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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCLD-007-17Clerk's Report If this information is required in an alternate accessible format, please contact the Accessibility Coordinator at 905-623-3379 ext. 2131. Report To: General Government Committee Date of Meeting: March 27, 2017 Report Number: CLD-007-17 Resolution: GG-161-17 File Number: By-law Number: Report Subject: Online Visitor Parking Pass Recommendations: 1.That Report CLD-007-17 be received for information. Municipality of Clarington Report CLD-007-17 Page 2 Report Overview This report explains online visitor parking passes, a new technology to be implemented. It provides a significant opportunity to enhance our customer service while making a significant improvement on the efficiency and effectiveness of parking enforcement. 1. Background The Municipality of Clarington Traffic Bylaw 2014-059 restricts parking to a 3 hour minimum and restricts parking between the hours of 3 AM-5 AM. This is a measure to ensure our roads are unencumbered for emergency and operations vehicles and remain safe. Additionally, it is deemed necessary to ensure that the Municipal roads are not used as quasi-permanent, personal parking lots. Over the years Clarington households have changed in that often more adults are living in the same house which, by extension, brings more cars to be accommodated one property. A number of policy changes have been implemented to address these changes, including: the opportunity to purchase on-street parking passes, courtesy passes for homes undergoing driveway repairs, and more recently, amendments to the by-law allowing for parking on the boulevard. While these policies are proving successful, in particular the on-street parking passes of which approximately 1100 were sold in 2016, there still remains an issue with over-night visitor parking. Based on experience in the parking ticket first-attendance review process, the Manager of Municipal Law Enforcement recognized that offering a solution to over-night visitor parking would undoubtedly improve customer service and could significantly reduce first- attendance reviews as well as improve enforcement efficiencies. Over-night visitors are understood to include last minute visitors, additional people at a house to address family emergencies, and individuals making a responsible choice of leaving a vehicle parked after consuming alcohol and inability to make it to town hall to renew a monthly pass during business hours. 2. Visitor Parking Pass Solution The Municipal Law Enforcement Division relies heavily on the Command Centre software system to manage the parking activities throughout the parking ticket lifecycle as we assist in identifying problem parking areas. The recent upgrade to Command Centre software and mobile devices presented the opportunity to implement an on-line Visitor Pass module, through the Municipal website, accessible through any mobile device. Municipality of Clarington Report CLD-007-17 Page 3 The Town of Milton utilizes the Visitor Pass and reported to staff that the system has been received well by residents. The on-line Visitor Pass portal will allow residents to register a vehicle to be exempt from the 3 AM-5 AM and three hour minimum parking restrictions during the period of the Visitor Pass. Residents or visitors to Clarington would be permitted to register a vehicle for a maximum of 7 calendar days a year (ranging anywhere from 1 day up to a maximum of 7 in any combination). All passes expire at 8:00 AM on the date of expiry. Visitor Pass holders would, of course, be required to comply with all other Municipal parking restrictions which will be clearly outlined through the Visitor Pass portal at the time of registering for the Pass. This would include the prohibition of on-street parking during a snow event. Once registered for a Visitor Pass, the Pass Holder will receive an email confirmation, but no physical pass is actually generated or required to be printed and displayed in the vehicle. Instead, the details are automatically uploaded to the Enforcement Officers’ handheld devices flagging the vehicle as permitted and exempting them from 3 AM - 5 AM and 3 hr maximum prohibitions. Monthly parking passes will still be available for residents looking for more long-term on- street parking. At this time, these passes are purchased by attending the Municipal Law Enforcement Division, Clerk’s Department at the Municipal Administrative Centre. The new visitor Pass portal is currently in the testing phase and is expected to go live on May 1, 2017. Promotion of this new on-line visitor pass service will be communicated in cooperation with our Communications Division through our multi-channel streams. 3. Concurrence Not Applicable 4. Conclusion It is respectfully recommended that Report CLD-007-17 be received for information. Municipality of Clarington Report CLD-007-17 Page 4 5. Strategic Plan Application The recommendations contained in this report conform to the Strategic Plan. Submitted by: Reviewed by: C. Anne Greentree, Curry Clifford, MPA, CMO Municipal Clerk Interim CAO Staff Contact: Duncan Anderson, Manager By-Law Enforcement, 905-623-3379 or danderson@clarington.net There are no interested parties to be notified of Council's decision.