Submitted By
Tammie Grossman, Director, Development Customer Services
Reviewed By
LKS
Agenda Item Title
Title
An Ordinance Amending Chapter 15 (“Motor Vehicles and Traffic”), Article 1 (“In General”), Section 27 (“Parking Pilot Program”) of the Oak Park Village Code
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Overview
Overview
The proposed ordinance will amend some parking restrictions within the Parking Pilot Program area, allowing for a one-hour time limit on residential blocks adjacent to or within 500 feet from a business district and allow staff to add, alter and/or remove time limits on blocks within the Parking Pilot Program. Currently, only three blocks within the entire Parking Pilot Program, have requested the type of change.
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Recommendation
Recommendation
The Transportation Commission recommended that multiple time limits be introduced in the Parking Pilot Program area and that staff have an opportunity to choose between 1 hour, 45 minute, 30 minute, and/or 15 minute time limits on residential blocks adjacent to or within 500 feet from a business district in order to quickly respond to resident parking needs.
The Village staff appreciates the flexibility being proposed by the Parking Commission but instead, is recommending that a one-hour time limit be instituted on residential blocks adjacent to or within 500 feet from a business district and allow staff to add, alter, and/or remove time limits on blocks within the Parking Pilot Program area pursuant to the Manual of Parking and Traffic Guidelines, Policies and Procedures (Parking and Traffic Process to Address Citizen Requests). The proposed one-hour change will be easier to administer than the various time-limits noted above by the Transposration Commission. At the February 24, 2020 Transportation Commission meeting, staff reviewed the concern and staff’s recommendation to keep the recommendation to a one (1) - hour increment. The Commission and they are supportive of staff’s recommended ordinance.
Body
Staff Recommendation
Village staff recommends an ordinance amending Chapter 15 of the Oak Park Village Code to allow a one-hour time limit on residential blocks adjacent to or within 500 feet from a business district and allow staff to add, alter, and/or remove time limits on blocks within the Parking Pilot Program area pursuant to the Manual of Parking and Traffic Guidelines, Policies and Procedures (Parking and Traffic Process to Address Citizen Requests) The Traffic Guidelines, Policies and procedures document was developed by the Parking and Traffic Commission in July 1998 and adopted by the Oak Park Village Board on September 22, 1998. The relevant page (101-4/5) of the Manual of Parking and Traffice Guidelines, Policies and Procedures, is attached.
By temporary police action, staff implemented the one-hour restrictions on the block of 500 S. Kenilworth and three-hour restrictions on the blocks of 900-1000 of Monroe which have addressed the parking issues raised by the residents in their petition. In addition, by temporary police action, staff removed restrictions completely on one block (800 S. Kenilworth) which addressed the parking issued raised by the residents.
Fiscal Impact
There will be no fiscal impact.
Background
Three residential blocks within the Parking Pilot Program area (see background below) petitioned to either install parking time limits or to remove parking time limits. Only three streets within the entire Parking Pilot Program area have requested restriction changes. Following two public hearings before the Transportation Commission, the Commission recommended an ordinance change which, if approved, will be implemented for the three blocks highlighted below. Staff has discussed the following recommendations with block representatives. The representatives agree with the solutions outlined below, which will be possible if the proposed ordinance is approved.
The block of 500 S. Kenilworth - Residents have requested time limits to reduce the number of cars parked on the block. The solution proposed is to institute a one-hour parking limit and to monitor the situation for parking issues that may arise.
The blocks of 900-1000 Monroe - Residents are requesting that time limits be instituted to reduce the number of cars parking on the block. The solution proposed is to add three-hour parking restrictions and to monitor the situation for parking issues that may arise.
The block of 800 S. Kenilworth - Residents communicated that existing restriction time limits make parking difficult. The solution proposed is to remove the existing three-hour parking limit and to monitor the situation for parking issues that may arise.
In terms of the Parking Pilot Program background, the Village Board’s goals for 2016-2017 included revisiting the overall parking system within Oak Park in a holistic manner, with consideration given to neighborhoods and business districts. As a part of the review, the following goals were established: 1.) Parking ordinances must be simple and user friendly (e.g. language is clear and concise); 2.) Parking signage, of all types, must be standardized and more streamlined so that residents, visitors and employees in Oak Park are able to understand regulatory language; and 3.) Parking technology must support efficient parking administration and operation while also being customer service focused.
At the July 10, 2017 Village Board Special Meeting, the Board asked the Transportation Commission and Consultant Dixon Resources Unlimited to establish a Parking Pilot Program Area for a review of the parking restrictions to determine if there were improvements that could be made in a comprehensive manner. The Transportation Commission began working with staff and consultant Dixon Resources Unlimited to determine the parking options that would help improve the parking experience in Oak Park. The idea of odd/even parking was significantly studied. Due to strong opposition from parkers who believe moving their car daily would be a burden, the Transportation Commission looked at an additional concept known as the 72-hour rule. The community reaction to the odd/even and 72 hour rule were negative and, therefore, staff, the Transportation Commission, and the consultant began working on a concept that kept the Village’s existing rules but allowed for simplification and efficiencies. Most importantly, the new set of recommended rules attempted to make the life of a customer parking in Oak Park easier and staff administration more efficient. The Village held numerous meetings and took numerous actions as it developed the current Parking Pilot Program. The attached “Parking Pilot Program Meetings & Actions Summary” provides a complete list of meetings and actions taken that led to the approval of the current Parking Pilot Program.
Alternatives
N/A.
Previous Board Action
At the October 15, 2018 Village Board Meeting, the Board approved an ordinance establishing the Parking Pilot Program. The Parking Pilot Program area is bound by Harlem Ave, South Blvd, Oak Park Ave, and Harrison St and the Pleasant, Hemingway, and Downtown Oak Park Business Districts. The approved ordinance assured that within the pilot area, all on-street daytime restrictions were adjusted to three-hour parking, 8AM - 8PM, Monday - Friday. Additionally, any vehicle with a valid Village of Oak Park annual vehicle license, registered to a resident residing within the boundaries of the Parking Pilot Program area, was no longer subject to the three-hour parking limit when parked on the block of the address to which the vehicle is registered. Additional Village Board actions, related to the Parking Pilot Program, are detailed on the attached “Parking Pilot Program Meetings & Actions Summary.”
Citizen Advisory Commission Action
The Transportation Commission held two public hearings on August 26, 2019 and October 28, 2019.
Anticipated Future Actions/Commitments
Staff will bring forth additional recommendations in 2020 as part of a village-wide parking discussion.
Intergovernmental Cooperation Opportunities
N/A.