HomeMy WebLinkAboutA040 - Staff report on Special Penalty Enforcement Area FinesITEM #:43
DATE:05-27-25
DEPT:POLICE
SUBJECT:SPECIAL PENALTY ENFORCEMENT AREA FINES
COUNCIL ACTION FORM
BACKGROUND:
During football game days, cars are often parked on both sides of some streets, making it
difficult to traverse and creating a problem for emergency vehicle response. In response to
this challenge, in 2019, the City Council enacted enhanced penalties for game day parking in
the area west of Jack Trice Stadium. The penalty for illegal parking in this area on game days
increases from the typical $20 amount to $40 ($35 if paid within 7 days). The intent of this
special penalty is to make parking illegally less economical than parking in one of the
many paid parking areas around the stadium. The special penalty has been broadened
beyond football game days to apply to other events when approved by resolution of the
City Council.
The Parking Division has been enforcing the game day parking regulations for several years
giving staff the opportunity to review data. In FY 2022/23, staff wrote 879 game day parking
tickets, increasing to 1,239 in FY 2023/24 and 1,130 in FY 2024/25. At this point, parking staff
is averaging around 200 special penalty tickets per game.
Staff has become concerned that the citation amount for these violations may be losing its
deterrent effect, and is suggesting that the Council consider raising the citation amount or
adopting alternative penalties. If there is a desire to gain additional compliance with the Game
Day parking regulations, strategies that may be employed include, for example:
1. Imposing higher fines for repeat offenders.
2. Increasing the fine for Game Day citations.
3. A combination of higher fines for Game Day citations and higher fines for repeat
offenders.
Staff has found over the past three seasons, 52 vehicles were issued three or more citations.
This accounts for a total of 193 citations. Most of these citations are paid. The current parking
management system can identify repeat offenders and therefore would be able to identify and
apply an increased fine. However, repeat offenders account for under 6% of total game day
citations issued. This strategy would not likely make a large difference in compliance as the
total number is small.
An overall increase in the fine amount may be a more effective strategy. Private parking
lots are charging up to $25 for game day parking (which could increase at any time). A person
who pays the Game Day citation within 7 days will pay a $35 fine. The $10 differential is not a
strong deterrent when parking illegally and paying the fine allows the violator to park closer
and leave the area more quickly. In addition, as CyTown construction continues with an
anticipated completion in 2027, the City may start to see additional events that may
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exacerbate the parking problem adjacent to the stadium and CyTown.
To address the compliance issues as outlined in this report, staff would propose that
the penalty for a Game Day and Special Event parking violation to be increased to $75
($70 if paid within seven days).
ALTERNATIVES:
1. Direct staff to prepare an ordinance increasing the penalty for Illegal Parking in the
Enhanced Event parking area during game day and other events to $75, or $70 if paid
within seven days.
2. Direct staff to establish penalties of a different amount.
3. Make no change to the current fine structure.
CITY MANAGER'S RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Parking adjacent to Jack Trice Stadium and the future CyTown area has continued to be
a source of congestion during game days, creating an environment where it is difficult
for vehicles to traverse the streets. This is particularly problematic for emergency
responders, especially when driving larger vehicles such as an ambulance or fire
apparatus.
The current citation system no longer seems to be a strong deterrent as the cost of a
ticket and the cost to park legally begin to converge. Staff believes a higher citation
amount will be more effective at generating compliance. Therefore, it is the
recommendation of the City Manager that the City Council adopt Alternative No. 1, as
described above.
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