To: Board of County Commissioners
Through: Ron Carl, County Attorney
Prepared By:
prepared
Michelle Halstead, Director, Commissioners’ Office
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presenter
Presenters: Robert Hill, County Attorney’s Office; Bryan Weimer, Director, Public Works & Development; Captain Adam Burson and Captain Chris Gulli, Sheriff’s Office
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Subject:
title
2:00 PM *Follow-Up on Proposed Parking Ordinance and Pilot Enforcement Program
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Purpose and Request:
recommended action
The purpose of this study session is to obtain feedback and direction on a draft parking ordinance and proposed pilot enforcement program.
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Background and Discussion: The County held a study session on August 20, 2024, to review a proposed parking ordinance to address extensive community feedback regarding parking violations. The Board provided staff direction on and obtain Board input on the following provisions of the draft ordinance that regulate:
• Parking on other County property.
• Fire lanes on private and public property (staff proposed an alternative to establishing fire lanes on private property through the development approval process instead of adopting a resolution under CRS 42-4-1210).
• Leaking Vehicles, including provision for vehicles that are parked and leaking fluids.
• Fine Amount of $150 for all violations and no graduated schedule for repeat violations due to complications on determining when a violation is a repeat violation.
• Moving recreational or inoperable vehicles to start a new grace period by 700 feet.
• Enhancing enforcement response, providing authority to PWD Zoning Inspectors, Rangers (if on Open Space properties) and non-certified Sheriff Office employees, in addition to POST certified Sheriff Deputies.
• Vehicle removal must be performed by a Licensed Towing Carrier at the request of a peace officer employed by Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office.
The Board also supported a Land Development Code amendment that would make it a zoning violation for a commercial business to use County rights of way for the storage of vehicles or other product inventory. This is anticipated to be completed by the end of the year.
The proposed ordinance is considered an additional tool for establishing and enforcing parking regulations on public property and in fire lanes established on private property and is intended to be implemented as a pilot program. The proposed ordinance should not be considered as a complete solution to all parking problems in the County.
Staff has developed a variety of implementation options for Board consideration and direction. Factors such as availability and allocation of resources and personnel to enforcement and simple luck/timing in observing or catching violations will factor into the success of the ordinance in reducing parking problems in the County. Further, the success of the Ordinance will need to be balanced against its effect on the provision of other County services by staff tasked with additional parking enforcement duties.
If the Board concurs with the draft ordinance, the first reading would be September 24, 2024, and require a 60-day timeframe from adoption to ensure implementation. This timeframe would provide staff opportunity to build operating procedures, complete training, and create materials.
Fiscal Impact: Depending on the selected option, there could be additional resource needs to achieve desired implementation. Staff is recommending a targeted/low level enforcement approach, recognizing existing budget constraints, which will enable a pilot program to track costs and outcomes in Q1 2025.
Alternatives: The Board could decide not to proceed with this ordinance, which will limit the efficacy of addressing community parking concerns.
Alignment with Strategic Plan:
☐Be fiscally sustainable
☒Provide essential and mandated service
☒Be community focused
Staff Recommendation: Approval of the ordinance.
Concurrence: County Attorney’s Office, Open Spaces, Public Works & Development, Sheriff’s Office