Recommendation
Staff recommends that this ordinance be introduced and adopted at the meeting of May 18, 2009. If the Mayor and Council wish to introduce the ordinance and proceed to adoption at the same meeting, the ordinance should first be introduced, then a motion should be made to waive the layover period. If the motion to waive the layover period is approved by an affirmative vote of four members of the Mayor and Council, the Council may then proceed to move to adopt the ordinance.

Change in Law or Policy
Amends Chapter 23 entitled “Traffic” of the Rockville City Code by reducing the fines for expired parking meters/stalls in City-owned parking garages in the Town Center. This ordinance will take effect on June 1, 2009.

Discussion
On March 30, 2009, the Mayor and Council directed staff to return with recommendations for reducing the fine amount for parking violations in the Town Square, and to analyze alternatives for providing complimentary parking to City residents in the Town Square parking garages.

On April 13, 2009, staff recommended and the Mayor and Council approved reducing the parking fine amount for violations in the Town Square garages only, from the current $40 to $12. This is a 70 percent reduction, and is intended to ensure that visitors remain motivated to pay for their parking, while recognizing and supporting the important goal of providing a customer-friendly retail and residential environment in the Town Center. The 70 percent reduction in the parking fine will reduce the estimated annual revenue to $18,000, $42,000 less than the proposed revenue of $60,000.

Currently, the City of Rockville Police issue an average of 120 violations per month within the Town Square parking garages (average of 6.6 per day).

Mayor and Council History
April 13, 2009: Approval of Proposals for Reducing Parking Violation Fines in the Town Square Garages, and for Providing Limited Complimentary Parking in the Town Square Garages for City Residents.

Fiscal Impact
The 70 percent reduction in the parking fine for the Town Square parking garages will reduce the estimated annual revenue to $18,000, $42,000 less than the proposed revenue of $60,000.

There are approximately $2,500 in operating cost impacts associated with reducing the parking fine (changes to ticket forms, automated equipment, etc.). Funds are available in the FY 2009 Parking Fund account 320-900-8511 to cover these operating expenses.

Attachments

Department Head:



Terry Treschuk, Chief of Police
Approved on: 05/05/2009

Assistant City Manager:


Jenny Kimball, Assistant City Manager
Approved on: 05/06/2009

City Manager:

Scott Ullery, City Manager
Approved on: 05/06/2009