HomeMy WebLinkAboutA004 - Resolution No. 22-416 adopted July 26, 2022 RESOLUTION NO. 22-416
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE IMMEDIATE TOWING OF VEHICLES ON
SATURDAY,AUGUST 20, FROM MIDNIGHT TO 11:59 P.M. IN THE DESIGNATED
AREA OF BEACH AVENUE WEST TO STATE AVENUE AND
LINCOLN WAY SOUTH OF MORTENSEN AVENUE FOR
CERTAIN ILLEGAL PARKING VIOLATIONS
FOR THE CITY OF AMES, IOWA
WHEREAS, 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 the Municipal Code; and,
WHEREAS,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 subj ect to immediate
towing; and,
WHEREAS, 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; and,
WHEREAS,this date is the Saturday before Iowa State University classes begin and in the
past several years, it has been associated with an increase in alcohol consumption, illegal parking,
nuisance parties, and other high-risk activities; and,
WHEREAS, this phenomenon began many years ago when alcohol was prohibited in
fraternities and sororities during the week leading up to the start of classes and the prohibition ended
at 8:00 a.m. on the Saturday before classes began, thus at 8:01 a.m. (801 day) some students chose
to begin drinking; and,
WHEREAS,in the late 201 Os,these behaviors on the Saturday before classes began to grow
beyond a small segment of the ISU population and the date has increasingly become a destination
for people from outside of Ames to come to Ames; and,
WHEREAS, 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.; and,
WHEREAS, the unofficial event of 801 day is being transitioned to an official ISU event,
Cyclone Welcome Weekend, and the University has created several activities to take the focus off
alcohol use and overuse and steer activities towards community events and safer alternatives; and,
WHEREAS,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; and,
WHEREAS,based on these issues, staff requests the City Council's approval to invoke the
immediate Towing Ordinance on Saturday, August 20, 2022, from midnight to 11:59 p.m. in the
following geographic areas:
- 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
WHEREAS, staff is requesting authorization to tow illegally parked vehicles for the
following violations:
- Alternate side parking violations
- No parking on one side of the street violations
- Yellow line violations
- Fire Hydrant violations
WHEREAS, staff does not intend to tow for overtime parking violations, absent a public
safety risk; and,
WHEREAS, 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.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Ames, Iowa,
that the authorization to immediately tow vehicles on Saturday,August 20, 2022,from midnight to
11:59 p.m. in the designated area of Beach Avenue west to State Avenue and Lincoln Way south to
Mortensen Avenue for certain illegal parking violations is hereby approved.
ADOPTED THIS 26th day of July, 2022.
2d mi I 1
Diane R. Voss, City Clerk John A. Haila, Mayor
Introduced by: Corrieri
Seconded by: Betcher
Voting aye: Betcher, Corrieri, Gartin, Junck, Rollins
Voting nay: None Absent: Beatty-Hansen
Resolution declared adopted and signed by the Mayor this 26th day of July, 2022.