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HomeMy WebLinkAboutA003 - Council Action Form dated July 26, 2022 ITEM # 26 DATE 07-26-22 COUNCIL ACTION FORM SUBJECT: REQUEST TO AUTHORIZE IMMEDIATE TOWING OF ILLEGALLY PARKED VEHICLES ON SATURDAY, AUGUST 20, 2022 BACKGROUND: On July 12, 2022, the City Council approved an ordinance to allow for the immediate towing of vehicles parked illegally when authorized by City Council resolution (Section 18.34 of Municipal Code). The resolution that authorizes such towing must designate certain types of illegal parking subject to tow, along with the specific dates, times, and geographic area subject to immediate towing. This request is to approve a resolution authorizing the use of the immediate towing ordinance for certain areas and times on Saturday, August 20, 2022. This date is the Saturday before Iowa State University classes begin. In the past several years, it has been associated with an increase in alcohol consumption, illegal parking, nuisance parties, and other high-risk activities. This phenomenon began many years ago when alcohol was prohibited in fraternities and sororities during the week leading up to the start of classes. The prohibition ended at 8:00 A.M. on the Saturday before classes began. At 8:01 A.M. (801 day) some students chose to begin drinking. In the late 2010s, these behaviors on the Saturday before classes began to grow beyond a small segment of the ISU population. The date has increasingly become a destination for people from outside Ames and is no longer limited to ISU students. Complaints from residents in the area have also grown. In 2021 , City leadership, ISU leadership, and both the Ames and ISU Police Departments began to discuss ways to refocus the event in a way to reduce harm, reduce noise complaints, reduce parking complaints, etc. The unofficial event of 801- day is being transitioned to an official ISU event, Cyclone Welcome Weekend. The University has created several activities to take the focus off alcohol use and overuse and steer activities towards community events and safer alternatives. An additional strategy resulting from these discussions is a focus on immediately removing vehicles that have been illegally parked on residential streets and have become a safety hazard. Illegal parking on residential streets has increased to the point that in some cases emergency vehicles are unable to travel down the street safely due to cars parked on both sides. The current penalty for this kind of illegal parking is $10-$15. This amount has not been a sufficient deterrent to the illegal parking that creates a safety hazard. In addition, a parking ticket does not relieve the safety issue until the violator decides to move the vehicle; except in rare instances, the Police 1 Department is not authorized to order an illegally parked vehicle to be towed immediately. Based on these issues, staff requests Council approval to invoke the immediate towing ordinance on Saturday, August 20 from midnight to 11:59 p.m. in the following geographic area: Lincoln Way between Beach Avenue and State Street State Street between Lincoln Way and Mortensen Avenue Mortensen Avenue between State Street and Beach Avenue Beach Avenue between Mortensen Avenue and Lincoln Way (See Attached Map) Staff requests authorization to tow illegally parked vehicles for the following violations: 1. Alternate side parking violations 2. No parking on one side of the street violations 3. Yellow line violations 4. Fire Hydrant violations Staff does not intend to tow for overtime parking violations, absent a public safety risk. The ordinance also makes clear that the passage of such a resolution does not prevent the immediate towing of vehicles when they would otherwise normally be subject to immediate towing, such as blocking traffic or access, or presenting a public-safety risk. There are approximately three-and-a-half weeks until Cyclone Welcome Weekend, which should provide ample time to notify the community of the special towing authorization. This will aid residents and visitors in planning to find safe, Legal parking if they intend to visit the designated area on that date. Staff will take the following steps to notify the public about the new ordinance: • The Police Department and ISU staff will inform residents while going door-to- door during the Good Neighbor Campaign in early August • An email outlining the changes to the ordinance will be sent to property managers and owners, with a request to forward the message to tenants. A similar email will be sent to neighborhood associations. • Both the City and University will publicize the changes in press releases and social media accounts. 2 • Staff will place signs in the affected area emphasizing the portions of the street where parking is illegal. The cost to order these is approximately $1,000, which will be funded from the Parking Operations Fund. Electronic message signs will also be placed in the area in advance of August 20, subject to availability. In addition, the University has agreed to send out notifications to students and staff to make them aware of the new towing policy as a part of a larger campaign regarding Cyclone Welcome Weekend. ALTERNATIVES: 1 . Authorize the immediate towing of vehicles on Saturday, August 20, 2022, from midnight to 11:59 p.m. in the designated area of: Lincoln Way between Beach Avenue and State Street State Street between Lincoln Way and Mortensen Avenue Mortensen Avenue between State Street and Beach Avenue Beach Avenue between Mortensen Avenue and Lincoln Way For the following illegal parking violations: a. Alternate side parking violations b. No parking on one side of the street violations c. Yellow line violations d. Fire Hydrant violations 2. Authorize immediate towing as described in Alternative 1, but modify the time, area, or types of violations subject to immediate towing. . D n illegally parked vehicles on the requested date, 3 0 of authorize the towing of q 9 9 Yp time, and geographic area. CITY MANAGER'S RECOMMENDED ACTION: i It for emergency public at risk b making it difficult The increase of illegal parking puts the ub 9 Y 9 p 9p p Y 9 vehicles to respond to medical calls, fire calls, and law enforcement calls for service. The City and University have worked very hard over the past year to create an event to welcome students to Ames (Cyclone Welcome Weekend) and to deter others from attending who create this hazard. The proposed times and geographic area subject to immediate towing will be publicized to the community through a variety of methods in advance of August 20. Therefore, it is the recommendation of the City Manager that the City Council adopt Alternative No. 1 as described above. 3 o � K � T n E r E y, a y s w s y � - t � _ T 4 I 02 d 7r �. CI � � v Y c f� C I v F e- w >a oo r c Ali 12 10 20 77, _ P a` AR e dU _ 3 s