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ADOPT ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTIONS OF TITLE 1 AND TITLE 10 OF THE CITY OF STOCKTON MUNICIPAL CODE CONCERNING PARKING ENFORCEMENT AND PARKING ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS
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RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council adopt an Ordinance amending Sections of Title 1 and Title 10 of the City of Stockton Municipal Code to allow parking enforcement officers to enforce parking throughout the City of Stockton and clarify the authority of parking enforcement officers.
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Summary
Currently, the Stockton Municipal Code (“SMC”) limits the authority of parking enforcement officers to enforce parking within the Central Parking District. This ordinance, if adopted, would allow parking enforcement officers to enforce parking throughout the City of Stockton and would clarify the authority of parking enforcement officers by amending references to an outdated classification and updating outdated processes.
DISCUSSION
Background
In December 2013, the City Council established the Parking Authority, as a separate entity, to protect the general fund and improve the quality and efficiency of parking operations. The City also contracted with Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. (“Consultant”) to conduct a comprehensive review and evaluation of its parking programs and operations to determine what improvements or changes were needed. The Consultant’s report discussed the importance of having a vertically integrated program, as opposed to the City’s fragmented parking program. Operations and management were provided by the Economic Development Department, maintenance was handled by Public Works, and the Police Department was responsible for enforcement and collections. The Consultant’s final report provided goals and action items to improve customer service and operational efficiencies. The top action items in the Consultant’s report were to outsource operations to an experienced parking firm, hire a parking administrator or manager, and move parking enforcement under the Parking Authority.
In 2014, the City began implementing these recommendations. On November 4, 2014, the City Council adopted an ordinance which allowed parking enforcement officers, under the Parking Authority, to enforce parking within the Central Parking District (Attachment A - Ordinance No. 2014-11-04-1201). On December 16, 2014, the Parking Authority, by Motion No. PA 2014-12-16-1202, approved a contract with SP Plus Corporation (“SP+”) to manage and operate the parking facilities. On April 1, 2015, SP+ began operating all of the parking facilities and is responsible for maintenance and upkeep of the parking facilities and meters. And on January 27, 2015, the City Council adopted a resolution establishing the Parking Authority budget, and allocating three parking enforcement positions and a parking manager position (Attachment B - Resolution No. 2015-01-27-1601). So far, the parking manager position and one parking enforcement position have been filled.
Present Situation
Recruitment and hiring of the two remaining parking enforcement positions and the transition of parking enforcement responsibilities from the Police Department to the Parking Authority is underway. To complete the transfer of enforcement responsibilities to the Parking Authority, additional changes to the SMC are necessary. SMC Title 1, and Title 10, contain sections that deal with parking enforcement and those authorized to enforce parking.
SMC Chapter 1.20, Section 1.20.020 outlines the parking citation appeal process. The proposed ordinance will update this section to reflect the transition of parking enforcement from the Police Department to the Parking Authority. In addition, the recommended changes will describe the current procedures and provide the ability to allow future enhancements to the appeal process.
Chapters 10.04, 10.16, 10.44, and 10.48 all contain sections that deal with traffic regulation, removal and impound of vehicles, parking meters, and off-street parking lots. Currently, those Chapters, in particular SMC Section 10.04.070 (C), authorize parking enforcement officers to enforce parking solely within the Central Parking District. For an efficient and comprehensive transition, parking enforcement officers need the ability and authorization to enforce parking throughout the City. The proposed changes will help clarify the authority of parking enforcement officers by updating definitions and removing outdated references to a classification that no longer exists.
If approved, the references to the old classification (Parking Violations Deputy) will be amended and will provide the same parking enforcement authority to parking enforcement officers. The proposed changes do not remove or alter the authority of those classifications currently designated by the Chief of Police to enforce parking, such as community service officers.
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
The proposed ordinance will not have an immediate fiscal impact. Parking citation revenue and expenditures are budgeted in the Parking Authority fund 418-4024. As the transition of parking enforcement progresses, Economic Development staff will return to Council if it is determined that amendments to the budget become necessary.
Attachment A - Ordinance No. 2014-11-04-1201
Attachment B - Resolution No. 2015-01-27-1601
Attachment C - Draft Ordinance (Redline Version)