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04. Proposed Changes to Chapter 72 of City Code - Parking Staff Report Date of Meeting: 8/7/2024 For: Mayor and City Council From: Charles Fischer – Director of Public Works Subject: Parking on City Roads Background: During the current road improvement project, concerns about parking on city roads, most notably on 196th St. N., have been reported to city staff. There have also been numerous past and current reports of parking issues across the City in areas with increased density. Due to the number of complaints and concerns Public Works has reviewed parking ordinances with City Staff and Deputy Booth. The verbiage within City Ordinance Chapter 72 has been reviewed, and specific changes have been submitted in this report for clarity, not only for City Staff and law enforcement but for residents as well. Existing Ordinance Chapter 72 (A)(2) & (B) (2) It shall be unlawful for any person or organization to cause, allow, permit, or suffer any vehicle to be parked on the streets located within the city in areas designated and posted accordingly as no parking zones. (B) Designated no parking zones. The following streets are designated as no parking zones and subject to the regulation of this schedule. Additional streets may be designated by the City Council through an amending ordinance. 185th Street North An area 300 feet west from Langley Avenue North 188th Street North An area on the north side of the street consisting of 1,400 feet west of Norell Avenue, and an area on the south side of the street consisting of 900 feet west of Norell Avenue 205th Street North An area on the south side from the Soo Line Railroad tracks to the Log House Landing boat launch parking area 209th Street North An area on both sides of the street between Olinda Trail and Oakhill Drive 238th Street North An area on both sides of the street 1,300 feet east from Lofton Avenue North Lake Lane An area on both sides of the street from Lofton Court to Bone Lake Langley Avenue North From 185th Street North to Langley Court North Log House Landing The area on the west side of platted Otis Street Meadowbrook Avenue North An area on both sides of the street north from State Trunk Highway 97 Mayberry Avenue North An area 500 feet east and 500 feet west from the Department of Natural Resources boat ramp Melanie Avenue North An area on both sides of the street 1,000 feet south from 238th Street North Norell Avenue An area on both sides of the street 150 feet south of 188th Street North Chapter 72 (D); (D) Unobstructed width. No person shall stop, park, or leave standing any vehicle, whether attended or unattended upon the paved or improved or main traveled part of any street, road, or byway located within the city when it is practical to stop, park, or so leave a vehicle off the part of the street, road, or byway, but in every event a clear and unobstructed width of at least 20 feet of the part of the highway opposite the standing vehicle shall be left for the free passage of other vehicles and a clear view of the stopped vehicle shall be available from a distance of 200 feet in each direction upon the street. Issue: Should the Council move forward with a Public Hearing with proposed changes to Ordinance 72? Proposed Changes: Public Works recommends changing the ‘Designated No Parking Zones’ to any road with a width of 24 feet or less with an exemption to vehicles able to be parked completely off the paved or improved street, road, or byway. The ‘improved roadway’ distinction encompasses gravel roadways which the City maintains. All of the streets listed in Chapter (2)(B) are 24 feet or less in width and may remain posted as-is, and the specifically listed streets could be removed from the ordinance. In the future, the list of special restrictions will only apply to roads with a paved width of 24 feet or more, which is a very small percentage within the city. The proposed changes will assist law enforcement in equally distributing violations across the City and limiting the amount of signage required in specific areas currently or in the future. Areas where problems may persist after the proposed Ordinance change could then be signed at any time on roads without delay of an approval process for a specific section of road less than 24 feet in width. Proposed change to 72(A)(2) (2) It shall be unlawful for any person or organization to cause, allow, permit, or suffer any vehicle to be parked on the streets located within the city in areas designated and posted accordingly as no parking zones. to obstruct free passage of traveling vehicles in any or all drive lanes . Proposed change to 72(B) (B) Designated no parking zones. The following streets are designated as no parking zones and subject to the regulation of this schedule. Additional streets may be designated by the City Council through an amending ordinance. All City roads under 24 feet in width shall be No Parking Zones unless a stopped, parked, or left standing vehicle is able to have all parts of the vehicle off of and/or clear of the paved or improved surface where reasonable and to not cause damage to property. Chapter 72 (D), currently states all City roads are unable to be parked on or adjacent to if less than 20 feet remain for clear passage. A majority of Scandia’s City roads are paved to 22 feet in width or less per plan specifications. A majority of current road widths allow for 2 feet or less of a vehicle to be on a roadway when stationary. By stating a specific width of clear passage leaves room for interpretation by both law enforcement and vehicle owner. This section has posed problems with enforcement and has caused misperception between vehicle owner and law enforcement. Staff recommend replacing the Unobstructed Width to On Street Parking Proposed change to 72(D) (D) Unobstructed width. No person shall stop, park, or leave standing any vehicle, whether attended or unattended upon the paved or improved or main traveled part of any street, road, or byway located within the city when it is practical to stop, park, or so leave a vehicle off the part of the street, road, or byway, but in every event a clear and unobstructed width of at least 20 feet of the part of the highway opposite the standing vehicle shall be left for the free passage of other vehicles and a clear view of the stopped vehicle shall be available from a distance of 200 feet in each direction upon the street. (D) On-Street Parking; parking is allowed on roads 24 feet or more in width, on-street parking for no more than twenty-four (24) hours shall be limited to the residents of those homes and their guests. The number of vehicles parked on the property and/or on the street in front of a property shall not exceed the number of persons residing on the premises and having automobile drivers’ licenses. On-street parking for group gatherings shall be limited to six (6) hours and not impede traffic lanes in either direction. Roads over 24 feet in width:  Odell Ave N  209th St N east and west off of Odell Ave N  Odell Ct N  Ogilvie Ave N  Newberry Ave N  Newberry Ct N  205th St Ct N  180th St N Summary: Clean version of amendments Chapter 72 (A) (2) It shall be unlawful for any person or organization to cause, allow, permit, or suffer any vehicle to be parked on streets located within the city to obstruct the free passage of traveling vehicles in any or all drive lanes. Chapter 72 (B) Designated No Parking Zones; All City roads under 24 feet in width shall be No Parking Zones unless a stopped, parked, or left standing vehicle is able to have all parts of the vehicle off and/or clear of the paved or improved surface where reasonable and to not cause damage to property. Chapter 72 (D) On-Street Parking; parking is allowed on roads 24 feet or more in width; on-street parking for periods for no more than twenty-four (24) hours shall be limited to the residents of those homes and their guests. On-street parking for group gatherings shall be limited to six (6) hours and not impede traffic lanes in each direction at the same time. Roads over 24 feet in width:  Odell Ave N  209th St N east and west off of Odell Ave N  Odell Ct N  Ogilvie Ave N  Newberry Ave N  Newberry Ct N  205th St Ct N  180th St N Options: 1.) Approve Public Hearing for Ordinance Amendment 2.) Table for further discussion 3.) Ordinance 72 to remain as currently written Recommendation: Option 1 Full Chapter 72 Ordinance can be found here: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/scandiamn/latest/scandia_mn/0-0-0-764#JD_Chapter72