Submitted By
Ahmad M. Zayyad, Deputy Village Manager / Interim Director of Development Customer Services
Reviewed By
LKS
Agenda Item Title
Title
First Reading of an Ordinance Amending Chapter 15 (“Motor Vehicles and Traffic”), Article 3 (“Parking Meters, Parking Permits, and Municipal Attendant Parking Lots”), Section 15-3-18 (“Parking Rates; Parking Meters, Pay By Space Machines, Village Operated Parking Structures, Permit, Extended Pass, Valet and Daytime On Street Permit Parking”) of the Oak Park Village Code to Expand Eligibility Criteria for the Reduced Parking Permit Fee Program
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Overview
Overview
The proposed Ordinance is pursuant to the Village Board’s direction upon initial approval and establishment of the Village’s Reduced Parking Permit Fee Program, at its March 20, 2023 meeting. The proposed Ordinance expands eligibility for the program to residents of various other affordable housing locations throughout the community.
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Recommendation
Recommendation
This is a first reading only.
Background
In support of the Village Board’s goal of community affordability, the Parking & Mobility Services Division of the Development Customer Services Department developed a Reduced Parking Permit Fee Program and presented it to the Village Board for a first reading on March 6, 2023. The Village Board ultimately adopted the Ordinance establishing the program on March 20, 2023 and the program went into effect on April 1, 2023.
The Village administers several types of residential parking permits on a quarterly basis, including permits for Village owned/leased lots and garages as well as permits for on-street overnight permit parking. Residential parking permits range in cost from $117 to $292 per quarter. The Reduced Parking Permit Fee Program offers eligible participants the ability to purchase and/or renew their quarterly parking permit for a flat fee of $50. This equates to individual savings of between 57% and 83%, depending on the parking permit type.
In an effort to streamline the administration of the assistance program, staff recommended utilizing existing assistance programs offered by partner agencies in the Oak Park community to determine income eligibility. Therefore, the first iteration of the program limits eligibility only to participants of the Oak Park Housing Authority’s Housing Choice Voucher Program.
As of the writing of this proposed Ordinance, nineteen (19) residents participate in the current Reduced Parking Permit Fee Program. Pursuant to the Village Board’s direction on March 20, 2023, staff has prepared this Ordinance expanding program eligibility to residents of the following affordable housing locations:
1. Heritage House (201 Lake Street);
2. The 801 (801 Van Buren Street);
3. Grove Apartments (442 S. Grove Avenue);
4. The Oaks (114 S. Humphrey Avenue);
5. Farrelly-Muriello Apartments (435 S. Humphrey Avenue);
6. Mills Park Tower (1025 Pleasant Place); and
7. The Wright Inn (211 N. Oak Park Avenue)
Applicants for the Reduced Parking Permit Fee Program, who reside at these addresses, will be required to provide a current lease agreement to Village staff in order to qualify for the $50 reduced parking permit fee.
Fiscal Impact
Thus far, the Reduced Parking Permit Fee Program has resulted in negligible losses of revenue due to there currently being nineteen (19) participants in the existing program. Staff had originally estimated a maximum of 510 residences participating in the Housing Choice Voucher Program would be eligible for participation in the Reduced Parking Permit Fee Program, resulting in a maximum estimated loss of $30,600.00 in revenue in FY 23. Staff will continue to work closely with the Oak Park Housing Authority to encourage its clients to take advantage of this reduced parking permit assistance program.
The proposed Ordinance would expand the current program eligibility to approximately 582 additional households in the community. If the expanded eligibility parameters are adopted via this proposed Ordinance, the additional estimated loss of revenue in FY 24 is a maximum of $46,560.00. Under the programs existing eligibility parameters, the estimated maximum loss of revenue in FY 24 was anticipated to be $40,800.00. Therefore, if this new proposed Ordinance is approved, and the Reduced Parking Permit Fee Program is expanded to more participants, the estimated maximum financial impact is currently $87,360.00 per year.
DEI Impact
The Reduced Parking Permit Fee Program provides direct financial relief to low-income residents of the Village of Oak Park. In addition to benefiting from the reduced permit fees, the program encourages low-income residents to comply with the Village’s parking restrictions, thus reducing the probability of these individuals receiving a parking citation for non-compliance.
The Housing Choice Voucher Program, commonly known as the Section 8 Program, is a federally funded rental assistance program that provides help to low-income individuals and families, enabling them to rent privately owned properties in the Village. Income-eligible individuals or families are selected from the Oak Park Housing Authority’s waiting list and issued financial assistance to search for and find suitable housing units in the Village. Low-income eligibility is defined as a gross family income of below 50 percent of the area median income.
The Oak Park Housing Authority owns and operates rental housing that is specifically designed to serve disadvantaged populations in the community. 435 S. Humphrey Avenue is a three-story complex designed to meet the housing needs of the severely mobility-impaired, who are maintaining their own personal and financial matters. 1025 Pleasant Place is a 19-story complex designed to meet the housing needs of low-income seniors. Finally, 114 S. Humphrey Avenue is a six-story complex designed to meet the housing needs of low-income seniors. Residents of Heritage House (201 Lake Street), The 801 (801 Oak Park Avenue), and The Grove Apartments (442 S. Grove Avenue), which all are designated affordable housing locations, will also be eligible to participate in this assistance program if the proposed Ordinance is adopted.
Alternatives
The Village Board could request staff to investigate alternative terms for expanding eligibility for the Reduced Parking Permit Fee Program.
Previous Board Action
On March 6, 2023, the Village Board had a first reading of an Ordinance establishing the program.
On March 20, 2023, the Village Board adopted Ordinance 23-22, establishing the program effective April 1, 2023.
Citizen Advisory Commission Action
N/A.
Anticipated Future Actions/Commitments
Pursuant to previous direction from the Village Board, staff is investigating how to further expand program eligibility to those families that currently participate in the Illinois State Board of Education’s free or reduced-price meal program. Staff will bring forth an Ordinance to the Village Board after this is more thoroughly researched and developed.
Intergovernmental Cooperation Opportunities
N/A.