CC MINUTES 01091979 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Motion carried unanimously. Council members then discussed with the Police Chief and Manager the numerous complaints they had received regarding what residents viewed as "overzealous enforcement" over the holidays of the City ordinance which prohibits on-street parking in residential areas between 3:00 a.m. and 7: 00 a.m. from November lst to April 1st. Mr. Fornell had responded to similar complaints in his January 4th memo in which he asked the Council to either formally support the existing ordinance with possible modifications or rewrite the ordinance. Five pos- sible alternatives were presented along with suggested language which would allow the Police Department to exercise some discretion regarding tagging cars during periods when it does not appear the streets will have to be plowed. Chief Hickerson contended that though his department had followed the practice of not tagging cars whose owners had notified them of a problem of removing them from the street, he nevertheless believed the Police Department cannot legally make exceptions to the existing statutes . Mr. Fornell cited the no-win aspects of the question for the City where either the Public Works Department is criticized for not doing an adequate job of snow removal because of parked cars or residents complain if the police attempt to keep the streets open for plowing. He questioned whether equitable enforcement of the ordinance could be provided if dis- pensations are granted. Mr. Soth agreed saying residents might see the dispensing of the ordinance for some as arbitrary enforcement of the statute. Specific standards for Police discretion will have to be established to avoid such criticism. Mayor Haik referred to Chief Hickerson's telling that his department had issued 150 warning tags the first 10 days after the prohibition had gone into force and wondered why such warning tags issued in cases where it was obvious there was a late party going on during the holidays could be con- sidered "arbitrary" . She was concerned about a complaint she had received where 10 tickets had been issued at one home where it was obvious there was a party . In view of efforts which had been made to improve the public image of the Police Department, Councilman Ranallo saw the actions of the Police over the holidays as an obvious "lack of public relations" . Two residents, Stan Mirocha, 2604 29th Avenue N.E. and Ben Lonsky, 2524 W. Armour Terrace, were present to register their complaints regarding tickets issued to cars parked at their homes after 3: 00 a.m. Christmas and New Years Day. Mr. Mirocha said he paid the ticket for his guest and Mr. Lonsky said his ticketed car was on the street because guests of his son' s were parked in his driveway. Neither wanted all parking restrictions re- moved from the ordinance but felt there should be some allowance made for late parties over the holidays . (6)