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CR 91-262 Holiday Parking RegulationsY 0 P K November 25, 1991 CR 91 -262 HOLIDAY PARKING REGULATIONS Proposed Action. Staff recommends the adoption of the following motion: All parking time limits in the downtown be enforced as usual throughout the holiday season. This motion differs from previous years Council actions that have allowed all parking enforcement in the downtown area to cease throughout the holiday season. Overview. It has been the past policy of the Parking Committee and the City Council to each year suspend enforcement of the parking time limits during the holiday season. Upon review, it is felt past years policy has proved to be of no benefit to customers, and rather has encouraged more violations by employees. This recommendation is to not suspend parking time limits in the CBD during the holiday season. In past years the Council has adopted a policy of relaxing the time limits in the CBD. Issues to Consider. o Why should we not relax enforcement during the holiday season? o What are the reasons why enforcement would be suspended? o If parking regulations were to be relaxed, what regulations would be enforced during this period? Paul T. Steinman Community Development Specialist Analysis Based on the above information the City Council has the following issues to consider: o Why should we not relax enforcement during the holiday season? At their meeting of November 20th, The Parking Committee reviewed the past action of relaxing the city's parking enforcement during the holiday season. Upon review by the Parking Committee, they felt that relaxing enforcement of our parking rules ends up doing more harm than good. The Parking Committee felt that by relaxing enforcement we were providing the opportunity for only employees and business owners to violate the spirit and intent of this gesture. The Parking Committee felt since we never advertised the relaxed holiday parking enforcement, that the only people who knew about it were the employees. This allowed the employees to park in most of the high demand parking spaces, thereby leaving only the low demand spaces, farthest away from the stores, available for customer parking. In effect this causes a negative reaction from customers with regard to the City's parking availability. The Parking Committee felt it parking enforcement was relaxed, that Mainstreet should be included in the relaxed enforcement. The Parking Committee made a motion to not relax parking enforcement in the CBD during the holiday season. This motion passed on a 3 to 1 vote. The Business Council, at their November 21, 1991 meeting, concurred with the Parking Committee. It is the feeling of the Business Council that the relaxation of the parking restrictions really only benefited the employees and business owners, and did not really benefit the customers. The Business Council officially went on record at this meeting on 11- 21 -91, as proposing that the City of Hopkins continue to enforce the parking restrictions during the holiday season. The Business Council felt if parking enforcement was relaxed, that Mainstreet should not be included in the relaxed enforcement. o What are the reasons why enforcement would be suspended? This policy is used for a variety of reasons: • 1. It helps promote downtown. 2. It attempts to bolster retail sales. 3. It has traditionally been done each year. 4. It is a sign of goodwill to both customers and employees. o If parking regulations were to be relaxed, what regulations would be enforced during this period? During this two week period all parking regulations excluding the parking time limits would be enforced. Business Council recommends continued enforcement of Mainstreet time limits, and the Parking Committee recommends Mainstreet time limits be included in the relaxation of enforcement. These regulations which would be enforced include, but are not limited to the following: - license plate registration - Handicap parking - All "No Parking" restrictions - Fire Lane violation o If parking regulations were to be relaxed, when would this go into effect? Staff would recommend relaxed enforcement begin December 14 and end December 31. Staff feels that by lengthening this period of time, we may be promoting the establishment of bad habits for employees and other potential violators of our system. Alternatives. Based on the above information, the City Council has the following alternatives: 1. Adopt the recommended motion. 2. Suspend enforcement of parking time limits in the downtown beginning December 14 and ending December 31. 3. Continue the item for further information from staff.