INTRADEPARTMENTAL CORRESPONDENCE. The Honorable Board of Police Commissioners

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1 INTRADEPARTMENTAL CORRESPONDENCE July 25, TO: The Honorable Board of Police Commissioners FROM: Chief of Police SUBJECT: TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE REPORT RELATIVE TO CITY VEHICLES PARKING ALONGSIDE RED CURBS COUNCIL FILE NUMBER RECOMMENDED ACTIONS 1. That the Board of Police Commissioners (Board) REVIEW and APPROVE the report regarding the Department's parking policy of emergency vehicles. 2. That the Board TRANSMIT the report to the City Council for review and approval. BACKGROUND The Los Angeles City Council Transportation Committee conducted a hearing on March 23, 2011, to discuss a Motion (Council File No ) regarding City public safety vehicles parking adjacent to red curbs. As a result of the hearing, the Committee directed the Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) in conjunction with the Los Angeles Fire Department, Los Angeles Police Department and the Department of General Services to report their respective parking policies and for LADOT to provide statistical data on the number of parking citations issued to City vehicles for parking in a red zone. The attached Fact Sheet has been completed by Traffic Coordination Section (TCS) detailing the Department's parking policy for police vehicles. The Department's parking policy is delineated in Department Traffic Coordinator Notice, "Revised-Los Angeles Department of Transportation's Parking Enforcement Policy for Police Department Vehicles," dated April 4, The parking policy was based on LADOT policy, "Parking Enforcement Policy for Government, Mileage, and Utility Company Vehicles," dated April In addition to the aforementioned Notice, the Department has also published other notices advising of parking restrictions, and posted parking notices on the Local Area Network homepage to remind Department personnel about parking restrictions around the new Police Administration Building. Traffic Coordination Section spoke with Erick Martell, Legislative Deputy, Office of Councilmember Josd Huizar, and was advised that the motion was presented after concerns were raised by a community member. He explained that the motion seeks to determine the Department's parking policy and statistics from LADOT regarding the number of Department vehicles issued parking citations. At this time, no further information is requested.

2 The Honorable Board of Police Commissioners Page If you have any questions regarding this correspondence, please have a member of your staff contact Captain Thomas J. McDonald, Commanding Officer, Emergency Operations Division, at (213) CHARLI Chief of Attachmen

3 FACT SHEET CITY VEHICLES PARKING ALONGSIDE RED CURBS July 1, 2011 BACKGROUND On March 23, 2011, the Los Angeles City Council Transportation Committee conducted a hearing to consider a Motion introduced by Councilmembers Huizar and Koretz regarding City public safety vehicles parking adjacent to red curbs. During the hearing, a community member presented testimony and photographs of police vehicles parked adjacent to red curbs and at "no parking" zones. According to the testimony, police vehicles were interfering with bus stops, and blocking emergency access to public buildings, fire hydrants and sidewalk ramps for the disabled. Interim General Manager Amir Sedadi, Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT), advised the Transportation Committee that the Department of General Services (DGS) is responsible for parking enforcement related to City vehicles in the Civic Center area of Downtown Los Angeles, while the LADOT is responsible for all other areas of the City. Consequently, the Transportation Committee directed that the LADOT, in conjunction with the Los Angeles Fire Department, Los Angeles Police Department and the Department of General Services, report their policy concerning exemptions to parking in red zones. The Transportation Committee requested that LADOT also report the number of illegal parking citations issued by LADOT and DGS to public safety vehicles. SUMMARY The Los Angeles Police Department parking policy is delineated in Department Traffic Coordinator Notice, "Revised-Los Angeles Department of Transportation's (LADOT) Parking Enforcement Policy for Police Department Vehicles," issued on April 4, The parking policy was created based on the LADOT policy, "Parking Enforcement Policy for Government, Mileage, and Utility Company Vehicles," dated April The Department's parking policy is that all police vehicles, including vehicles utilizing a parking placard, are qualified as an authorized emergency vehicle, and are essentially exempt from any parking regulations when responding to an emergency call. Police vehicles shall be considered to be involved in emergency work when such work is necessitated by the immediate threat of life or property, and the vehicles can be easily identified. Any follow-up activity considered to be part of an ongoing investigation is not considered emergency work. In addition, the LADOT allows for parking exemptions, which are delineated on the reverse side of every parking placard, for police vehicles on routine business. Specifically, any Department vehicle being used for routine official business, but not engaged in emergency work, are granted the following exemptions from posted parking restrictions: Page 1 of 3

4 FACT SHEET CITY VEHICLES PARKING ALONGSIDE RED CURBS July 1, 2011 Time Limit Parking Zones No Parking Zones No Parking Alleys Commercial Loading Zones Preferential Parking Districts Coin Operated Parking Meters Exempted Exempted for a maximum of 30 minutes Exempted for a maximum of 30 minutes Exempted for a maximum of 30 minutes Exempted Exempted Furthermore, police vehicles will receive no parking exemptions at any time while on routine business at the following parking restriction locations: No Stopping Zones Tow Away Zones Red Curb Red Curb for Bus Zones No Parking for Street Cleaning Passenger Loading Zones (white curb) Taxi Zones Handicapped Zones (blue curb) Fire Hydrants Temporary Parking or Stopping Restrictions The aforementioned policy and other notices pertaining to parking restrictions of emergency vehicles are delineated in several documents issued by various entities within the Department. The following documents have been published to advise personnel of parking requirements: Department Traffic Coordinator Notice Revised Los Angeles Department of Transportation's Parking Enforcement Policy for Police Vehicles April 4, 2003 Office of the Chief Police Notice Parking Around New Police Administration Building November 27, 2009 Office of Administrative Services Notice Restricted Access to Parking at the Police Administration Building May 3, 2010 Chief of Detectives Notice Relocation of Parking for Business at 210 W. Temple Street Jul 19, 2010 Page 2 of 3

5 FACT SHEET CITY VEHICLES PARKING ALONGSIDE RED CURBS July 1, 2011 The Department has made further efforts to remind personnel of the parking restrictions around the new Police Administration Building by posting notices on the Department's Local Area Network (LAN) homepage. In 2010, notices were posted in January, March and May. Each of these notices was posted on the LAN for 30 days. Department personnel were reminded that any parking of police vehicles throughout the day at metered parking spaces and commercial loading zones were subject to citation and/or towing. Erick Martell, Legislative Deputy, Office of Councilmember Josê Huizar was contacted and advised that the motion was presented after concerns raised by a community member. He further explained that they are seeking the Department's parking policy and statistics from LADOT regarding the number of Department vehicles issued parking citations. CONCLUSION The Department's parking policy was established based on the LADOT policy, "Parking Enforcement Policy for Government, Mileage, and Utility Company Vehicles," dated April The Department has made numerous efforts to advise and remind employees of the parking policies related to police vehicles. Although the testimony that was presented that depicted possible parking violations involving Department vehicles, it is difficult to determine if any of these vehicles were on an emergency call or on routine business, or if Department personnel were in compliance with the Department's parking policy. Prepared by: Traffic Coordination Section Emergency Operations Division Page 3 of 3

6 // 7 MOTION TRANSPORTATION FEB The Department of Transportation is responsible for enforcing parking restrictions across the City. This includes the various colored curbs (white, green, yellow, blue and red). No vehicle is permitted to park at a red curb, including government vehicles for civilians, though there has been an accepted practice that law enforcement officials are permitted. Certain constituents from the 14 th Districts have requested that the office seek an official position from the Department of Transportation, in conjunction with the Los Angeles Police Department and Los Angeles Fire Department, on when it is appropriate for police and fire vehicles to park in red zones and when such activities should be discouraged. I THEREFORE MOVE that the Department of Transportation, with input from the LAFD and LAPD, be requested to provide Council with a report back on the policy of when it is or is not appropriate for City vehicles to be parked in front of red curbs. PRESENTED BY: SECONDED BY: JOS HUIZAR CoUncilmember, 14 th District 07a/ 531AIMMEEL macaw

7 TO THE COUNCIL OF THE File No CITY OF LOS ANGELES Your TRANSPORTATION Committee reports as follows: TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE REPORT relative to City vehicles parking alongside red curbs. Recommendation for Council action, as initiated by Motion (Huizar Koretz): DIRECT the Department of Transportation (DOT), in conjunction with the Fire and Police Departments and the Department of General Services, to report relative to the policy of when it is or is not appropriate for City Public Safe vehicles to.a inftittim p an Ic is; sal. repo to inc u - o II al arkin citations issued b DOT and the De a ent o éneral Services to public safety vehicles. Fiscal Impact Statement: None submitted. - Neither the City Administrative Officer nor the.d.hief Legislative Analyst has completed a financial analysis of this report. Community Impact Statement: None submitted. SUMMARY On February 18, 2011, Council considered Motion (Huizar Koretz) relative to City vehicles parking alongside red curbs. Motion states DOT is responsible for enforcing parking restrictions in the city of Los Angeles. Motion makers note that no vehicle is permitted to park at a red curb, including government vehicles for civilians, th u h there i:le_raa cthat law enforcement officials are permitted to do so. Motion requests that DOT report on the policy of whelrlf is or is not appropriate for City public safety vehicles to park in front of red curbs. Council referred Motion to the Transportation Committee for consideration. At its meeting held March 23, 2011, the Transportation Committee discussed this matter with representatives of DOT and the Police Department. During the public comment period a speaker expressed concern that the public safety vehicles, in particular police cars, are parked along red curbs interfering with bus stops and blocking emergency access to public buildings and fire hydrants. It was also stated that police cars park in spaces designated for the disabled. The Committee recommended that Council direct DOT, in conjunction with the Fire and Police Departments and the Department of General Services, to report back on this matter including data relative to the number of illegal parking citations issued to public safety vehicles. Respectfully submitted, TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE MEMBER, ROSENDAHL LABONGE: ALARCOlt KORETT: PARKS: JAW rptyan_ MOSE ABSENT ADOPTED MAR LOS ANGELES CM COUNCIL