Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
This legislation amends Ordinance 1909-2013, which authorized and directed the Director of Public Service to impose a twelve (12) month moratorium on the consideration or approval of petitions seeking to establish or otherwise expand residential district permit parking pursuant to Section 2105.21 of the Columbus City Code and the rules and regulations adopted as required by that section within the boundaries of King Avenue on the north, Olentangy River on the west, I-670 on the south, and Norfolk Southern Railroad Right-of-way East of Fourth Street on the east. The moratorium commenced on September 16, 2013 and will conclude on September 16, 2014.
2. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
Emergency action is requested to allow the Director of Public Service, at the request of the Short North working group, to amend Permit Area I and establish Permit Area VG to accomplish the following prior to the expiration of current permits on January 31, 2014:
1. Expand Permit Area V to allow through September 30, 2014 up to 15 permit stickers for residents of 641 North High Street
2. Expand Permit Area I permit parking along the west side of Kerr Street from Hull Alley to Hubbard Avenue, and along both sides of Hubbard Avenue from Pearl Street to Kerr Street
Title
To amend Ordinance 1909-2013 and to authorize the Director of Public Service to establish permit parking along the west side Kerr Street from Hull Alley to Hubbard Avenue, and along both sides of Hubbard Avenue from Pearl Street to Kerr Street; and to declare an emergency.
Body
WHEREAS, at the request of the Director of Public Service, a working group was formed in August 2012 and after making recommendations to the Transportation and Pedestrian Commission, the working group was asked to reconvene in June 2013 to make recommendations to the department, Mayor, and Columbus City Council to address the growing concern over the interaction between the existing residential parking permit process and growing parking congestion in the Short North neighborhoods within the boundaries being King Avenue on the north, Olentangy River on the west, I-670 on the south, and Norfolk Southern Railroad Right-of-way East of Fourth Street on the east ; and
WHEREAS, on July 2, 2013 said working group voted unanimously to request and recommend that Columbus City Council institute a moratorium on the consideration and approval of petitions from the Italian Village, Victorian Village and Short North Neighborhoods received after September 16, 2013, for up to one year to allow the working group to gather data and consider preliminary information from a parking study within the boundaries of King Avenue on the north, Olentangy River on the west, I-670 on the south, and Norfolk Southern Railroad Right-of-way East of Fourth Street on the east that will be conducted by the Department of Public Service; and
WHEREAS, on July 9, 2013 the Columbus Transportation and Pedestrian Commission recommended that Columbus City Council institute said moratorium as recommended by the working group; and
WHEREAS, on September 9, 2013 the Columbus City Council passed Ordinance 1909-2013, establishing the moratorium; and
WHEREAS, on November 8, 2013, said working group voted unanimously to request and recommend that Columbus City Council amend Ordinance 1909-2013 to:
1. Expand Permit Area V to allow through September 30, 2014 up to 15 permit stickers for residents of 641 North High Street
2. Expand Permit Area I permit parking along the west side of Kerr Street from Hull Alley to Hubbard Avenue, and along both sides of Hubbard Avenue from Pearl Street to Kerr Street
WHEREAS, on November 8, 2013, said working group also voted unanimously to request other recommended changes to administrative rules and regulations for residential permit parking in the Short North in conjunction with said amendment to Ordinance 1909-2013; and
WHEREAS, on November 12, 2013, the Columbus Transportation and Pedestrian Commission recommended that Columbus City Council amend Ordinance 1909-2013 and that the Director of Public Service amend the administrative rules and regulations for permit parking in the Short North, as recommended by the working group; and
WHEREAS, the Italian Village Society, Short North Alliance, Short North Special Improvement and the Short North Civic Association, members all of the working group, have recommended that Columbus City Council amend Ordinance 1909-2013 for such purposes stated herein, in conjunction with other changes to administrative rules and regulations for residential permit parking in the Short North recommended to the Director of Public Service; and
WHEREAS, it has been important to address the growing parking needs and challenges of this area in a holistic manner; to identify ways for resident, visitor, and employee parking needs to be considered as zones are created and parking permits, hangtags, or other mechanisms for area parking are recommended to the department, mayor, and council; and
WHEREAS, establishing the moratorium on the acceptance, consideration, or approval of petitions seeking to establish or otherwise expand residential district permit parking within the boundaries of King Avenue on the north, Olentangy River on the west, I-670 on the south, and Railroad Right-of-Way East of Fourth Street to the east for up to one year, or as repealed through Columbus City Council ordinance, has afforded the working group time to make policy recommendations and city officials to consider, as well as share such recommendations with impacted residents, visitors, and businesses; and
WHEREAS, the working group and the Transportation and Pedestrian Commission recommends that as a result of their review of parking congestion in Permit Area I, that the metered parking spaces along Kerr Street and Hubbard Avenue installed in 2010 for customer parking be replaced with Permit Area I parking since area business customer parking is now available in the new parking garage built with The Hub development; and
WHEREAS, the working group and the Transportation and Pedestrian Commission recommends that as a result of their review of parking congestion in Permit Area I, that residents of 641 North High Street (west side of High Street) who previously were eligible for Permit Area I permits be eligible instead for Permit Area V permits, but only until they will be able to parking in the new parking garage associated with the Pizzuti Hotel development, which completion is anticipated by September 30, 2014; and
WHEREAS, emergency action is requested to allow the City to establish permit parking along certain portions of Kerr Street and Hubbard Avenue in January, 2014, prior to the expiration of current Permit Area I permits on January 31, 2014 thereby immediately preserving the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare; now, therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
Section 1. That the Director of Public Service is hereby authorized to expand Permit Area V to allow through September 30, 2014 up to 15 permit stickers for residents of 641 North High Street.
Section 2. That the Director of Public Service is hereby authorized to expand Permit Area I permit parking along the west side Kerr Street from Hubbard Avenue to Hull Alley, and along both sides of Hubbard Avenue from Pearl Street to Kerr Street.
Section 3. That the Director of Public Service is hereby authorized and directed to continue imposing a twelve (12) month moratorium commenced on September 16, 2013 on the consideration or approval of petitions seeking to establish or otherwise expand residential district permit parking pursuant to Section 2105.21 of the Columbus City Code and the rules and regulations adopted as required by that section within the boundaries of King Avenue on the north, Olentangy River on the west, I-670 on the south, and Norfolk Southern Railroad Right-of-way East of Fourth Street on the east. This moratorium will conclude on September 16, 2014. During this time period, no petitions will be accepted for submittal by the Department of Public Service.
Section 4. That during this moratorium, the Director of Public Service is hereby instructed to continue to thoroughly research the safety, practicality and other considerations that would affect the circumstances under which recommendations made from this Short North Parking Working Group could be adopted.
Section 5. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is hereby declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage and approval by the Mayor or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.