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Home My WebLink AboutA001 - Memo regarding Special Event Parking Fines dated June 6, 2025To:Mayor & City Council From:City Clerk's Office Date:June 6, 2025 Subject:Special Event Parking Fines Item No. 33 MEMO At the May 27 City Council meeting, Chief of Police Huff asked the City Council for direction regarding an ordinance to increase 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 (staff report attached). In response to this request, the City Council directed staff to prepare an ordinance implementing those changes (attached). Staff is requesting that the City Council suspend the rules to pass the ordinance on second and third reading and adopt ORDINANCE NO. 4557 on June 10. This will allow time for City staff to publicize the expectations for the penalty enforcement. ATTACHMENT(S): Ordinance Game Day-Event Parking.PDF May 27 Staff Report on Special Penalty Enforcement Area Fines.pdf City Clerk's Office 515.239.5105 main 515.239.5142 fax 515 Clark Ave. P.O. Box 811 Ames, IA 50010 www.CityofAmes.org 1 ORDINANCE NO. _________ AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF THE CITY OF AMES, IOWA, BY AMENDING SECTION 18.7A THEREOF, FOR THE PURPOSE OF AMENDING PENALTY FOR EVENTS PARKING, 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 amending Section 18.7A as follows: “18.7A. SPECIAL PENALTY FOR GAME DAY AND EVENTS PARKING. *** (2) Notwithstanding the fine amounts stated in Section 18.7 (parking violations), a special penalty of forty seventy-five dollars ($40.00)($75.00) shall be applied to violations occurring on the date of Iowa State University home football games from the hours of 6:00 a.m. to midnight. This special penalty shall also be applied during dates and times designated by City Council resolution for events occurring in the Game Day and Events Parking Area. If the special penalty is paid within the first seven (7) days of the date of violation, five dollars ($5.00) of the fine amount will be waived. Any fines that remain unpaid after thirty (30) days from the date of the violation will be deemed contested and may be prosecuted. ***” Section Two. Violation of the provisions of this ordinance shall constitute a municipal infraction 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 , 2025. _____________________________________________________________________________ John A. Haila, Mayor First Reading: Second Reading: Third Reading: Passed on: I, Renee Hall, City Clerk of the City of Ames, Iowa, hereby certify that the above and foregoing is a true copy of Ordinance No. ________________, passed by the City Council of said City at the meeting held on ______________________ and signed by the Mayor on ______________________, and published in the Ames Tribune on ______________________. ____________________________________ Renee Hall, City Clerk 2 ITEM #: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 13 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. 24