HomeMy WebLinkAbout09- Parking Regulation Enforcement MOU and Agreement Between Bozeman Parking Commission and Bozeman City CommissionITIEMO•ANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING AND AGREEMENT
PARKING REGULATION ENFORCEMENT BETWEEN BOZEMAN PARKING
COMMISSION AND BOZEMAN CITY COMMISSION
THIS Memorandum of Understanding and Agreement is made and entered into this 7th
day of December 2009 by and between THE BOZEMAN CITY COMMISSION, Bozeman,
Montana, hereinafter referred to as the "City Commission" and THE BOZEMAN PARKING
COMMISSION, hereinafter referred to as the "Parking Commission."
WHEREAS, §61-12-101(1), MCA, authorizes the City of Bozeman to regulate the
standing and parking of vehicles; and
WHEREAS, Title 7, Chpt. 14, Part 46, MCA, authorizes the Bozeman City Commission
to create a Parking Commission which was done and whose powers are created pursuant to
Resolutions 1676, 1839, 3803, and 3976 and related Ordinances 1345, 1376, 1388, 1536, 1542,
1579, and
WHEREAS, §7-14-4607, MCA, states that in any suit, action, or proceeding by or
against or in any manner relating to a parking commission, the commission shall be conclusively
deemed to have become established and authorized to transact business and exercise its powers
upon proof of the adoption of a resolution by the legislative body declaring the need for the
commission to function.
WHEREAS, §7-14-4608, MCA, states the resolutions creating a parking commission
shall clearly specify areas within the city... over which the commission and the city,
respectively, are to have jurisdiction and control; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to city Resolution 3803, the Bozeman Parking Commission has
jurisdiction over three parking districts: the downtown B-3 Zoning District, the Montana State
University Residential Parking District, and the Bozeman High School Residential Parking
District; and
WHEREAS, §7-14-4622(7), MCA, authorizes the Parking Commission, having been
vested the authority by the City Commission, to "regulate on-street parking when it remains in
use, in coordination with off-street parking, subject to traffic regulations imposed by the state;"
and
WHEREAS, §7-14-4628 authorizes the Parking Commission to issue regulations for
onstreet parking related to the determination of parking locations, variable parking durations,
variable parking rate schedules, and enforcement policies and procedures; and
WHEREAS, the Bozeman City Commission has jurisdiction regarding parking
enforcement in all other areas of the City; and
WHEREAS, §7-14-4632 allows and encourages shared resources between the Parking
Commission and City Commission stating in order that there may be no unnecessary duplication
of effort or expense, the Parking Commission shall have access, for the purposes of the Parking
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING AND AGREEMENT
PARKING REGULATION ENFORCEMENT BETWEEN BOZEMAN PARKING
COMMISSION AND BOZEMAN CITY COMMISSION
Commission, to the services and facilities of the city planning department, the city engineer, the
police department, the fire department, and such other departments and offices of the city as may
be appropriate therefore.
WHEREAS, the City Commission and Parking Commission of the City of Bozeman find
that concerns regarding the public health, safety, and general welfare of the citizens and residents
of Bozeman requires the establishment of ordinances for the orderly parking of motor vehicles
upon the public ways of the City of Bozeman- and
WHEREAS, the City of Bozeman has adopted numerous provisions included in Title 10
of the Bozeman Municipal Code to regulate parking, including the issuance of fines for
violations; and
WHEREAS, the City Commission and Parking Commission find the issuance of citations
to those who violate the parking ordinances of the City of Bozeman and the processing of
citations must be done in a manner that affords adequate due process to alleged violators; and
WHEREAS, the City Commission and Parking Commission support that consistent and
fair enforcement throughout the City of Bozeman is important to demonstrate responsiveness to
not just violators, but to provide access to free parking, identify and address unsafe parking and
work collectively to control or remove vehicles from both on-street and off-street parking that
are hindrances to traffic flow or street maintenance, such as leaf and snow removal; and
WHEREAS, in 2008, the City of Bozeman and Parking Commission agreed to the
creation of a supervisory position, hereinafter referred to as Parking Manager, that would serve
as a representative of the Parking Commission, under direct supervision and operational control
of the Parking Commission, and who would supervise personnel and operations specific to the
parking garage and to issues regarding the three parking districts; and
WHEREAS, prior to 2010, officials hired to enforce regulations in the three parking
districts, as well as outside of the three parking districts, have conducted this enforcement under
direct operational control and supervision of the Department of Public Safety-Police-, and
WHEREAS, after January 1, 2010, these officials will fall under direct supervision of the
Parking Manager; and
WHEREAS, police officers and employees under direct operational and supervision of
the Department of Public-Safety Police have assisted in enforcement of parking regulations in all
areas of the City, to include inside the three parking districts, particularly during hours when
parking officers are not available; and
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING AND AGREEMENT
PARKING REGULATION ENFORCEMENT BETWEEN BOZEMAN PARKING
COMMISSION AND BOZEMAN CITY COMMISSION
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WHEREAS, the City Commission and Parking Commission recognize the importance of
working in collaboration to share limited resources and provide consistent, fair and timely
response to parking complaints or enforcement of parking regulations; and
WHEREAS, the City Commission and the Parking Commission desire to authorize
employees of the City of Bozeman under the supervision of either the Parking Manager or the
Chief of Police (Department of Public Safety-Police) to have authority to enforce all parking
laws anywhere within the City of Bozeman regardless of the jurisdiction of the City Commission
or the Parking Commission; and
WHEREAS, Ordinance Bozeman City Ordinance 1770 and Parking Commission
Resolution PC2009-01 created an enforcement program that, upon adequate due process, allows
the immobilization (i.e. "booting") of vehicles with an certain amount of unpaid violations of
Chapter 10.32 against the vehicle or the vehicle owner and that also allows for the impoundment
of vehicles under certain circumstances; and
WHEREAS, in the case of immobilization or impoundment, both the City Commission
and Parking Commission understand significant private interests are at stake including that a
person's ability to make a living and a person's access to both the necessities and amenities of
life may depend upon the availability of a vehicle yet the both commissions find a citizen incurs
the risk of losing access to their vehicle only after the accrual of substantial violations and
significant opportunities to either pay fines and fees associated with the violations or contest
those violations through available procedures; and
WHEREAS, the City Commission and Parking Commission recognizes that due to the
process required prior to immobilization or impoundment, the risk of an erroneous deprivation is
significantly reduced as not less than six violations must be issued by the City to the owner or
operator of a vehicle subject to immobilization, reminder letters are sent to an owner when in
violation, and a pre- immobilization/impoundment notice is sent offering the person an
opportunity to pay all outstanding violations thus avoiding immobilization or impoundment and
as such there is adequate notice that failure to pay outstanding citations may result in
immobilization or impoundment; and
WHEREAS, the City Commission and Parking Commission recognize that the risk of an
erroneous deprivation of a person's property interest is also significantly reduced if any
challenges to erroneous citations are minimized; and
AND WHEREAS, the City Commission and Parking Commission wish to enter into a
Memorandum of Understanding to better facilitate the exercise of their independent, as well as
their cooperative duties.
NOW THEREFORE, the parties mutually agree as follows:
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING AND AGREEMENT
PARKING REGULATION ENFORCEMENT BETWEEN BOZEMAN PARKING
COMMISSION AND BOZEMAN CITY COMMISSION
1. PURPOSE/SERVICE AREA/AGENCY.
A. This Memorandum and Agreement is entered into to authorize employees of the
City of Bozeman that serve under the supervision of either the Parking Manager or the Chief of
Police (Department of Public Safety-Police) to provide enforcement of parking regulations and
issue Notices of Municipal Infractions specific to parking enforcement in the three parking
districts (the downtown B-3 Zoning District, the Montana State University Residential Parking
District, and the Bozeman High School Residential Parking District) and in areas within the City
limits of Bozeman that occur outside of the three parking districts, subject to any limitations or
conditions specified in this agreement.
B. The area this Agreement applies to includes the City's service area which includes
all property located within the corporate limits of the City of Bozeman as well as any property
owned, leased or operated by the City of Bozeman within Gallatin County and which is located
within a five mile radius as provided in §7-32-4301 MCA and §2.40.020(B) BMC.
C. Employees of the City of Bozeman under the supervision of the Parking Manager
are agents of the City of Bozeman when enforcing parking laws in areas outside of the
jurisdiction of the Parking Commission. Employees of the City of Bozeman under the
supervision of the Police Chief (Department of Public Safety-Police) are agents of the Parking
Commission when enforcing parking laws in any parking district under the jurisdiction of the
Parking Commission.
2. AUTHORITY TO ENFORCE PARKING VIOLATIONS.
Within the service area described in I.B, above, regardless of jurisdiction of the City
Commission or Parking Commission:
A. Employees under the supervision of the Parking Manager and under the
supervision of the Department of Public Safety-Police are authorized to provide enforcement of
parking regulations and issue related Notices of Municipal Infractions for parking violations as
set forth in Title 10 chapters 32 and 34 of the Bozeman Municipal Code or violations of Title 61
of the Montana Code Annotated, and Section §49-4-302 pertaining to handicapped parking
spaces.
B. Employees under the supervision of the Parking Manager and under the
supervision of the Department of Public Safety-Police are authorized to immobilize and/or
impound a vehicle in accordance with Section 10. 32.410 Bozeman Municipal Code.
M OF UNDERSTANDING AND AGREEMENT
PARKING REGULATION ENFORCEMENT BETWEEN BOZEMAN PARKING
COMMISSION AND BOZEMAN CITY COMMISSION
. .... . ...........
A. Employees under the supervision of the Parking Manager and under the
super-vision of the Department of Public Safety-Police may share equipment, resources and
vehicles pursuant to §7-14-4632 as determined by agreement between the Parking Manager and
the Director of Public Safety-Police, or designee.
B, Employees under the supervision of the Parking Manager and under the
supervision of the Department of Public Safety-Police shall assist in the identification, notice and
taking vehicles into custody pursuant to abandoned vehicle laws and requirements pursuant to
§61-12-401 through §61-12-404 et seq. MCA.
4. COURT JURISDICTION AND PROSECUTION
A. Both parties agree that any Municipal Infractions issued for parking violations
pursuant to this agreement shall be within the jurisdiction of the Bozeman
Municipal Court.
B. Both parties agree to provide to the Department of Public-Safety, Parking
Manager, City Finance Department, and the City Attorney's office a current list of
all assigned officers and badge numbers as well as a mechanism to contact the
officers.
If during the term of this Memorandum of Understanding and Agreement any amendment(s)
is made to the statutes and ordinances set forth above, the Parties shall comply with any and all such
amended laws and ordinances. Nothing herein shall be deemed to invalidate any previous notice or
citation issued by the City. The provisions of this Agreement shall continue to have effect
regardless of a change to the boundaries of a parking district and shall apply to any new parking
district lawfully created after the date of this Agreement,
6. TERMINATION
This agreement may be terminated by resolution through either the Parking Commission
or City Commission in accordance with Montana Code Annotated and Bozeman Municipal
Code.
7. HEADINGS
The section headings contained herein are for convenience and reference and are not
intended to define or limit the scope of any provisions of this agreement.
P.�� 18211MONVAM-9YAW
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING AND AGREEMENT
PARKING REGULATION ENFORCEMENT BETWEEN BOZEMAN PARKING
COMMISSION AND BOZEMAN CITY COMMISSION
This amended agreement will become effective on the date set forth above and shall
continue in effect until it has been modified or terminated in accordance with the terms set forth
in this agreement.
BOZEMAN PARKING COMMISSION
Chris Pope
Bozeman Parking Commission Chairman
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Chris Kukulski
City Manager
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APPROVED AS TO FORM:
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Greg Pullivdn
City Attorney
WHEREAS, §7-14-4622(7), MCA, authorizes the Parking Commission, having been
vested the authority by the City Commission, to "regulate on-street parking when it remains in
use, in coordination with off-street parking, subject to traffic regulations imposed by the state;"
"MT41
WHEREAS, §7-14-4628 authorizes the Parking Commission to issue regulations for on-
street parking related to the determination of parking locations, variable parking durations,
variable parking rate schedules, and enforcement policies and procedures-, and
WHEREAS, the Bozeman City Commission has jurisdiction regarding parking
enforcement in all other areas of the City; and
WHEREAS, the City Commission and Parking Commission of the City of Bozeman find
that concerns regarding the public health, safety, and general welfare of the citizens and residents
of Bozeman requires the establishment of ordinances for the orderly parking of motor vehicles
upon the public ways of the City of Bozeman; and
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WHEREAS, the City of Bozeman has adopted numerous provisions included in Title 10
of the Bozeman Municipal Code to regulate parking, including the issuance of fines for
violations; and
WHEREAS, the City Commission and Parking Commission find the issuance of
citations to those who violate the parking ordinances of the City of Bozeman and the processing
of citations must be done in manner that affords adequate due process to alleged violators; and
WHEREAS, the City Commission and Parking Commission support that consistent and
fair enforcement throughout the City of Bozeman is important to demonstrate responsiveness to
not just violators, but to provide access to free parking, identify and address unsafe parking and
work collectively to control or remove vehicles from both on-street and off-street parking that
are hindrances to traffic flow or street maintenance, such as leaf and snow removal; and
WHEREAS, in 2008, the City of Bozeman and Parking Commission agreed to the
creation of a supervisory position, hereinafter referred to as Parking Manager, that would serve
as a representative of the Parking Commission, under direct supervision and operational control
of the Parking Commission, and who would supervise personnel and operations specific to the
parking garage and to issues regarding the three parking districts, and
WHEREAS, prior to 2010, officials hired to enforce regulations in the three parking
districts, as well as outside of the three parking districts, have conducted this enforcement under
direct operational control and supervision of the Department of Public Safety-Police; and
WHEREAS, after January 1, 2010, these officials will fall under direct supervision of the
Parking Manager; and
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WHEREAS, police officers and employees under direct operational and supervision of
the Department of Public-Safety Police have assisted in enforcement of parking regulations in all
areas of the City, to include inside the three parking districts, particularly during hours when
parking officers are not available; and
WHEREAS, the City Commission recognizes the importance of working in
collaboration to share limited resources and provide consistent, fair and timely response to
parking complaints or enforcement of parking regulations; and
WHEREAS, the City Commission and the Parking Commission desire to authorize
employees of the City of Bozeman under the supervision of either the Parking Manager or the
Chief of Police (Department of Public Safety-Police) to have authority to enforce all parking
laws anywhere within the City of Bozeman regardless of the jurisdiction of the City Commission
or the Parking Commission, and
WHEREAS, the City Commission recognizes the need to support shared authority to
enforce parking regulations by incorporating all findings and agreements in a Memorandum of
Understanding and Agreement regarding parking regulation enforcement between the Parking
Commission and City Commission,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Commission hereby adopts the
attached Memorandum of Understanding and Agreement with the Bozeman Parking
Commission (Attachment A) and authorizes the City Manager to sign said Agreement.
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PASSED! AND ADOPTED by the City Commission of the City of Bozeman. Montana, at a
regular session thereof on the 7 "' day of December, 2009.
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KAAREN JACO SON
Mayor
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G G SULLIVAN
City .Attorney
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