Submitted By
Robert H. Anderson, Director of Adjudication
Reviewed By
AMZ
Agenda Item Title
Title
An Ordinance Amending Chapter 29 (“Administrative Adjudication”), Article 2 (“Administrative Adjudication of Parking Violations”), Section 29-2-8 (“Response to a Notice of Violation; Failure to Respond; Default”) of the Oak Park Village Code
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Overview
Overview
As a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic, there were some changes made to the parking citation adjudication process. Previously, if a citation was not paid or contested within 14 days, in order to contest the citation, the respondent was required to appear at a hearing. Due to the pandemic, to limit the number of persons entering Village Hall, respondents were allowed to contest citations online beyond the 14-day period. This change has been beneficial to respondents that have parking citations by extending the time they are allowed to contest a citation using the online process. Staff recommends adopting the ordinance to allow citations to be contested online and in writing without the necessity of a hearing beyond the 14-day period.
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Recommendation
Recommendation
Adopt the Ordinance.
Fiscal Impact
Staff does not project an impact on revenue.
Background
In March of 2020, the Village took steps to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Initially, all citation hearings were suspended. Additionally, parking citations were placed on hold to prevent the accumulation of late penalties.
In April of 2020, the Village extended the time that a citation could be contested online. At the early stages of the pandemic, the methods of transmission were not fully ascertained and a range of actions was taken to mitigate the spread of the virus. As a consequence, the online process was preferred over the submission of contests in writing.
Before March 2020, a citation that was not paid or contested within 14 days accumulated late penalties. In order to contest the citation or have the late penalties removed, a respondent was required to appear in-person at an adjudication hearing. By April of 2020, the Village did not conduct in-person hearings but extended the time for respondents to contest their citations or request a waiver of any late penalties
In August of 2020, the Village resumed the in-person hearing process, added a remote hearing option, and extended the online process. The ability to contest citations online (24 hours a day) beyond the 14-day period has proven to be a convenience to respondents that would find it difficult to come to Village Hall to contest their citations or use the remote hearing process.
Alternatives
Require in-person or remote hearings for citations that have not been paid or contested within 14 days as was the practice prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Previous Board Action
N/A
Citizen Advisory Commission Action
N/A
Anticipated Future Actions/Commitments
N/A
Intergovernmental Cooperation Opportunities
N/A