hindered with the lack of maneuvering space out of driveways. Other problems with the parking included the reduced sight visibility at driveways/intersections, the hindrance to street and snow maintenance activities, and the lack of parking turnover for customers. To alleviate problems caused by this long-term parking, City staff had explored alternatives including the designation of parking prohibitions, which was supported by the majority of the property business owners. However, due to input received from several area businesses concerning the hardships resulting from these parking prohibition measures, staff delayed this parking initiative until more information could be collected about the conditions and long-term parking use. This investigation was delayed until this month when the parking conditions were worsened by the last snow storm. As shown on the attached pictures, the conditions experienced during this last winter storm emphasizes the need, as realized by staff, to resolve the long-term parking problems along Sumner Avenue. These pictures illustrate the problems for motorists exiting driveways and traversing the street due to the presence of parked vehicles. During the past year, staff periodically monitored parking activities on Sumner Avenue to review conditions. This review showed that on eleven days within four months when the parking was checked, there was an average of eight (8) vehicles parked in the eighteen (18) available parking spaces along Sumner Avenue from Lincoln Way to South 2nd Street. Of these eight vehicles, three were parked for more than 24 hours, and three (3) others were parked all day by employees. This review also showed that there were one or two vehicles each day that had out-of-county license plates, and typically one had no license plates at all. Although the 50% utilization of the parking posed little problem for parking availability, these vehicles were most often parked next to the many driveway entrances along the street. To gain additional input, staff did meet again with the business and property owners along Sumner Avenue on March 6t", 2000. In this meeting, the owners present did support the measure to designate a "2:00 a.m.- 6:00 a.m. parking prohibition along both sides of Sumner Avenue from Lincoln Way to South 2"d Street. With this prohibition, patrons could use the on- street parking along both sides of the street during the daytime periods when businesses are open. It would also preclude "over-night" parking and would limit long-term parking. This was suggested last year and supported by the majority of the businesses and property owners along the street. i CAF — Sumner Avenue Parking March 28, 2000, Page 2 Another measure that had been discussed to alleviate the long-term parking problem was the enforcement of the 48-hour parking prohibition. This entails marking tires and tagging vehicles after they had parked, without moving, for 48-hours. However, the police had been periodically marking tires along Sumner Avenue without apparent success. It had been mentioned by Police Chief Dennis Ballantine that it is a very inefficient method of regulating long-term parking since he does not employ enough parking enforcement officers to do it on a regular basis. Also, this does not alleviate street maintenance problems, since operators must wait for at least two days before maintenance activities can be performed, such as snow removal and sweeping. Staff believes that the 2.-00 a.m. to 6.00 a.m. parking prohibition should be designated on Sumner Avenue to limit long-term parking use. This measure has been successfully employed on other streets within the commercial and industrial zoned areas when long-term parking problems were experienced. Currently, this parking prohibition has been designated on all streets within the Downtown and Campustown business districts, as well as on nearby High Avenue (Lincoln Way to 200' south) and N.E. 2"d Street (Des Moines Avenue to East Avenue). It should be noted that these have been designated with the same intention to facilitate maintenance activities, and provide necessary parking turnover for these highly needed spaces. Staff also understands that not all streets within the commercial and industrial zoned areas have overnight parking regulations. Area streets without overnight regulations are typically ones where no complaints and/or problems have been experienced, and include area streets such as Des Moines (Lincoln Way to N.E. 3 d) and N.E. 2"d (Duff to Center Avenue). Attached are diagrams showing the recent snow removal efforts and the parking activities along these streets in the early morning periods. This measure would also assist with the street maintenance activities, such as snow removal and sweeping. According to Dave Cole, Street Maintenance Supervisor, maintenance activities would be performed during the 2.00 a.m. — 6.00 a.m. period when the parking prohibitions were in effect. ALTERNATIVES: 1. Direct the City Attorney to draft an ordinance designating a '2:00 a.m. to 6.00 a.m." parking prohibition along both sides of Sumner Avenue from Lincoln Way to South 2"d Street. 2. Do nothing and continue to enforce the "48-hour" parking prohibitions along Sumner Avenue. MANAGER'S RECOMMENDED ACTION: It is the recommendation of the City Manager that the City Council adopt alternative number 1, thereby, directing the City Attorney to draft an ordinance designating a "2:00 a.m. to 6.00 a.m." parking prohibition along both sides of Sumner Avenue from Lincoln Way to South 2"d Street. COUNCIL ACTION: F CAF APPROVAL SS �"'! BK SL J JP SR To be sent to 02/02/99 10: 11 FAX 15152326201 ORNING 01 3 Orning Glass �. Company, Inc. Date: 2-2-99 Ted Tedesco Mayor City of Ames Ames, IA 50010 Re: Private Business Parking on S. Sumner Avc. Our company is located at 114 S. Sumner in Ames. Currently the City allows parking on both sides of this street at all times. Another business located close to this street, but not on Sumner, is abusing this parking structure by leaving vehicles it has towed or is repairing parked in the same spots for weeks at a time. This practice is unsightly. It also interferes with the day-to-day operation of our business. Often truck deliveries can not to be made in our parking lot duc to the lack of turning room on the street. After winter storms,clean up of this street is not done thoroughly nor in a timely manner due to these parked vehicles. 1 have had to call this business owner and (lie City numerous times after winter storms to move cars and complete the snow removal. Sumner is a one block long street that has seen a dramatic increase in traffic as motorist try to avoid the lights at Duff and Linclonway. Additional businesses which have opened close to Sumner also are causing an increase in traffic. I am requesting that the City of Ames review the current parking practices on Sumner and make appropriate changes. `Picketing of these vehicles in the past has not been effective in curbing this practice. Alternate side parking or no parking allowed must be considered. Thank You, r CJohbScheppler OrAing Glass Company, Inc. nrM- _amb,s kw�n �t<a, 1 1 S_rnner An ies.Ic•wo 50010 515-232-3iG4 Fc jx 515 231-UJU I Dayton Road Development Corporation MARVIN J.WALTER Home Phone(515)292-9212 February 17 , 2000 Mr . Scott Logan Traffic Division City of Ames 515 Clark Avenue Ames , IA 50010 Dear Scott: As the owner of a property on Sumner Avenue , I appreciate the manner in which you have handled the parking study. I also agree with your conclusion. It is a problem and we need to have a prohibition on overnight parking and long-term use by some as a storage lot . Unfortunately, I ' ll not be able to attend your meeting on February 28 to discuss this issue but I am asking Darren Dies of W & G Marketing; 127 Sumner, to attend and represent our interests . Many thanks . Sincerely, DAYTON ROAD DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION 7�17 Mar in J. Palter MJ /jan cc : Darren T . Dies Executive Office Building - 413 Kellogg - P.O. Box 1742 Ames, Iowa 50010-1742 e Phone: 515-232-5057 - FAX: 515-233-6229 r J ORDINANCE NO. AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF THE CITY OF AMES, IOWA,BY ENACTING A NEW SUBSECTION 18.31(271)FOR THE PURPOSE OF REGULATING THE PARKING ON A PORTION OF SUMNER AVENUE; REPEALING ANY AND ALL ORDINANCES OR PARTS OF ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT TO THE EXTENT OF SUCH CONFLICT; PROVIDING A PENALTY;AND ESTABLISHING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. BE IT ENACTED,by the City Council for the City of Ames,Iowa,that: Section One. The Municipal Code of the City of Ames,Iowa shall be and the same is hereby amended by enacting a new Subsection 18.31(271)as follows: "(271) SUMMER AVENUE. Parking is prohibited on both sides of Sumner Avenue from Lincoln Way to South 2nd Street from 2:00 a.m.to 6:00 a.m." Section Two. Violation of the provisions of this ordinance shall constitute a simple misdemeanor punishable as set out by law. Section Three. All ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict herewith are hereby repealed to the extent of such conflict,if any. Section Four. This ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage and publication as required by law. Passed this day of ,2000. 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