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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - April 27, 2010 SSLODI CITY COUNCIL SHIRTSLEEVE SESSION CARNEGIE FORUM, 305 WEST PINE STREET TUESDAY, APRIL 27, 2010 A. Roll Call by City Clerk An Informal Informational Meeting ("Shirtsleeve" Session) of the Lodi City Council was held Tuesday, April 27, 2010, commencing at 7:02 a.m. Present: Council Member Johnson, Council Member Mounce, and Mayor Pro Tempore Hitchcock Absent: Council Member Hansen, and Mayor Katzakian Also Present: City Manager King, City Attorney Schwabauer, and City Clerk Johl B. Topic(s) B-1 Review of On -Street Parking Regulations for Recreational Vehicles (PD) City Manager King briefly introduced the subject matter of the on -street parking regulations for recreational vehicles. Management Analyst Jeanie Biskup provided a PowerPoint presentation regarding the on -street parking regulations for recreational vehicles. Specific topics of discussion included the history of the relevant Municipal Code and Vehicle Code sections, complaint process, Partners response, responses to complaints, special circumstances, efforts to work with citizens, types of recreational vehicles towed, overall findings of violations and enforcement over the past year, homes on wheels, parking permit options, time limits for parking, and staff recommendations regarding ongoing enforcement. In response to Council Member Mounce, Ms. Biskup stated there are no specific guidelines regarding narrower streets and proximity to schools as the Vehicle Code just references "street" and not the specific size of the street. Ms. Biskup stated that, regardless if staff receives a complaint, they will try to work with the owner and find solutions for alternative parking. In response to Council Member Mounce, City Attorney Schwabauer stated the City would have to sign entrances to neighborhoods and the City for specific regulation enforcement such as school proximity and narrow streets. In response to Council Member Johnson, Ms. Biskup stated most situations are resolved through the initial marking process and for the game players staff can continue to issue citations daily for $37. In response to Council Member Johnson, Ms. Biskup stated the current penalties, including the $37 fee, are based on court citation fees and appear to be sufficient. In response to Mayor Pro Tempore Hitchcock, Ms. Biskup stated staff has issued about 25 citations, the process includes tagging for 72 hours and then towing, 89 tows were recovered vehicles, some vehicles are never bailed out, 8 of the 89 were recreational vehicles, and the citation process only comes in when the gaming, such as moving the vehicle around the block, starts. In response to Mayor Pro Tempore Hitchcock, Ms. Biskup stated the initial tag is bright orange and starts the 72 hours. She stated if the vehicle has not moved in the 72 -hour period it is towed. Continued April 27, 2010 In response to Mayor Pro Tempore Hitchcock, Ms. Biskup felt the recreational vehicle monitoring and enforcement has stepped up. In response to Mayor Pro Tempore Hitchcock, Ms. Biskup stated staff can tow and cite simultaneously if the Council so desires. In response to Council Member Johnson, Ms. Biskup stated Community Improvement is involved because sometimes the vehicles end up in the front yard and there may be encroachment issues. In response to Council Member Johnson, Ms. Biskup stated volunteers are addressing concerns on public property while Community Improvement is addressing concerns on private property due to the differing code sections. C. Comments by Public on Non -Agenda Items None. D. Adjournment No action was taken by the City Council. The meeting was adjourned at 7:37 a.m. ATTEST: Randi Johl City Clerk N d? AGENDA ITEM CITY OF LODI ,. COUNCIL COMMUNICATION AGENDA TITLE: Review of On -Street Parking Regulationsfor Recreational Vehicles MEETING DATE: April 27,2010 PREPARED BY: Chief of Police RECOMMENDED ACTION: Receive report regarding on -street parking regulations for recreational vehicles. BACKGROUND INFORMATION: All vehicles parked on the street, including recreational vehicles, are required to move every 72 hours or are considered abandoned per CVC 22651(k) and LMC 10.44.030. The Lodi Police Department received 3,716 complaints for abandoned vehicles in 2009 with the majority of the complaints being handled by the Partners Volunteers. Three hundred sixty-two of the complaints (10.25 percent) were for recreational vehicles, which include motor homes, camp trailers, utility trailers, and boats. Eighty-nine percent of the RV complaints were resolved within the first 72 hours. Nine locations have had more than three complaints in the past 12 months. We continually monitor these problem locations to ensure full and ongoing compliance. When the 72 hours parking limit is not adhered to, the RV is towed. In 2009, eight RV's and trailers were towed. The cost of redeeming the RV is a $100 tow release fee paid to the City of Lodi and $150 to $300 for towing plus storage to the tow company. Our experience is that once a vehicle or RV is towed, the parking problem is resolved by the owner finding storage. When a complaint is received regarding someone living in an RV, contact is made to inform the citizen of the parking regulations. Safety and electrical cord issues are addressed at that time. Follow-up on the complaint occurs within 24 hours and, if the issue is not resolved, it is forwarded to the Watch Commander for assignment to an officer. In 2009, Partners responded to five complaints of someone living in an RV on the street. To ensure the small number of vehicles with ongoing complaints is brought into compliance, we propose the following: 1. Citations be issued to these vehicles if not moved — bail $37 2. Notify Watch Commander as soon as initial attempts at resolution are not successful 3. Forward all complaints of someone living in an RV to Patrol for immediate attention The Police Departmentfeels that the current Lodi Municipal Code (LMC 10.44.040) covering abandoned vehicles provides the necessary means to address RV parking in a timely manner. FISCAL IMPACT: Not Applicable FUNDING: NotApplicable Captain VW1BA1hcasa, Interim Chief of Police APPROVED: o - Blair Ki , ty Manager «71 Lodi Police Department"',. On -Street Parking Regulations for Recreational Vehicles April,2010 History •Vehicles parked on the street must move every 72 hours or are abandoned per LMC 10/44/030 and CVC 22651(k) •Includes passenger vehicles, RV's, camp trailers, boats, utility trailers, etc. •Complaints come from citizens, police officers, public works, waste management, postal carriers, etc. *Partners respond all abandoned auto complaints •3,76 complaints were handled in2009 Response to Complaints *Complaints are usually handled same day as received •Vehicles are checked & contact is made when possible •Vehicles are tagged with 7Z hour warning notice •Partners return in 7Z hours and if not moved vehicle is towed *Effort is made to work with citizens with special circumstances *Towing results when citizens attempt to use the street for storage recreational Vehicles Ow F�L r - �IINOW- Motor Homes Camp Trailers j6 Boat and Car Trailers Utility Trailers i,l ZOU Findings on RV Parking •36a complaints (io%)were on RV's, trailers, boats *89% were resolved within 72 hours of contact *Nine locations were repeat offenders with more than 3 complaints in one year •Partners continually monitor repeat offenders to ensure compliance with 7Z hour parking limit *Eight RV's and trailers were towed in2009 *Cost is $ioo City tow release fee plus $1150-$300 towing charge plus storage Homes on Wheels •5 Complaints were received in2009for people living in RV's or trailers •Contact is made informing citizens they can not live in a vehicle parked on the street •Safety & electrical cord issues are addressed at that time •Partners follow-up, usually within Z4 hours •Unresolved complaints are referred to the Watch Commander and Community Improvement as needed Possible Action Discussed •Parking Permit •Would provide a permit for RV parking on the street •Partners could issue citations when RV's are parked without a permit •Requires program development to issue permits online as well as have them available in-person •Requires new procedures and staff oversight of a program to address complaints and follow-up •Will increase citizen complaints regarding RV parking •Requires staff be available to verify permits issued by computer •Impact staff time handling citation appeals me Limits •Parking citations may be issued for RV over -parking thru an ordinance imposing shorter time limits by staff and Partners •will increase number of citizen complaints of RV over - parking •Appeals to parking citations would i impacting staff time •Homes on Wheels •Signs can be posted outlining restrictions •Partners make initial contact, if no resolution in 24 hours complaints will be given to the watch Commander •Citations for violations will be written by police officers or a traffic services officer •Five Complaints were received in Zoog ecommendat*ion *Current 7Z hour parking regulations addresses 89% of complaints with a small number of repeat offenders •Have Partners issue abandoned citations to repeat offenders each time vehicle is not moved- bail $37.00 •Partners will continue to forward to District Commanders when attempts to resolve an over - parking issue is not quickly resolved *Partners will verify complaints of someone living in a home on wheels and immediately forward to Watch Commander for assignment to an officer.