Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/08/2025 03.D. Ordinance amending the City of Yakima Municipal Code Section 9.50.220: Long-term parking permits i4 ..44iiiiii , ,i 00 BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL YAKIMA, WASHINGTON AGENDA STATEMENT Item No. 3.D. For Meeting of: April 8, 2025 ITEM TITLE: Ordinance amending the City of Yakima Municipal Code Section 9.50.220: Long-term parking permits SUBMITTED BY: Sara Watkins, City Attorney SUMMARY EXPLANATION: Pursuant to the Council's request, staff brings to Council proposed changes to the Long-term Parking Permits ordinance allowing the City Manager to have some discretion and flexibility to issue parking permits over the 60°/0 level outlined in the ordinance. Additional changes were made when reviewing the ordinance, including, but not limited to, an addition that clearly states that parking permits can be revoked or suspended if they were obtained using false information. Staff continues to evaluate the parking permit process and will be working to ensure that the application process, how permits are obtained, and the use of the permits meets the Yakima Municipal Code provisions and rules. ITEM BUDGETED: No STRATEGIC PRIORITY 24-25: A Thriving Yakima RECOMMENDATION: Pass Ordinance. ATTACHMENTS: Ord-Long-term parking permits_redline.pdf Ord_Long-term parking permits_final.doc 43 ORDINANCE NO. 2025- AN ORDINANCE amending the City of Yakima Municipal Code Section 9.50.220: Long- term parking permits. WHEREAS, the demand for long-term parking permits in the downtown parking lots is exceeding the currently allocated percentage of parking spaces in those lots; and WHEREAS, the City Council understands that downtown parking lots are necessary for successful businesses so that customers of those businesses have a place to park; and WHEREAS, the City Council does not want to change the percentage of parking spaces which can be utilized as long-term parking under the long-term parking permit ordinances, but understands that there may be circumstances where it is appropriate to exceed the 60% allocation; and WHEREAS, the City Council finds that it would be most efficient if the City Manager had flexibility and discretion to evaluate applications for long-term parking permits above the 60% level and decide as to whether issuing said permit is appropriate, while taking into consideration the needs of businesses to have spaces available for customers; and WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Yakima finds it is in the best interests of the City and its residents to amend Yakima Municipal Code Section 9.50.220: Long-term parking permits; now, therefore, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF YAKIMA: Section 1. Yakima Municipal Code Section 9.50.220: Long-term parking permits, shall be amended to read as follows: 9.50.220 Long-term parking permits. A. Issuance of Permits. The issuance of permits to authorize long-term vehicular parking in parking lots owned by the city shall be administered by the city department of finance and budget according to the following rules and regulations: 1. Number—Existing Permits—Waiting List. The number of long-term permits to be issued for parking in any lot shall not exceed sixty percent of the total parking spaces in the city-owned lots listed in YMC 9.50.215(A). Issuance of new long-term parking permits shall be on a first-come, first-served basis. When the available long-term permits are filled, subsequent applications received will be placed on file in the order received, a waiting list will be established, and permits will be issued as openings occur. The City Manager is authorized to issue additional parking permits over the 60% amount if, after explanation by the applicant and evaluation of the current parking permits issued, the City Manager deems it appropriate to do so. 2. Eligibility—Location. Permits shall be issued only upon the written application of a resident residing within, or an owner, manager or employee of a business or governmental agency located within the area bounded by the following streets: 44 Staff Sgt. Pendleton Way on the north; Naches Avenue on the east; Walnut Street on the south; and First Street on the west. Managers or employees of the Yakima Valley Regional Library whose primarily place of employment is the downtown library branch are also eligible for a long-term permit. 3. Residential Permits. No more than two long-term parking permits may be issued to the resident of each residential unit within the area described in subsection (A)(2) of this section. A "residential unit" has the same meaning as "dwelling unit" as found in YMC 15.02.020. Application for residential permits shall be made pursuant to YMC 9.50.200. 4. Application—Form. Application for permits other than residential permits which use the application process outlined in 9.50.200, shall be made on forms furnished by the department of finance and budget. Said application forms shall require, at a minimum, the following information and documentation: a. Name, address, and telephone number of the applicant; b. Make, model, and year of the passenger motor vehicle or pickup truck, which vehicle shall not exceed fourteen thousand pounds in gross weight, which is registered to the applicant and for which the permit is sought. c. A copy of the current vehicle registration; d. A copy of the applicant's current driver's license; e. A copy of the applicant's current proof of insurance in the form required by RCW 46.30.030; f. A representation that the vehicle is operable and may be legally driven on the public highways of Washington State; and g. A sworn statement that the applicant meets the Eligibility requirements of subsection (A)(2) of this section. 5. Issuance of Permit—No Designation of Parking Space. Permits are for the use of all of the city-owned parking lots listed in YMC 9.50.215(A). There is no designated parking spot, stall, location or parking lot associated with a parking permit. The issuance of a permit does not reserve a designated parking space in any specific parking lot and each applicant for a permit shall acknowledge in writing that no such space is reserved and that the issuance of a permit by the city does not guarantee the availability of a parking space at all times. 6. Term of Permit. Permits may be purchased on an annual, semi-annual, or quarterly basis. Annual permits will be issued on an annual calendar basis, to expire on the last day of the of the month of December each year. Quarterly or semi-annual permits may also be issued, with the calendar quarters consisting of (a) January 1st through March 31st; (b) April 1st through June 30th; (c) July 1st through September 30th; and (d) October 1st through December 31st 7. Fee. The fee for a long-term parking permit shall be set forth in the city of Yakima master fee schedule as adopted via resolution by city council. The permit fee shall be paid to the city at the time a new permit is issued, or at the time of making application for a renewal. The fee for a new permit to cxpirc in Icy., than one calendar year will be prorated for any full calendar month remaining in the calendar 45 year. No fee will be prorated for less than one full calendar month. In the event a permit is issued in the middle of a permit period outlined in subsection (6) above, the fee for the new permit shall be prorated to Day the calendar months remaining in the permit period. Fees paid electronically by credit card or other means will be assessed a processing fee per transaction as set forth in the city of Yakima master fee schedule adopted via resolution by city council, or such other amount as incurred by the city. 8. Renewal of Permits. A. Annual Permits. Permits previously issued may be renewed for the next succeeding year, upon submission of an updated application and payment of the renewal perm fee between December 15th and December 24th of the year of expiration; applications for renewals will not be accepted prior to December 1st of the year of expiration. B. Quarterly or Semi-Annual Permits. Previously issued quarterly and semi-annual permits may be renewed for the next succeeding quarter or other term upon submission of an updated application and payment of the renewal oerr fee between the fifteenth day of the month of expiration through the twenty-fifth day of the month of expiration; applications for renewal shall not be accepted prior to the first day of the month of expiration. 9. Failure to Renew. Failure of a permit holder to apply for renewal within the renewal period specified by these rules may result in the loss of that permit to the next applicant on the waiting list. 10. Cancellation by Permit Holder. Permits will be cancelled upon application by the permit holder for such cancellation, and the unused permit fee will be refunded as prorated per month for each full calendar month remaining in the period for which the permit was issued. No refund of the permit fee will be made for a partial calendar month. 11. Permits Restricted. Permits shall not be issued to persons with outstanding city of Yakima parking violations. 12. Rules and Regulations. The director of finance and budget or her/his designee is authorized to adopt such further rules and regulations, not inconsistent with rules and regulations of this section, as the director deems necessary or advisable to administer the permit system authorized and adopted by this section. Such further rules and regulations may include supplemental terms, conditions and timelines, for issuance and renewals of long-term parking permits on a quarterly and semi-annual calendar basis. 13. Parking permits are the property of the City and may be revoked or suspended if any of the following occur: a. The permit is used on an unregistered vehicle; b. The permit is used by an unauthorized individual; c. The permit holder violates any parking rules; d. Counterfeiting or altering a parking permit; or e. Falsification of a parking permit application or any portion thereof. 46 Permit holders whose permits are revoked or suspended under this provision are not entitled to a refund of any of the permit fee. B. A vehicle displaying a valid parking permit issued pursuant to this section may remain parked in a city-owned parking lot listed in YMC 9.50.215(A) for a period of time not to exceed twenty-four consecutive hours; provided, however, that said time restriction shall not apply to long-term parking permits issued to residents under section 9.50.200. The permit must be displayed within the parked vehicle in such a manner as to be plainly visible and legible from a point outside the vehicle near the driver's position. (Ord. 2024-013 § 3, 2024; 2023-036 § 1, 2023; 2022-040 §60, 2022; Ord. 2012-52 § 1 (Exh. A), 2012; Ord 2009-12 §3, 2009; Ord 2005- 04 §4, 2005; Ord. 2004-02 § 1, 2004; Ord. 2003-39 §3, 2003; Ord. 99-6 §1, 1999; Ord. 3298 § 1, 1990; Ord. 2935 § 1, 1986; Ord. 2735 § 2 (part), 1983). Section 2. If any section, subsection, paragraph, sentence, clause or phrase of this ordinance is declared invalid or unconstitutional for any reason, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this ordinance. Section 3. This ordinance shall be in full force and effect 30 days after its passage, approval, and publication as provided by law and by the City Charter. PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL, signed and approved this day of , 2025. Patricia Byers, Mayor ATTEST: Rosalinda Ibarra, City Clerk Publication Date: Effective Date: 47 ORDINANCE NO. 2025- AN ORDINANCE amending the City of Yakima Municipal Code Section 9.50.220: Long- term parking permits. WHEREAS, the demand for long-term parking permits in the downtown parking lots is exceeding the currently allocated percentage of parking spaces in those lots; and WHEREAS, the City Council understands that downtown parking lots are necessary for successful businesses so that customers of those businesses have a place to park; and WHEREAS, the City Council does not want to change the percentage of parking spaces which can be utilized as long-term parking under the long-term parking permit ordinances, but understands that there may be circumstances where it is appropriate to exceed the 60% allocation; and WHEREAS, the City Council finds that it would be most efficient if the City Manager had flexibility and discretion to evaluate applications for long-term parking permits above the 60% level and decide as to whether issuing said permit is appropriate, while taking into consideration the needs of businesses to have spaces available for customers; and WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Yakima finds it is in the best interests of the City and its residents to amend Yakima Municipal Code Section 9.50.220: Long-term parking permits; now, therefore, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF YAKIMA: Section 1. Yakima Municipal Code Section 9.50.220: Long-term parking permits, shall be amended to read as follows: 9.50.220 Long-term parking permits. A. Issuance of Permits. The issuance of permits to authorize long-term vehicular parking in parking lots owned by the city shall be administered by the city department of finance and budget according to the following rules and regulations: 1. Number—Existing Permits—Waiting List. The number of long-term permits to be issued for parking in any lot shall not exceed sixty percent of the total parking spaces in the city-owned lots listed in YMC 9.50.215(A). Issuance of new long-term parking permits shall be on a first-come, first-served basis. When the available long-term permits are filled, subsequent applications received will be placed on file in the order received, a waiting list will be established, and permits will be issued as openings occur. The City Manager is authorized to issue additional parking permits over the 60% amount if, after explanation by the applicant and evaluation of the current parking permits issued, the City Manager deems it appropriate to do so. 2. Eligibility—Location. Permits shall be issued only upon the written application of a resident residing within, or an owner, manager or employee of a business or governmental agency located within the area bounded by the following streets: 48 Staff Sgt. Pendleton Way on the north; Naches Avenue on the east; Walnut Street on the south; and First Street on the west. Managers or employees of the Yakima Valley Regional Library whose primarily place of employment is the downtown library branch are also eligible for a long-term permit. 3. Residential Permits. No more than two long-term parking permits may be issued to the resident of each residential unit within the area described in subsection (A)(2) of this section. A "residential unit" has the same meaning as "dwelling unit" as found in YMC 15.02.020. Application for residential permits shall be made pursuant to YMC 9.50.200. 4. Application—Form. Application for permits other than residential permits which use the application process outlined in 9.50.200, shall be made on forms furnished by the department of finance and budget. Said application forms shall require, at a minimum, the following information and documentation: a. Name, address, and telephone number of the applicant; b. Make, model, and year of the passenger motor vehicle or pickup truck, which vehicle shall not exceed fourteen thousand pounds in gross weight, which is registered to the applicant and for which the permit is sought. c. A copy of the current vehicle registration; d. A copy of the applicant's current driver's license; e. A copy of the applicant's current proof of insurance in the form required by RCW 46.30.030; f. A representation that the vehicle is operable and may be legally driven on the public highways of Washington State; and g. A sworn statement that the applicant meets the Eligibility requirements of subsection (A)(2) of this section. 5. Issuance of Permit—No Designation of Parking Space. Permits are for the use of all of the city-owned parking lots listed in YMC 9.50.215(A). There is no designated parking spot, stall, location or parking lot associated with a parking permit. The issuance of a permit does not reserve a designated parking space in any specific parking lot and each applicant for a permit shall acknowledge in writing that no such space is reserved and that the issuance of a permit by the city does not guarantee the availability of a parking space at all times. 6. Term of Permit. Permits may be purchased on an annual, semi-annual, or quarterly basis. Annual permits will be issued on an annual calendar basis, to expire on the last day of the of the month of December each year. Quarterly or semi-annual permits may also be issued, with the calendar quarters consisting of (a) January 1st through March 31st; (b) April 1st through June 30th; (c) July 1st through September 30th; and (d) October 1st through December 31 st 7. Fee. The fee for a long-term parking permit shall be set forth in the city of Yakima master fee schedule as adopted via resolution by city council. The permit fee shall be paid in full to the city at the time a new permit is issued, or at the time of making application for a renewal. In the event a permit is issued in the middle of a permit period outlined in subsection (6) above, the fee for the new permit shall be prorated 49 to pay the calendar months remaining in the permit period. Fees paid electronically by credit card or other means will be assessed a processing fee per transaction as set forth in the city of Yakima master fee schedule adopted via resolution by city council, or such other amount as incurred by the city. 8. Renewal of Permits. A. Annual Permits. Permits previously issued may be renewed for the next succeeding year, upon submission of an updated application and payment of the permit fee between December 15th and December 24th of the year of expiration; applications for renewals will not be accepted prior to December 1st of the year of expiration. B. Quarterly or Semi-Annual Permits. Previously issued quarterly and semi-annual permits may be renewed for the next succeeding quarter or other term upon submission of an updated application and payment of the permit fee between the fifteenth day of the month of expiration through the twenty-fifth day of the month of expiration; applications for renewal shall not be accepted prior to the first day of the month of expiration. 9. Failure to Renew. Failure of a permit holder to apply for renewal within the renewal period specified by these rules may result in the loss of that permit to the next applicant on the waiting list. 10. Cancellation by Permit Holder. Permits will be cancelled upon application by the permit holder for such cancellation, and the unused permit fee will be refunded as prorated per month for each full calendar month remaining in the period for which the permit was issued. No refund of the permit fee will be made for a partial calendar month. 11. Permits Restricted. Permits shall not be issued to persons with outstanding city of Yakima parking violations. 12. Rules and Regulations. The director of finance and budget or her/his designee is authorized to adopt such further rules and regulations, not inconsistent with rules and regulations of this section, as the director deems necessary or advisable to administer the permit system authorized and adopted by this section. Such further rules and regulations may include supplemental terms, conditions and timelines, for issuance and renewals of long-term parking permits on a quarterly and semi-annual calendar basis. 13. Parking permits are the property of the City and may be revoked or suspended if any of the following occur: a. The permit is used on an unregistered vehicle; b. The permit is used by an unauthorized individual; c. The permit holder violates any parking rules; d. Counterfeiting or altering a parking permit; or e. Falsification of a parking permit application or any portion thereof. Permit holders whose permits are revoked or suspended under this provision are not entitled to a refund of any of the permit fee. 50 B. A vehicle displaying a valid parking permit issued pursuant to this section may remain parked in a city-owned parking lot listed in YMC 9.50.215(A) for a period of time not to exceed twenty-four consecutive hours; provided, however, that said time restriction shall not apply to long-term parking permits issued to residents under section 9.50.200. The permit must be displayed within the parked vehicle in such a manner as to be plainly visible and legible from a point outside the vehicle near the driver's position. (Ord. 2024-013 § 3, 2024; 2023-036 § 1, 2023; 2022-040 §60, 2022; Ord. 2012-52 § 1 (Exh. A), 2012; Ord 2009-12 §3, 2009; Ord 2005- 04 §4, 2005; Ord. 2004-02 § 1, 2004; Ord. 2003-39 §3, 2003; Ord. 99-6 §1, 1999; Ord. 3298 § 1, 1990; Ord. 2935 § 1, 1986; Ord. 2735 § 2 (part), 1983). Section 2. If any section, subsection, paragraph, sentence, clause or phrase of this ordinance is declared invalid or unconstitutional for any reason, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this ordinance. Section 3. This ordinance shall be in full force and effect 30 days after its passage, approval, and publication as provided by law and by the City Charter. PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL, signed and approved this day of , 2025. Patricia Byers, Mayor ATTEST: Rosalinda Ibarra, City Clerk Publication Date: Effective Date: 51