Title
Ordinance Amending Chapter 16 of the Greensboro City Ordinances with Respect to Enforcement of Front Yard Parking
Body
Department: Neighborhood Development and Office of the City Attorney
Council District: All
Public Hearing: No
Advertising Date/By: n/a
Contact 1 and Phone: Barbara Harris 373-2509
Contact 2 and Phone: Terri Jones 373-2320
PURPOSE:
City Council is requested to consider text amendments to Chapter 16 of the Greensboro Code of Ordinances, to incorporate the amendments by reference of Chapter 30 with regard to enforcement methods for violations of the Front Yard Parking ordinance, in order to improve enforcement outcomes and ensure compliance.
BACKGROUND:
Recognizing that Greensboro has many older neighborhoods with limited parking; this text amendment request seeks to revise the existing ordinance in order to accommodate the needs of residents seeking parking options, while maintaining the character and integrity of neighborhoods across the city.
Since 2011, Code Compliance Inspectors have investigated 1,776 complaints for front yard parking violations. Additionally, we have found that:
• 7% of all cases were repeat complaints.
• 11% resulted in active cases with multiple visits for compliance.
• Current enforcement tools consisting of the issuance of a Notice of Violation (with 30 days to cure) followed by civil penalties is ineffective to gain compliance, especially at repeat locations.
• Notices of Violation and civil penalties currently issued to the property owner and not the owner of the offending vehicle is ineffective in gaining compliance. The subject addresses are often rental properties.
• Current enforcement actions as prescribed in the ordinances offer no enforcement tools to address the vehicle and ensure it is moved in a timely fashion.
• Damage to property from repeated front yard parking becomes an eyesore and may detract from quality of life and home value
• Language relating to an exception to the ordinance for 3-day temporary events has been removed as most temporary events with front yard parking violations resolve themselves in less than 48 hours.
The proposed text amendment will incorporate unlawful front yard parking and set the penalty amount at $50 and also allow Code Compliance Inspectors, to ticket vehicles in violation of the Front Yard Parking ordinance by issuing a ticket (in cooperation with Local Parking Enforcement staff).
Ordinance revisions will become effective immediately upon adoption. As was the case when the front yard parking ordinance was originally introduced warning letters will be issue initially (before ticketing), and there will be a six month ‘public education period’ during which citizens will be notified via water bill inserts, Greensboro Television Network, neighborhood associations and other outreach efforts.
BUDGET IMPACT:
None
RECOMMENDATION / ACTION REQUESTED:
Neighborhood Development and the Office of the City Attorney recommend and request approval of the amendments to Chapter 16 of the Greensboro Code of Ordinances.
COMMITTEE ACTION: This item was referred to Council by the Community Services Committee.