Item No. 1.
| MEETING DATE: November 16, 2020 |
|
| TO: | HONORABLE MAYOR AND COUNCILMEMBERS |
| FROM: | JIM SADRO, CITY MANAGER By: Adam Foster, Captain |
| SUBJECT: | CONSIDER REINSTATEMENT OF LA HABRA MUNICIPAL CODE 10.20.180 |
RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council approve to reinstate La Habra Municipal Code (LHMC) Section 10.20.180 to allow for enforcement of overnight parking violations beginning January 3, 2021, and waive overnight parking permit renewal fees for any parking permit holder who purchased an overnight parking permit for calendar year 2020.
DISCUSSION:
On January 31, 2020, the United States federal government declared a public health emergency in response to growing concern for public health related to the global spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). On February 26, 2020, the County of Orange declared a local health emergency and on March 4, 2020, Governor Newsom declared a state of emergency in California.
On March 16, 2020, in response to these actions, and pursuant to Government Code Section 8550 et seq., including Section 8558(c), City Manager Jim Sadro, acting in his capacity as Director of Emergency Services for the City of La Habra, proclaimed the existence of a local emergency in La Habra. On that same day, the City Council ratified the proclamation through its approval of Resolution No. 5934.
On April 6, 2020, in conjunction to the local declaration of emergency, City Manager Jim Sadro, with approval from City Council, temporarily suspended the enforcement of overnight parking permits and street sweeping violations (LHMC 10.20.180 and 10.20.30). Enforcement was suspended due to the increased amount of public street parking generated from the Governor’s “stay-at-home” order. With the “stay-at-home” order and subsequent business closures, many La Habra residents remained at home, increasing the amount of vehicles parked on City streets. This unintended consequence of the “stay-at-home” order made it impractical to enforce aspects of the City Municipal Code related to street sweeping and overnight parking violations.
On June 10, 2020, the County of Orange lifted many COVID-19 restrictions, allowing citizens to return to work and to engage in other routine functions, thus minimizing the need for people to “stay-at-home.” On September 28, 2020, the Police Department's traffic services division resumed the issuance of citations for street sweeping (LHMC 10.20.030) violations.
Accordingly, staff requests that City Council reinstate enforcement of overnight parking permits (LHMC 10.20.180) beginning on January 3, 2021. If approved by Council, staff will notify the public of the upcoming enforcement through the City's social media, website and water bill inserts.
During the 2020 calendar year, La Habra residents purchased 2,861 overnight parking permits at $36 for the first permit and $19 for any additional permits. The issuance of overnight parking permits generate approximately $70,000 in revenue per year for the General Fund. Due to the suspension of overnight parking enforcement for the majority of 2020, staff proposes to waive the permit renewal cost for anyone who purchased an overnight parking permit in calendar year 2020. Any resident who purchased a parking permit in 2020 will receive their 2021 renewal at no cost, though they will still need to apply for a 2021 parking permit. Staff further recommends that residents who paid for a permit in 2020 but no longer require a parking permit for the 2021 calendar year be eligible to receive a refund, should they request one.
On March 16, 2020, in response to these actions, and pursuant to Government Code Section 8550 et seq., including Section 8558(c), City Manager Jim Sadro, acting in his capacity as Director of Emergency Services for the City of La Habra, proclaimed the existence of a local emergency in La Habra. On that same day, the City Council ratified the proclamation through its approval of Resolution No. 5934.
On April 6, 2020, in conjunction to the local declaration of emergency, City Manager Jim Sadro, with approval from City Council, temporarily suspended the enforcement of overnight parking permits and street sweeping violations (LHMC 10.20.180 and 10.20.30). Enforcement was suspended due to the increased amount of public street parking generated from the Governor’s “stay-at-home” order. With the “stay-at-home” order and subsequent business closures, many La Habra residents remained at home, increasing the amount of vehicles parked on City streets. This unintended consequence of the “stay-at-home” order made it impractical to enforce aspects of the City Municipal Code related to street sweeping and overnight parking violations.
On June 10, 2020, the County of Orange lifted many COVID-19 restrictions, allowing citizens to return to work and to engage in other routine functions, thus minimizing the need for people to “stay-at-home.” On September 28, 2020, the Police Department's traffic services division resumed the issuance of citations for street sweeping (LHMC 10.20.030) violations.
Accordingly, staff requests that City Council reinstate enforcement of overnight parking permits (LHMC 10.20.180) beginning on January 3, 2021. If approved by Council, staff will notify the public of the upcoming enforcement through the City's social media, website and water bill inserts.
During the 2020 calendar year, La Habra residents purchased 2,861 overnight parking permits at $36 for the first permit and $19 for any additional permits. The issuance of overnight parking permits generate approximately $70,000 in revenue per year for the General Fund. Due to the suspension of overnight parking enforcement for the majority of 2020, staff proposes to waive the permit renewal cost for anyone who purchased an overnight parking permit in calendar year 2020. Any resident who purchased a parking permit in 2020 will receive their 2021 renewal at no cost, though they will still need to apply for a 2021 parking permit. Staff further recommends that residents who paid for a permit in 2020 but no longer require a parking permit for the 2021 calendar year be eligible to receive a refund, should they request one.
FISCAL IMPACT/SOURCE OF FUNDING:
The City's Fiscal Year 2020-2021 adopted budget assumes $77,325 in General Fund revenue from the issuance of overnight parking permits for calendar year 2021. Should the City Council approve the waiving of renewal fees for those individuals who purchased permits in calendar year 2020, General Fund revenues will decline by at least $70,000; however, any residents issued new permits for calendar year 2021 will be assessed the normal permit fee.
GENERAL PLAN RELEVANCE:
ED 9.1 Balanced Fiscal Practices