HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Authorizing Immediate Towing of Vehicles in Designated Areas for Cyclone Welcome Weekend RESOLUTION NO. 23-242
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE IMMEDIATE TOWING OF VEHICLES IN
DESIGNATED AREAS FOR CYCLONE WELCOME WEEKEND
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 as stated
in 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; 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 19, 2023. This date is the
Saturday before Iowa State University (ISU) 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; 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. 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; 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. 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 $10415. 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 Department is not authorized to order an illegally parked vehicle to be towed
immediately. The strategy of towing illegally parked vehicles was authorized for August 20,2022,
for Cyclone Welcome Weekend. Staff was pleased to see very few illegally parked vehicles and
only thirty-two vehicles were towed; and,
WHEREAS, based on these issues, and the success of last year, staff requests Council
approval to invoke the immediate towing ordinance on Saturday, August 19, 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; and,
WHEREAS, 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.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Ames, Iowa,
that resolution authorizing the Immediate Towing of Vehicles in Designated Areas for Cyclone
Welcome Weekend is hereby approved.
ADOPTED THIS 25th day of April, 2023.
e4 W- �el&
Renee kall, City Clerk John A. Haila, Mayor
Introduced by: Rollins
Seconded by: Betcher
Voting aye: Beatty-Hansen, Betcher, Corrieri, Gartin, Junck, Rollins
Voting nay: None Absent: None
Resolution declared adopted and signed by the Mayor this 251h day of April, 2023.