CR 90-177 Restricted Parking - City Lot 500•
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August 21, 1990 Report 90-1?
Promised Action:
days.
RESTRICTED PARKING - CITY LOT 500
The Parking Committee recommends adoption of the following motion: "For a
trial period of 90 days re3esigsaa.te Lot 500 far no parking 10:00 .m. -
p -
5:00 a.m. with the exception of 20 s aces for Tait's Grocery * which will be
d.esisns.e:ed a: c only parking. "
The 20 spaces should be striped and signed in a fashion which clearly
separates the from the remainder of the lot. The Parking Committee also
indicated that after the 90 day trial period, the Committee should review
the request for permanent placement. The Police Department should
actively research the loitering ordinance and report at the end of 90
"Cruising" has been a phenomenon which has been taking place in the City
of Hopkins, primarily in the Mainstreet area, for many years. Groups of
teenagers and young adults drive up and down the streets and/or, part; their
vehicles in parking lots where they mill about, conversing and visiting
with others. While the cruising phenomenon has been greatly reduced in
the past two to three years, the problems created by the cruisers are
still of such as nature as may justify additional enforcement steps.
Over the past several years, any of the public and private parking lots
along and around Mainstreet have been designated as no parking areas from
10:00 p.m, to 5:00 a .m. This has been very beneficial in controlling the
crowds of youngsters who congregated in these parking lots. City Lot 500,
commonly referred to as the " Tait's' lot, has not been designated or
restricted parkin primarily due to the fact that Tait's Grocery is a
24- hour -a -day business.
Police Department staff have been in contact with the management of Tait's
Grocery and other adjacent businesses in an attempt to find a way to
restrict parking in Lot 500 while still providing for use of the lot by
customers and employees of Tait's.
The plan devised by the Police Department staff in conjunction with than
area businesses would provide for the following
Approximately five parking spaces along the west border of Lot 500 for
Tait's employee parking,
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Twenty spaces, designated by sign and pavement stripthg, for customers
of Tait's during the hours of 10:00 p.m. to 5 :00 a.m.
Posting of tht remainder of Lot 500 as a no parking area from 10 :00
p.m. to 5:00 a.m.
These proposed actions would accomplish the goal of providing adequate
parking spaces for Taitt's customers and should also go a long way toward
reducing or eliminating the problem of groups of youngsters parking in Lot
500. The posting of Lot 500 will also bring it into conformity with the
restricted parking hours in other adjacent parking areas.
As Tait's is the only business open during the proposed period of
restricted parking, no adverse effects should be felt by any adjacent
businesses.
!lltetx�ti�a
1. Retain the current status of parking in Lot 500 and research and draft
a City ordinance regulating loitering.
The legality of adopting a loitering, ordinance to very questionable
becau se of constitutional issues. It should be noted that a previous
Hopkins ordinance dealing with the loitering issue was declared
unconstitutional by a Hennepin County judge.
The process of adopting such an ordinance would be tine consuming. Even
if such an ordinance could be adopted, it would be some tine before
enforcement could begin. This would not accomplish the purpose of the
proposed plan in a timely manner.
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Staff recommends that the proposed action be adopted as detailed. 'Upon
adoption of the parking restrictions, the police Department would strictly
enforce the parking limits by issuing citations and /or towing offending
vehicles. The towing of illegally parked vehicles is allowed by current
City ordinance.
o Police statistics on activity related to Eat 500
o Map of Lot 500 detailing the proposed changes,
James P. Liddy, Captain
Report 90- 177
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