2012-05 AMENDING CITY CODE - CHAPTER 34 - TRAFFIC AND PARKING

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PUBLIC WORKS MEMORANDUM NO. 2012- 05 DATE: January 31, 2012 TO: Honorable Mayor McElroy and City Council Members FROM: Richard G. Marley, P.E., Public Works Director SUBJECT: Amendments to City Code Chapter 34 Traffic & Parking SUMMARY RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends adopting this amendment to Chapter 34, Traffic &Parking, in order to fully implement changes to the parking system in Downtown Decatur. PRIOR COUNCIL ACTION: Council met in study session to discuss alternative parking management options on June 6, September 6, and September 13, 2011. Council directed staff to implement free parking in Downtown Decatur in conjunction with building streetscape improvements. BACKGROUND: At Study Session on September 13, 2011, Council reviewed and indicated support for a parking management plan that included free parking. The main elements of the plan are summarized as follows: 1. No Zones. The revised plan does not use special parking zones. All on-street spaces will be free. Parking lots D(near Decatur Club) and E (south of Striglos Haines and Essick) will also have free parking. 2. Paid Parking. Parking lots A(near the Courthouse) and F (east of County office building) will continue to have parking meters. Parking Garage C will have a combination of permit parking and parking meters. No changes in rates or time limits are proposed at this time. 3. Parking Time Limits. Maximum parking time limits will be posted on each block face or for individual parking spaces. The parking time limits will vary based upon adjacent land uses. Initially, the time limits will be the same as is now shown on parking meters. Short term 30-minute spaces will be located on most block faces the same as they are now. 4. All-Day Parking. All-day parking will initially be located east of Franklin Street,north of Eldorado Street, west of Church Street and South of Wood Street. Depending on parking demand, areas available for all-day parking may be increased or decreased. Parking will be prohibited between the hours of 2:00 am and 5:00 am for street sweeping.