On February 9, 2015,  Council Member Pitman made an initiative to direct staff to proceed with the needed ordinance amendments to allow off-street and on-street tow truck parking in residential zones within the city limits. The initiative was approved 9-1.The off-street portion of the ordinance amendments require a Unified Zoning Code amendment that was first submitted to the City Zoning Commission for a Public hearing and Zoning Commission recommendation. That hearing was conducted on March 3, 2015, and the Zoning Commission voted to recommend disapproval of the off-street parking zone change.That zone change is before the City Council tonight as Regular Agenda item 7 for Public Hearing and First Reading.

Also needed for consistency are companion amendments to Section 24-406 of the Billings Montana City Code (BMCC),  which regulates on-street parking of tow trucks. The proposed amendments to Section 24-406 permit on-street parking by Class A and Class D commercial tow trucks.  These amendments limit the location where the tow trucks are allowed to park by requiring that such Class A and Class D tow trucks be parked directly in front of the driver's house or property only. All other state and local parking regulations and restrictions still apply. 

City Council may:

• Approve the proposed amendments to BMCC Section 24-406 which allow but restrict Class A and D tow trucks parking in residential areas;
• Disapprove the proposed ordinance amendments; or
• Delay action on the proposed amendments

The financial impact of this ordinance is unpredictable. As stated in the staff memo on the related  Regular Agenda Item #7, tow trucks parking in residential areas may impact purchasing or selling homes in those areas. There may also be some unpredictable impact to street maintenance where these vehicles are parked but it is difficult to determine the cost, if any.

Staff recommends that City Council approve this ordinance amendment if Council also approves the Zoning Code amendment in item #7

Staff recommends that City Council disapprove this ordinance amendment if the Council also disapproves the Zoning Code amendment in Item #7.