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THE CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF CLARINGTON
REPORT
MEETING:
General Purpose and Administration Committee
FILE#7036~
RES. ~111-/t~/
DATE:
Monday, March 26, 2001
SUBJECT:
CD-15-01
OVERNIGHT PARKING
BY-LAW #
REPORT:
Recommendations:
It is respectfully recommended that the General Purpose and Administration Committee
recommend to Council the following:
RECOMMENDATION A:
1. THAT Report CD-15-01 be received; and
2. THAT Council authorize staff to enforce the provisions of the Traffic By-law as they
relate to overnight parking.
-OR-
RECOMMENDATION B:
THAT Report CD-15-01 be received for information.
BACKGROUND:
In May 1999 Council passed an amendment to the Traffic By-law 91-58 which prohibited on street
parking between the hours of 3:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. The section was intended to ensure that the
municipal streets are not used as permanent parking spaces for vehicles which were cluttering and
obstructing the roadway.
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816
Report CD-15-01
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-2-
March 26, 2001
Throughout the winter of 1999-2000 Parking Enforcement staff were called out several times to assist
the Public Works Department with vehicles that were parked on the street and obstructing the
passage of the ploughs. Through the spring of 2000 staff continued to receive complaints concerning
vehicles being parked on the street overnight.
During March April and May of 2000 Parking Enforcement staff went out eight times to enforce the
overnight provisions. Although the number of tickets issued remained high, with an average of 123
tickets per night, the officers noted that the areas that had been previously ticketed were showing
higher levels of compliance when they returned. In total, 982 tickets were issued over the course of
three months.
Many complaints were received relating to the enforcement on an overnight basis. In some cases
citizens raised concerns about a lack of parking space on their property for the number, type and size
of vehicles they owned. In response to these concerns, the Municipal On Street Parking Permit
program was implemented. Citizens are now able to apply for a permit to allow them to park one
private motor vehicle on the street for periods longer than three hours and overnight. This permit
does not excuse them from the necessity of removing their vehicle from the street when it is being
ploughed in the winter.
Since the termination of overnight enforcement by municipal staff there have been repeated
complaints from citizens concerning vehicles parking on the streets overnight. This has caused staff
to revisit the matter. The prohibition on on-street parking from 3:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. has been in
existence for two years and yet compliance still remains a problem. Overnight parking enforcement is
enforced by the Durham Regional Police, however they enforce all laws on a priority basis.
All the original reasons for passing the original prohibition remain valid. The streets are there for
vehicular traffic and not as overflow parking lots for residents. Vehicles left on the street for
prolonged periods can cause traffic problems for other vehicles. Staff are also cognizant of the fact
that many of the people who receive parking tickets will complain and feel that they have been treated
unfairly or that the ticket was not warranted.
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817
Report CD-15-01
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-3-
March 26, 2001
Ultimately Council must decide whether or not Staff are to be authorized to work overnight and
enforce the provisions of the By-law. Current staff levels do not permit for the permanent posting of
one of the officers to full time night duty. Staff are prepared to have an officer work an occasional
night shift in response ot citizen complaints in order to enforce the 3:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. prohibition.
Staff are therefore seeking Council's direction in this matter.
Reviewed by,
dNJU2 ~
Franklin Wu, M.C.I.P.
Chief Administrative Officer
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