Explanation
BACKGROUND:
The Columbus Parking Violations Bureau (PVB) was established in March, 1983 under the Columbus City Treasurer with responsibility for parking enforcement; issuing of parking citations; parking meter collections; and all related cashiering and accounting functions for both the PVB and the Police Division's Vehicle Impounding Lot. The PVB provides a central location for citizens to pay their parking tickets, file complaints about parking violations, request hearings for parking violations, report broken parking meters, discuss parking violations, and retrieve impounded vehicles.
The Transportation Division, under the Department of Public Service, is responsible for all parking meter management functions, including: meter inventory, setting competitive meter rates to provide turnover, establishing parking meter zones, routine maintenance, preventive maintenance, new installations, reinstallations, requests for new meter locations, handicap meter requests, bagging meters for occupancy permits and special events, and routine cleaning of the metered off-street parking lots.
Consolidation of all meter-related functions and responsibilities under a single entity within the administrative arm of government mirrors the most common practice among similarly sized cities across the nation. Moreover, it positions PVB to realize greater effectiveness through timely communication and coordination with related operations currently housed within the Public Service Department.
This ordinance amends City Code in order begin the realignment of departmental responsibilities with respect to the management of the Parking Violations Bureau and its related functions. This realignment will place the responsibility for overall parking management and enforcement within a single department. Over the next six months or so, the operations of the PVB, Transportation Division, and other administrative areas of the Public Service Department will be reviewe...
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