HomeMy WebLinkAboutEx 4 121417 CC Memo about RPPD's Gi `L
• Commission Memorandum
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REPORT TO: Honorable Mayor and City Commission
FROM: Ed Meece, Parking Program Manager
SUBJECT: Creation of new Residential Parking Permit Districts, and consideration of
whether new residential parking districts should be created along the
northern and southern boundaries of the Downtown B-3 area.
MEETING DATE: November 20, 2017
AGENDA ITEM TYPE: ACTION
RECOMMENDATION: Direct the City Manager, or their designee, to work with the Parking
Commission to research and determine the appropriateness of creating new residential parking
permit districts adjacent to the Downtown B-3 area.
RECOMMEND MOTION: After listening to the staff presentation and public comment,I move
to direct the City Manager to research the appropriateness of creating new residential parking
permit districts and to return to the City Commission with a recommendation.
BACKGROUND: Residential Parking Permit Districts (RPPD) are a method employed by
many municipalities for mitigating the`spillover' of non-residential parking into a residential area.
The City of Bozeman has two RPPDs; the University District in neighborhoods adjacent to
Montana State University, and the High School District bordering Bozeman Senior High School.
Residents within a RPPD may purchase an annual on-street parking permit ($25) for each vehicle
they own, and up to two (2) visitor permits per dwelling ($25). Likewise, business owners and
employees, within the RPPD, may purchase an annual on-street parking permit($25). Individuals
that park on-street, within the RPPD, during operational hours, without a permit, may receive a
parking citation for each offense ($60).
The Bozeman Municipal Code identifies the process by which the City Commission will create an
RPPD, as well as setting out regulations related to the administration and enforcement of the
RPPD's. Therein, the BMC states that the creation of an RPPD should satisfy one or more
objectives:
• Promoting tranquility among commuters and residents;
• Reducing noise;
• Reducing traffic hazards; or
• Reducing litter.
While each of these objectives is a desirable goal,the issues surrounding on-street parking supply,
and the relationship to residential and economic prosperity, have increased in complexity since
creation of the existing RPPD's. In context of Bozeman's unprecedented growth and economic
expansion,it seems prudent to consider if meaningful enhancements of the RPPD creation process
are warranted. By doing so,the City Commission would better define the policy framework upon
which future decisions regarding the creation of new RPPD's are made. With one RPPD request
currently pending, and others likely, such an effort takes on additional urgency.
Utilizing the resulting policy recommendations/action, the Bozeman Parking Commission will
evaluate the need for new RPPD's along the northern and southern boundary of the downtown
area(B-3). This evaluation would consider all relevant data sources, as well as verifiable impacts
of on-street parking occupancy rates on residential quality of life. A recommendation from the
Bozeman Parking Commission for the creation of a new RPPD, if forthcoming, would include
suggested boundaries, hours and days of operation,permit and fee regulations, and an analysis of
the operational and fiscal impacts to the City of Bozeman.
Both of the items associated with this project are consistent with the City of Bozeman's Strategic
Parking Management Plan(201'n,which recommends that the city "explore changes to existing
residential on-street permit programs and evaluate and potentially implement new residential
parking permit districts in the neighborhoods north and south of the downtown commercial
district. "
FISCAL EFFECTS: No substantial fiscal effects are expected in order to conduct the policy
development, operational and data analysis related to this work. However, a recommendation, or
subsequent action, related to the creation of a district would certainly entail additional
administrative and enforcement costs. The level of these costs would depend on the scope of
permitting and enforcement desired within a new district. This fiscal information would be a part
of any recommendation(s) from the Bozeman Parking Commission, and/or additional requests
from the City Commission.
Attachments:
Bozeman Municipal Code,36.04.330—36.04.365
Report compiled on: 11/9/17