21.PROPOSED UNIFORM ON-STREET PERMIT PARKING POLICY

  Commissioner Operations Services, York Civic Service Centre

(March 19, 1998)

 Purpose:

 To review current on-street permit parking policies, practices and develop an area wide on-street permit parking policy, which includes graduated parking fees for multiple vehicle ownership.

 Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:

 Expansion of existing street specific permit parking program or implementation of a geographic area program would require a budget expenditure of $250,000.00 and $500,000.00, respectively.

 Implementation of a Community Council Service District on-street permit parking program eliminates the need for internal signage, resulting in the savings of the above noted costs and all future maintenance costs. Additional corporate savings are also achieved as a result of eliminating the need for and expense of administrating a formal poll. Immediate costing implications would relate to removal of existing street specific permit parking program signs, and installation of boundary signs on each street entering the York Community Service District, funded within the traffic budget.

 Implementation of a York Community Council Service District on-street permit parking program could provide a potential additional revenue of approximately $700,000.00 annually.

 Recommendations:

 (1)That York Community Council consider the service district on-street permit parking program as outlined within this report;

 (2)That this report be forwarded to all ratepayer associations in the York Service Centre District for review and comment;

 (3)And further, this report be forwarded to each of the Community Councils for their individual review and consideration, to provide continuity and an equitable level of service on a City-wide basis;

 (4)Whereupon, York Community Council amend By-law 3491-80, to introduce the service district on-street permit parking program.

  Council Reference/Background History:

 York Community Council at its regular meeting held on February 18, 1998, discussed the current on-street permit parking program. After considerable debate, the following reports were requested:

 (1)The Commissioner of Planning and Urban Development Services, to direct staff (York Civic Centre) to bring forward in one month, a skeletal outline for implementation of an area-wide permit parking policy, to be considered in a City-wide context, including a graduated fee structure for multiple vehicle ownership; and

 (2)The Urban Environment and Development Committee to draft a uniform permit parking by-law, for all Community Councils to present to the public for comment, and for the Community Council=s consideration and subsequent report to Committee.

 Comments and/or Discussion and/or Justification:

 On-street permit parking is an essential core service program. The on-street permit parking program provides an alternative solution to municipally addressed taxpayers without adequate off-street parking facilities by balancing their needs, while preserving the common interests of all residential citizens.

 The program has evolved over the past thirty years to effectively manage and control on-street parking in residential areas, as a result of multiple vehicle ownership, multiple family residential conversions and more recently legalization of basement apartments. Through the years, numerous program enhancements have occurred to the on-street permit parking program to address the diverse social changes occurring within the City.

 For discussion purposes, outlined below is a summary of the program features and current practices available within the various service districts that offer an on-street permit parking program:

 (1)Program Options

 Current on-street parking programs offer the user a range of options from a geographic area to an individual street. Each of these options have their limitations.

 A street specific program restricts the users ability to find alternative legal on-street parking. A common complaint staff receive is the user cannot find a legal parking space on the street specified on the permit. This results in the user relocating to an adjoining street and ultimately having to choose to leave the vehicle parked illegally or move the vehicle back onto the street specified on the permit. These choices generally result in receipt of a parking infraction notice or relocating the vehicle after midnight when on-street permit parking is exclusively by permit.

 A geographic area program provides the flexibility of the user choosing alternate streets, however, when demand exceeds supply this program also fails.

 Another contentious issue is non-municipally addressed residents holding on-street parking permits. Both street specific and zone programs encourage this practice.

   (2)Program Deficiencies

 Currently on-street permit parking is exclusively limited to local roadways. However, within each service district there are residents residing along main roadways above commercial establishments. Because the permit parking programs exclude main roadways as an alternative parking choice, residents residing along these commercial corridors without adequate off-street parking facilities can only purchase on-street parking permits for adjoining local streets, rather than having the option of parking in front or within close proximity of their residence.

  (3)Application/Poll

 Current process requires a formal poll be undertaken. Both residents fronting and flanking an individual block or entire length of the street are included. Generally on-street permit parking is only approved when the majority of responses received support implementation.

 However, this process doesn=t necessarily reflect the needs of those citizens requiring the service. Property owners, as well as, tenants without off-street parking facilities may represent only a minority of the total residents polled or more importantly responses received.

 (4)Restrictive Hours

 Current programs specify a variety of time durations exclusive to valid permit holders. These time durations are based on the preferred needs of the service area. However, these by-lawed and signed restricted parking durations only serve those residents holding valid on-street parking permits and not all the needs of every resident.

 The major disadvantage of all existing programs is the inflexibility to provide a reasonable option for visitor parking, other than purchasing a parking permit if available. Visitors, therefore, parking without a valid on-street permit are limited exclusively, to the non-restrictive permit parking hours.

 (5)Fees

 Current fee structures range between $5.00 to $10.00 per month, for a single vehicle. Other fee options include a multiple vehicle flat fee charge of $200.00 per vehicle, and a high/low priority charge ranging between $5.00 to $25.00 per month per vehicle. A high priority is a resident without off-street parking facilities, whereas a low priority is a resident with off-street parking choosing not to use it.

 (6)Enforcement

 Current enforcement practices are ineffective in resolving the parking concerns and issues of all residents, within the various service districts.

 Parking enforcement is not consistent throughout the service districts. This results in a disproportionate level of service where select areas are targeted on an ongoing basis, as a means of meeting daily target levels.

 (7)Signage

 Current programs require signage to be posted. The sign informs motorists when on-street parking is exclusively restricted to only vehicles displaying a valid permit. Signs are erected within each individual block on one side of every street. On those streets where alternate side parking is in effect signs are erected within each individual block on both sides of every street.

 The estimated cost of an on-street permit parking sign, including installation is approximately $80.00.

 There are approximately a total complement of 3,000 individual blocks within the York service district, which would cost an estimated $500,000.00 to sign every street.

 (8)Vehicle Classification

 Present parking programs specify weight as a measure in describing vehicle eligibility. Current Provincial licencing distinguishes vehicle class by gross weight, wherein motor vehicles exceeding 3,000 kg are exclusively registered as commercial vehicles.

 It has been our experience that residents do not object to vehicles with a gross weight of 3,000 kg or less, parking in residential neighbourhoods. Needs of our society are reflected in their choices of vehicle ownership from passenger motor vehicles to pickup trucks and vans, having a direct correlation on public attitude and tolerance towards these types of vehicles parking in residential neighbourhoods.

 We, therefore, do not support nor recommend changing the definition for motor vehicle eligibility, as described in By-law 3491-80, which includes motorcycles.

 (9)Renewal Options

 Presently three of the four service districts mail renewal notices to valid permit holders. Due to the tenant population within the York service district, 60% of the valid permit holders do not renew their on-street parking permit, therefore, we have not adopted a mailing renewal notice for fiscally responsible reasons.

 A common complaint we receive is from users on streets where the demand exceeds the supply, as a result permit holders who fail to renew on or before the expiration period become very irate to learn their permit cannot be renewed, due to the fact all available parking permits have been issued to either new or waiting residents.

 Implementation of a on-street permit parking program for each Community Council Service District would preclude adoption or continuance of a mailing renewal notice, as residents would be in receipt of service district pass, rather than the current street specific or zone parking permit.

 (10)Temporary Option

 Presently residents can obtain a temporary on-street parking permit for guests. The parking duration varies between a seven day to one month parking pass, costing $7.00 and $20.00/$30.00, respectively. We recommend providing this option to local residents requiring short term parking for out of town guests or family.

 Conclusions:

 As implied earlier, the basic principle still is valid with any on-street permit parking program. A resident obtains a permit out of necessity. The service must therefore reflect the need. It is also as important when designing the program to eliminate processing pitfalls. For these reasons we continue to support and would prefer York Community Council consider a service district parking permit.

 In consideration, therefore, it is imperative to identify the issues which directly impact on service delivery, by balancing and harmonizing the needs of all citizens in the formulation and development of an optimum service standard for a strategic Community Council Service District on-street permit parking program.

 The strategic Community Council Service District on-street permit parking program addresses the following contentious issues that regularly, we are unable to resolve expediently and amicably:

 Provides a basic need for every resident, regardless of the street on which they reside;

 Visitors receiving parking infraction notices, due to an exclusive parking regulation;

 Maintains municipally addressed universality;

 Prioritizes enforcement on long term parking;

 Simplifies administrating procedures;

 Eliminates availability issue, and in turn administrative conflicts;

 Reduces administrative costs.

 A Community Council Service District on-street permit parking program provides a superior level of service to every resident, while at the same time maintains the protection regularly demanded by all residents.

 It is interesting to note that the former Borough of East York, in a report dated January 24, 1997 (Appendix I), reviewed and recommended an area based overnight permit parking program. As a result, the report was forwarded to all ratepayer associations for comment, following which a public meeting was held on April 28, 1997, to present and discuss the report. The area based overnight permit parking program was supported in principle by the majority of residents, however, amalgamation proceedings delayed program implementation, with a view towards a City-wide program.

 Detailed below is a recommended strategic Community Council Service District on-street permit parking program for discussion and consideration throughout the City to ensure a consistent service standard level:

 (1)Program Eligibility

 Any resident who provides proof of residency within a Community Council Service District area may apply for an on-street parking permit.

  (2)Priority Criteria

 (a) High Priority - Single vehicle for each legally registered property, without on-site facilities;

(b) Low Priority - Residents with on-site facilities, for single or multiple vehicles.

 (3)Vehicle Eligibility

 A current registered motor vehicle includes all personal use vehicles, commercial vehicles having a gross weight of 3,000 kg or less and motorcycles.

 (4)Maximum Parking Duration

 Vehicles displaying a current on-street parking permit, within the Community Council Service District area may park 24 hours, for a maximum 5 day duration, where permitted ie. signed 1 hour or unsigned 3 hour regulations. The exception being, where parking is prohibited ie. day or rush hour restrictions or during the hours regulated by parking meters.

 (5)Permit Fee Structure

 (a)High Priority - $ 7.00 per month or $ 84.00 per year for a single vehicle;

(b) Low Priority - $12.00 per month or $144.00 per year for single or multiple vehicles;

(c) Temporary - $20.00 for 7 days; $30.00 for 1 month.

 (6)Enforcement

 Enforcement is a key component in the regulation and control of all parking regulations. A major service complaint received on a re-occurring daily basis pertains to ineffective on-street parking enforcement. Residents complain bitterly over long term parking, abandoned vehicles, heavy vehicles, blocked driveways and parking with or without valid on-street permits.

 Presently parking enforcement is not consistent, nor uniform throughout the City. We, therefore, recommend that the Metropolitan Toronto Police review their current Neighbourhood Enforcement Program, with a view to providing a reasonable and routine level of service, that develops and sustains community harmony.

 It is also recommended that public information meetings be held within the various service districts, to allow the Metropolitan Toronto Police Parking Enforcement Units to present and discuss their current Neighbourhood Enforcement Program and any future changes they may consider to ensure the program provides the service expectations requested routinely by the public, in a uniform manner throughout each service district.

 Program Pitfalls

 This report considers an on-street permit parking program in a City-wide context, by blending and harmonizing current practices and program features from an administrative perspective, however, residents within the various Community Council Districts may not be prepared to accept an on-street permit parking program nor the philosophy of a City-wide parking pass. It is imperative that a copy of this report be forwarded to each of the Community Councils for their individual review and consideration, to provide continuity and an equitable level of service on a City-wide basis.

 In conclusion subject to acceptance by residents within the York Community District, we are recommending the proposed strategic on-street permit parking program as detailed within this report be implemented. Further, that staff monitor the program and report to York Community Council in late 1999, with respect to its progress and any features to enhance service level.

 Contact Person:

 Stephen C. Brown

Manager Traffic/Parking

394-2655

394-2888 (fax)

 (The above-mentioned attachment is on file in the Clerk=s Office, York Civic Service Centre.)