Westminster City Council
SUBJECT
Title
Update of the Civic Center Pay Parking Policy.
End
publichearing
End
From: Traffic Commission Chairman Jimmy Pham
Requested by: Administration
Prepared by: Bill Pham, Senior Traffic Engineer
____________________________________________________________
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Recommendation
A. Approve the Update of the Civic Center Pay Parking System Policy; and
B. Adopt a Resolution entitled, “A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WESTMINSTER, CALIFORNIA, UPDATING PARKING RATES AND HOURS OF OPERATION”; and
C. Adopt a Resolution entitled, “A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WESTMINSTER, CALIFORNIA, UPDATING FINES FOR PAY STATION VIOLATIONS.”
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BACKGROUND
Staff presented this item at the Traffic Commission meeting on April 30, 2024 (Attachment 1).
In April 2006, the Mayor and City Council approved the establishment of the Civic Center Pay Parking System for the two city-owned parking lots: City Hall North Parking Lot (in front of City Hall) and Community Services Parking Lot (behind the Senior Center). In 2012, the newly constructed Police Department parking structure was incorporated into the pay parking system. The fees and hours of operations were established in 2006 and have not been updated since.
The purpose of the pay parking system is to provide the City’s residents and customers ample and safe parking while generating revenue from other users in the Civic Center. The revenue will be used to maintain and operate the City’s parking lots and pay parking system. Staff has identified a need to update the current Civic Center Pay Parking Policy due to inflation over the years and based on the neighboring cities' pay parking average fees. Based on research of other similar municipal parking systems, the proposed parking rates are relatively lower than comparable city-owned pay parking facilities. (Attachment 2)
The proposed Civic Center Pay Parking Policy (Attachment 3) outlines the logistics of the management, operations, and enforcement of the parking pay system for individuals conducting non-City business. Those conducting City business will continue to have access to “one-hour” parking spaces in the front two rows of City Hall. Senior Center regular visitors will continue receiving temporary parking permits.
The current pay parking system is “pay by space.” Patrons note the parking number of the stall, go to one of the eight (8) parking stations, input the stall number, pay, and then conduct their business. There is no need to return to the vehicle. Frequent visitors to the Civic Center may purchase a monthly temporary parking pass at the proposed cost of $90.00 per month (not prorated); the cost is currently undervalued at $45.00.
Along with City employees, residents, and customers, the three city-owned parking facilities are utilized by various Civic Center partners such as the Rose Center Banquet Center and Theater, Coastline Community College, and the West Justice Center Courthouse. During the primary business hours of 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday to Friday, the parking facilities are mainly used by city employees, customers conducting city business, seniors participating at the Senior Center, and courthouse employees and visitors.
The Rose Center Banquet Center and Theater primarily function after work hours and on the weekend. Parking is allowed for their events through their respective agreements, and they designate event parking with the use of temporary signage. Coastline Community College utilizes the parking lots throughout the day and in the evenings, Monday to Friday. There is currently a short-term parking agreement with Coastline Community College, and students and staff are permitted to park in designated spaces within the three parking facilities; the community college reimburses the City for using the lots.
In October 2006, the City Council made a special concession, separate from the establishment of the pay parking system, to grant the District Attorney’s office parking privileges. The District Attorney’s office pays a discounted half-price rate for parking passes purchased for DA staff. This practice was then administratively extended to other courthouse employees under the direction of previous leadership and without Council direction. In addition, unbeknownst to the program administrator, unauthorized parking passes were created and distributed to select individuals who were not authorized to receive complimentary passes. This resulted in an increasing loss of revenue.
If the updated parking policy is approved, all parking agreements and terms related to parking in agreements will be reviewed and the updated policy terms will be implemented. New parking permits for all applicable users will be re-issued as part of the evaluation process and to ensure the integrity of the system.
Hours of operation and rates are proposed and adopted by Resolution (Attachment 4) and are as recommended:
• Proposed: The Civic Center Pay Parking will be enforced seven days per week, with no parking allowed between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m.
Current: The operational hours are Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
• Proposed: The proposed fee is $2.00 per hour or a maximum of $8.00 per day, and $90.00 for a monthly permit.
• Current: The current fees are $1.00 per hour or a maximum of $4.00 per day, and $45.00 for a monthly permit.
|
PAY PARKING FEES |
|
|
Rate (hourly) |
Max (daily) |
Monthly |
|
Existing |
$1.00 |
$4.00 |
$45.00 |
|
Proposed |
$2.00 |
$8.00 |
$90.00 |
PARKING FACILITIES VIOLATION FINES
The following fees will be increased under the new policy and adopted by Resolution (Attachment 5):
• Parking Violation Fee
o Proposed: $47.00
o Current: $38.00
• Illegally Parking in a Disabled Area
o Proposed: $364.00
o Current: $356.00
All other fines remain unchanged.
FINES FOR PARKING FACILITIES VIOLATIONS
|
|
Existing |
Proposed |
|
Parking Violation |
$38.00 |
$47.00 |
|
Fraudulent Permits |
$100.00 |
No Change |
|
Illegally Parking in a Disabled Area |
$356.00 |
$364.00 |
|
Altering Date on Permit |
$100.00 |
No Change |
|
Processing Fee for Citing Permitted Vehicle |
$10.00 |
No Change |
|
Processing Fee for Improperly Displayed Permit |
$10.00 |
No Change |
Vice Chairman Summers moved to approve staff’s recommendation to approve the update of the Civic Center Parking Policy 2024, seconded by Commissioner K. Nguyen. The motion carried by a 4-0 vote with Commissioner A. Nguyen being absent.
FISCAL IMPACT
The updating of the pay parking hours and rates will require new signage and parking permits. Funding for the updated signage and permits will be budgeted in the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 budget.
LEGAL REVIEW
The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed as to form.
CONCLUSION
The updates to the pay parking rates, hours, and fines are long overdue; and the proposed changes will allow the City to fairly implement the program for long-term success. The City Council is requested to consider the recommendations and adopt the updated policy and related resolutions.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Traffic Commission Report dated April 30, 2024
2. Research of Surrounding Cities’ Pay Parking Systems
3. Proposed Civic Center Pay Parking System Policy
4. Proposed Resolution Updating Parking Rates and Hours
5. Proposed Resolution Updating Fines for Park Parking Violations
REVIEWED BY
Erin Backs, Finance Director
Christian Bettenhausen, City Attorney
Christine Cordon, City Manager