ARLINGTON COUNTY, VIRGINIA County Board Agenda Item Meeting of February 24, 2018 DATE: February 20, 2018 SUBJECT: Request to authorize advertisement of a public hearing to consider an amendment to Section 14.2-44(b), Subdivision D, Division 2, Article I, Chapter 14.2 (Motor Vehicles and Traffic) of the Code of Arlington County, Virginia to Increase Parking Meter Rates and Enforcement Hours, effective July 1, 2018. C. M. RECOMMENDATION: Authorize the advertisement of a public hearing to consider an amendment to Section 14.2-44(b), Subdivision D, Division 2, Article I, Chapter 14.2 (Motor Vehicles and Traffic) of the Code of Arlington County, Virginia to Increase Parking Meter Rates and Enforcement Hours, effective July 1, 2018. ISSUES: Changing maximum parking meter rates requires County Board approval. The proposed increase of $0.25 per hour would make Arlington rates consistent with other rates in the region and will result in more efficient utilization of valuable curb space. Increasing meter hours of operation from 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. to 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. will encourage more efficient use of curb space during early evening periods, benefit commercial enterprises that are dependent on the availability of short-term parking spaces, and become more consistent with the hours of operation with other municipalities. SUMMARY: Arlington County uses parking meters to encourage parking turnover and to manage curb space. The most recent change to meter rates was in 2015 (FY 2016). At that time, staff also proposed extending the hours of meter operation to 8 p.m., but the Board voted to defer action on extending the hours; the Board did not approve the extension at any subsequent meeting. Since then, curbside management pressures have remained high in certain commercial areas during hours when meters are in operation, and demand for on-street parking has remained high in the evening hours after meter operations end. Parking operating costs have also increased. The proposed increase in maximum rates is $0.25 per hour. Off-street parking rates in Arlington s commercial areas vary; on-street parking rates in neighboring jurisdictions of the County range from $1.00 per hour to $5.50 per hour. County Manager: ##### County Attorney: ***** 24. O. Staff: Matthew Hurley and Stephen Crim, Department of Environmental Services
The demand for curbside parking extends well beyond the current 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. period. Use of curbside space by long-term parkers after 6 p.m. limits the number of spaces available for short-term parkers. This limitation has a negative impact on adjacent commercial businesses that are generally dependent on convenient curbside parking. Metered curbside parking hours of operation in other municipalities in the region presently extend to 9 p.m. and/or 10 p.m. BACKGROUND: Parking meter rates are unchanged since 2015. However, during the threeyear period, parking pressures have increased and parking operating costs have increased. The proposed increase in maximum rates is $0.25 per hour. On-street parking rates in Arlington lag behind those in the region (rates as of December, 2017): Jurisdiction Meter rates Location Hours Short Term (<= 4 Hours): Arlington $1.75/hr (Proposed County Wide On-Street: Mon-Sat, 8 am - 8 pm Long Term (> 4 Hours): Maximum) $1.50/hr District of Columbia Alexandria $2.30/hr $1.00 - $5.50/hr Multi-space meters = $1.75/hr; Single-space meters = $1.25/hr City Wide Penn Quarter Chinatown Demand-Based Pricing Zone Old Town, Carlyle, and Potomac Yard. Premium demand areas: 7am- 10pm; outside of premium areas: 7 am to 6:30 pm 7 am to 10 pm 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. in Old Town and Carlyle; 8a.m. to 6 p.m. (Mon-Sat) in Potomac Yard; 2 or 3 Hour parking (depending on the location) Bethesda On-street: $2.00/hr City Wide On-street: Mon-Sat, 9am - 10pm DISCUSSION: The rate increase and extended hours of operation are intended to encourage more frequent turnover in parking spaces during hours of greatest demand. The maximum rate increase for long-term parking (four hours or more) is from the existing $1.25 per hour to $1.50 per hour. The maximum rate increase in the short-term rate is from the existing $1.50 per hour to $1.75 per hour. Other subdivisions of County Code Section 14.2-44 are proposed to remain unchanged at this time. The Parking Element of the Master Transportation Plan calls for an optimal parking occupancy of 85 percent. The proposed rate increase is one tool that can help achieve this rate of usage. In areas where short-term parking is needed, the rates can help to encourage parking turnover and the usage of off-street parking garages. - 2 -
The County Manager is authorized by Chapter 14.2 to set parking meter rates lower than the maximum rates if factors such as volume, duration, and time warrant. Some metered areas have very low occupancy and to keep this valuable parking resource useful, the County Manager currently authorizes metering of portions of such areas at a rate lower than the maximum rate. A total of 154 metered spaces have rates of $0.50 per hour. These rates will not be impacted by the proposed ordinance. PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT: Parking meter rates and hours of operation were discussed during the Residential Parking Working Group process, which took place from September 2016 to November 2017. Central to this process was an 11-member, County Manager-appointed advisory committee with representatives from: Planning Commission Transportation Commission Citizens Advisory Commission on Housing Economic Development Commission Environment and Energy Conservation Commission NVBIA/NAIOP Arlington Chamber of Commerce Arlington Civic Federation The Working Group s charge was to work with staff to create a clear and consistent methodology to evaluate site-specific, off-street parking ratios for multi-family, residential buildings proposed under the special exception (Site Plan or Use Permit) review process in the Rosslyn Ballston and Jefferson Davis corridors. However, on-street parking management including Residential Permit Parking and parking meters were mentioned in the group s final report to the County Manager. Specifically, the Working Group [recommended] that Arlington County evaluate on-street parking meter hours of operation to make sure that the meters are operating when needed to ensure parking availability for visitors, customers, and guests, noting that the County relies, in part, on parking meters to control [residential] spillover effects that will be made worse if we build less parking, as allowed under the Working Group s recommended guidelines. The County Board adopted guidelines based on those proposed by the Working Group at its November 17, 2017 meeting. At that meeting, the Board also directed the County Manager to review the County s on-street parking meter fees and hours of operation as they relate to effective on-street parking management. DES plans to support a County Manager s Office-led communication/engagement effort that presents meter-rate increases as part of other revenue-generation measures in the proposed FY 2019 budget. DES will share information through the County s Transportation website and DES communication outlets about the ways in which the meter-rate increase and extension of hours support effective on-street parking management. This information will include: County data on parking demand. Meter rates and hours of operation in neighboring jurisdictions. Explanation of how the community benefits from the changes. Public engagement on parking rate/hour changes from 2015. - 3 -
DES will also contact key stakeholders for the meter-rate increase and extension of hours by e-mail and telephone in concert with a public release of the Manager s proposed FY 2019 budget; DES will invite stakeholders to provide input on the meter proposal. Key stakeholders include the following: Ballston BID, Crystal City BID, Rosslyn BID, Columbia Pike Revitalization Organization, Clarendon Alliance, and Lee Highway Alliance; Transportation Commission; Members of the Residential Parking Working Group; Civic Associations within whose boundaries parking meters are located; and Arlington Civic Federation. FISCAL IMPACT: The proposed increase in parking meter rates and enforcement times is included in the proposed budget. With a proposed effective date of July 1, 2018, it is estimated to produce additional revenue of $1,575,000 for the rate increase and $2,200,000 to extend by two hours in FY 2019. - 4 -
Attachment A AN AMENDMENT TO CHAPTER 14.2 (MOTOR VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC), ARTICLE I, DIVISION 2, SUBDIVISION D, SECTION 14.2-44 (B) and SECTION 14.2-44 (C) OF THE ARLINGTON COUNTY CODE CONCERNING PARKING METER RATES AND HOURS OF OPERATION TO BE EFFECTIVE ON JULY 1, 2018. I. BE IT ORDAINED by the County Board of Arlington County, Virginia that Chapter 14.2, Article I, Division 2, Subdivision D, Section 14.2-44(B) and Section (C) of the Code of Arlington County, Virginia, is hereby amended, reenacted, and recodified, to be effective on July 1, 2018, to read, in pertinent part, as follows: 14.2-44. Parking time limits; when parking meters operative. * * * (b) Parking or standing a vehicle during the hours of meter operation in a designated space or area in a parking meter zone shall be lawful upon the deposit of coin or coins of the United States of America or upon the use of a credit card or other acceptable form of payment or upon the proper designation of time on an in-vehicle parking regulator at the following maximum rates, unless a lower rate is determined by the County Manager after considering, among other factors, volume, duration, and time of day of metered parking space utilization: (1) Thirty (30) minute parking meter zone: One dollar and fifty cents seventy-five (2) One (1) hour parking meter zone: One dollar and fifty cents seventy-five (3) Two (2) hour parking meter zone: One dollar and fifty cents seventy-five (4) Four (4) hour parking meter zone: One dollar and fifty cents seventy five (5) Over four (4) hour meter zone: One dollar and twenty-five cents fifty cents ($1.25) ($1.50) for each hour parked. (6) Tour bus parking zone: Three dollars ($3.00) for each hour parked. * * * II. (c) Said parking meters, except those in tour bus parking zones, shall be operated in said parking meter zones every day between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 8:00 p.m. except Sundays and holidays; provided, however, that the County Manager or his designee may provide for different hours of meter operation in such parking meter zones whenever he - 5 -
determines that traffic conditions in any particular zone required such change; in which case the County Manager shall cause a tag, showing the hours of meter operation, to be affixed to each meter in the zone affected by such change and he shall have other appropriate signs erected showing the hours of legal parking in such zone. Upon the affixing of such tag and erection of such signs, the hours of meter operation shall be that indicated on such tags and signs. (7-9-69; 6-3-72; 3-17-80; Ord. No. 83-12, 7-1-83; Ord. No. 88-10, 5-21-88; Ord. No. 89-30, 11-21-89; Ord. No. 92-33, 7-11-92; Ord. No. 98-4, 6-1-98; Ord. No. 99-7, 4-10-99; Ord. No. 07-06, 4-21-07, effective 7-01-07; Ord. No.10-01, 3-13-10; Ord. No. 10-02, 4-24-10; Ord. No. 11-04, 4-16-11, effective 7-1-11; Ord. No. 12-05, 5-19-12) * * * 1. BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED that all provisions of Chapter 14.2 of the Code shall remain as previously enacted. 2. BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED that this Ordinance shall be effective on July 1, 2018 at 12:01 a.m. - 6 -