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CR 91-35 Residential Handicapped Parking Zones 1 y 0 \ CJ I' e m ,y -'" o P K \ "" January 31, 1991 Council Report # 91-35 Residential Handicapped Parking/Transfer Zones proposed Action. Staff recommends adoption of the following motion: Move to refer the Handicapped Parkinq/Transfer Zone issue to staff for review. draftinq of ordinance. and recommendation. At this time a technical assessment by publ ic Works, and Engineering has not been included. A recommendation, and draft of ordinance, will not be included until a technical assessment has been completed. Overview. An elderly disabled resident has requested a handicapped parking/ transfer zone on the street adjacent to the resident's home. The handicapped parking/transfer zone would allow the individual easy access to the side walk when entering, and exiting a vehicle. Most handicapped parking zones are in public parking lots, or located in business areas on public streets. However, this zone would be in a residential area. . Minnesota state law specifies guidelines, and statutes for the use and placement of handicapped parking/transfer zones. In addition, the City of Minneapolis has a program in place, administering handicapped parking and transfer zones to handicapped individuals in residential areas. Primary Issues to Consider. 0 What would (if any) be the additional cost of legal enforcement; and regulation of zone placement, and removal? 0 Equity of allowing one resident to have a handicapped parking/transfer zone vs. other handicapped individuals wanting one. Limited resources may prohibit the number of zones allowable? 0 Types of handicapped parking zones in residential areas, what type of vehicle identification will be acceptable, and what type of eligibility requirements for applicants? supportinq Documents. 0 Detailed Background 0 Analysis of issues . 1~ Q G}\t-) ~' \,',' ^ry........pp'-____ Scott R. Thompson, Administrative Intern . CR: 91-35 Page 2 Detailed Background. The following is a summary of Minnesota state statutes and guidelines applying to handicapped parking. Included in the background information is a description of the residential handicapped parking/transfer program operated by the City of Minneapolis. o state of Minnesota Guidelines A majority of state handicapped parking law defines guidelines for vehicle licensing, eligibility requirements. Specific regulations for vehicle operators, vehicles, and parking spaces are also included. Minnesota state statutes differentiate between handicapped parking zones, and handicapped transfer zones. o Handicapped parking and transfer zones. Transfer zones are for the specific purpose of allowing handicapped individuals to board vehicles. Transfer zones do not allow vehicles of any type to park there unattended. Parking zones are reserved parking . slots for individuals with either a handicapped vehicle license, or a handicapped vehicle certificate. If a vehicle with a handicapped license, or certificate, parks ln a handicapped parking zone it must be operated by, or transporting, a handicapped individual. o Handicapped vehicle licensing. The Minnesota Department of Public Safety issues two types of vehicle identification for the handicapped. 1) A state of Minnesota vehicle license plate; specifically identifying the vehicle, and owner as handicapped. This license plate allows parking privileges in handicapped parking zones for the handicapped owner. 2) A handicapped certificate; placed on the vehicle's dashboard identifies the vehicle as transporting physically handicapped persons. The certificate grants the same parking privileges as a handicapped license plate. Licenses and certificates are valid for the duration of one's disability, temporary or permanent, up to six years. Renewal is based on original application requirements, a physician's or chiropractor's statement, and approval by the commissioner of public safety. o Parking rights Minnesota state statutes do not imply the legality of reserved parking for specific individuals. Handicapped parking and transfer zones are . available to anyone who is handicapped, and with handicapped parking privileges. Based on available information, it lS unlikely that a reserved parking zone, on a publicly maintained street, for a specific individual, would be legal. . CR: 91-35 Page 3 o city of Minneapolis. The residential handicapped parking/transfer zone program in Minneapolis is administered by the Traffic Engineering Division. Richard Dahl, an engineering aide with the Traffic Engineering Division, administers the program. Minneapolis does not have a written policy. However, there are formal guidelines for application and approval whenever an individual applies for a handicapped parking/transfer zone. o Residential handicapped parking/transfer program. A handicapped individual must write a letter to the director of traffic engineering explaining the nature of their disability, and why they need a transfer, or parking zone adj acent to their residence. Traffic engineering than verifies the license plate with the Minnesota Department of Public Safety. If verified, the request is presented to the city council, and the council either approves, or disapproves the request. Public works lS responsible for implementing the council action. Monitoring and regulation is handled by traffic engineering, and the police department. . The city does not issue transfer zones to businesses, or churches, and verifies the validity of handicapped licenses only if there is some doubt on the honesty of the applicant. The actual screening process is very lenient, and without a lot of process. Most individuals applying for zones are disabled elderly, and the council usually approves the request unless traffic engineering objects. o Restrictions, Minneapolis vs. State of Minnesota. Minneapolis does not consider a handicapped parking certificate equal to a handicapped vehicle license. This is more restrictive than state guidelines, which allow equal validity for certificates and licenses. Richard Dahl mentioned that the reason for not accepting handicapped certificates was that the state had issued more than necessary. Richard Dahl stated; "Almost one for every three automobiles is registered with a handicapped certificate. However, the state has recently attempted to restrict the number of new issuances." Minneapolis does not require a physicians or chiropractor's statement to verify the individual's disability. The state only requires this at time application, and at time of renewal (every six years) . o Zone removal, regulation. . There is no specific policy on removal of council approved handicapped transfer/parking zones. Zones can be removed by a variety of actions, council member initiative, letter from neighbors, or a request from the individual who originally used the zone. Nevertheless, the council must approve the removal of any handicapped transfer/parking zone. . e CR: 91-35 Page 4 The zone removal process is not started unless the individual using it, or a councilmember requests the removal. Rich Dahl mentioned that Analysis of Issues. Referencing the Primary Issues to Consider, the analysis focuses three basis; I} Enforcement and regulation, 2) Equity, and 3) Types of zones and licenses. 0 Enforcement and Regulation Enforcement and regulation relates to additional costs that would be created by this action. If one individual is allowed a handicapped parking, or transfer zone, it is likely that other handicapped residents will apply for one. Additional expenditures for law enforcement (ie. parking tickets for vehicles that illegally park in the zone, towing, etc. ) , and regulation (ie. administering additional requests for zones, public works maintenance activities, etc. ) will be required. The additional costs can be estimated after a complete e analysis is conducted with public works, and engineering. 0 Equity If one resident is allowed the privilege of using a residential handicapped parking/transfer zone, other handicapped residents may request one. Fairness, and equity, could be the rationale other residents use to argue for their own parking, or transfer zone. A possible argument used by a resident could be; "if citizen X gets one, why can't I?II If one resident is allowed to have a zone it may be difficult, from an equity standpoint, to refuse requests from other residents. Resources are limited, and if additional residents request more zones costs will increase. 0 Types of Zones, and Licenses The state of Minnesota does not differentiate between handicapped vehicle certificates, and vehicle license plates. Minneapolis is unique by recognizing vehicle license plates, and not vehicle certificates. The type of zone approved for a particular individual is dependant on a number of technical factors (ie. current available parking space, projected frequency of use, etc. ) . Additional information will be provided from the technical assessment. Recommendation. . Forth coming after a complete technical assessment from engineering and public works.