Recommendation
The Police Department seeks to allow Complus Data Innovations, Inc (Complus) to electronically issue overnight parking permits on behalf of the City. The City has previously entered into an agreement with Complus for the processing of parking citations and collection of those parking forfeitures. The proposed addendum to that agreement would allow Complus to issue overnight parking permits online. The permits would also be sold at the Police Department and at the Municipal Ramp. Currently, overnight parking permits are only available for purchase at the Police Department during office hours, or at designated gas stations, with the gas stations only selling three-night parking permits. This proposal would allow individuals to purchase overnight parking permits from the comfort of their home at night when they are unable to make such a purchase from the Police Department. Pursuant to this addendum, Complus would collect and deposit such fees into the City’s account on a monthly basis. Complus would then charge the City a fee of $1.15 per permit for printing the permits and $3.85 per permit plus postage for the fulfillment of each order. Complus will not charge the City for the issuance of three-night parking permits or fulfillment of such order. The Police Department seeks approval of the proposed addendum subject to review and modification by the City Attorney’s Office.
In conjunction with the above proposal, The Police Department proposes to increase fees for overnight parking permits and to amend the Night Parking Ordinance to create an annual parking permit to be sold in addition to the three-night permit, the monthly permit and the three-month parking permit. The proposed fees are as follows: 3-night parking permit - $5.00; 1- month permit - $18.00; 3-month permit - $54.00; and an annual permit - $216.00. The proposed annual permit would accommodate residents who require permits on a continuous and permanent basis. The proposal would make it more convenient for residents who find they must now purchase four, three-month permits or twelve separate monthly permits.
The proposed revised amendment would also: 1) provide that one who is operating an authorized emergency vehicle while on an emergency call may park the vehicle in the Central Business District for more than the designated 30-minute time period, thereby recognizing that emergencies are now often attended to by EMTs and other emergency workers rather than by physicians; 2) provide that vehicles with overnight parking permits may be parked in any area of the city other than the Central Business District or, as otherwise prohibited by official sign (rather than only within 100 feet of the resident’s address, as is now the requirement); and 3) provide that an overnight-parking permit shall be issued for a specific vehicle but may be transferrable to another vehicle upon providing proof to the Police Department that the original vehicle has been sold or junked.
The above proposed addendum and ordinance revisions are designed to 1) make it faster and easier for residents to obtain overnight parking permits since they could obtain them via their electronic devices at any time of day or night without leaving the comfort of their home; 2) make the permits apply to a greater area of the City; 3) make enforcement of the parking restrictions easier for law enforcement as parking agents would not have to determine whether a vehicle was parked within 100’ of the residence and 4) bring in additional revenue to the City as permits would be more accessible and easier to obtain.