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HomeMy WebLinkAboutOES 42-02 Ûú¡ o~ REPORT TO THE FINANCE & OPERATIONS COMMITTEE 1 !", 9 Report Number: OES 42-02 Date: October 28, 2002 From: Richard W. Holborn, P.Eng. Division Head Municipal Property & Engineering Subject: Parking Restrictions During Winter Months By-law Recommendation: 1. That Report OES 42-02 regarding the implementation of parking restrictions during winter months to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of snow clearing operations be received; and 2. That the attached draft amendment to the City of Pickering Parking By-law #2359/87 be adopted which will thereby prohibit all on-street parking between the hours of 3:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. from December 1st to April 1st; and 3. That City staff be directed to ensure that the new regulation is extensively advertised prior to the conditions of the new by-law being enforced. Executive Summary: As a means to improve roadway safety and provide a more effective and efficient snow clearing operation, it is recommended that the City of Pickering adopt an on-street parking condition which is common in most other Greater Toronto Area (GTA) municipalities. The proposed by-law condition would effectively prohibit all on-street parking between the hours of 3:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. from December 1 st to April 1 st. With this new regulation in place, City snow clearing crews would be able to reduce the amount of time necessary to complete routes while at the same time improve roadway safety by eliminating the piles of snow which become frozen on-street around parked vehicles. This new by-law condition undoubtedly represents a significant change in the access to on-street parking that Pickering residents currently have. Although some residents may view the new regulations as inconvenient and problematic there are many positive aspects to this proposal, which should be taken into account. These improvements include a safer roadway operating environment and a greatly improved City snow- clearing service from both a financial and operational perspective. Given the potential that exists for opposition to the new by-law, it is essential that an extensive advertising and awareness campaign be undertaken, and that the enforcement component be phased-in starting with education and warnings. Report OES 42-02 Date: October 28, 2002 110 Subject: Parking Restrictions During Winter Months By-law Page 2 Financial Implications: It can be expected that the City will realize a cost saving from the implementation and enforcement of the proposed parking restrictions during winter month's by-law. Initially there will be a small cost to extensively advertise the new regulation but as residents become more aware of the new by-law, the snow clearing operation will be able to be performed much more effectively and efficiently. From an operational perspective alone savings may be recognized related to less staff overtime, fuel consumption and wear and tear on vehicles and snow removal equipment. A certain amount of revenue will also be generated from the enforcement of related on-street parking infractions. Most of the costs related to the advertising component can be minimized through the utilization of existing City staff resources and the various promotional and media channels that are currently available. It is therefore expected that the cost to make the public aware will be minimal. A cost, estimated at $1500 will be incurred to add one panel on our City entry signs to reflect the new by-law regulations. The existing signs indicate that on-street parking is only prohibited during snow clearing operations. Background: Due to a number of difficulties that were experienced with the clearing of snow from the roadways last winter because of parked cars, a series of meetings were held in March and April of 2002, to discuss the feasibility of eliminating all on-street parking during the more prevalent times of plowing operations. A general condition currently exists in the City of Pickering parking by-law which prohibits any person from stopping a vehicle on-street such that it interferes with the movement of traffic or the clearing of snow, however, this condition is in-effective and difficult to enforce due to the high number of vehicles that are regularly parked on-street, and the interpretation of the wording. Further investigation and discussion on the topic has indicated that most of the urban municipalities in and around the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) have implemented a specific parking by-law to deal with this matter. The by-law basically eliminates all on- street parking during the traditional snow clearing times in the winter months which are typically between the hours of 3:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. from December 1st to April 1st. These by-law regulations are widely regarded as a very effective tool to increase the level of service (efficiency and effectiveness) provided by the municipal snow removal crews. A poll of the municipalities within Durham Region has confirmed that a by-law restricting parking during winter months presently exists in each municipality with the exception of the Town of Whitby, with slight variations to the times and dates of parking prohibition. It was also noted during the review of the practices of our neighbouring municipalities that the conditions of the by-law are strictly enforced in order for it to be effective and to retain its integrity. Report OES 42-02 Date: October 28, 2002 111 Subject: Parking Restrictions During Winter Months By-law Page 3 The implementation of such a by-law condition will have significant impacts on those residents who currently have insufficient off-street parking or for those residents who park on-street for convenience reasons. Although there will be some opposition to the new regulation it should be made aware to residents that very strict by-laws are commonplace in all of our neighbouring municipalities. With proper promotion and education outlining the necessity for this by-law, however, it is expected that most residents will comply with the conditions. Attachments: 1. Draft By-law Amendment ~ "~tep en Brake Supervisor Traffic Engineering & Waste Management By: Prepared By: Everett Bu sma Director Operations & Emergency Services Submitted By: CSB :csb/traffio/mowremoval-", Attachments Copy: Chief Administrative Officer Recommended for the consideration of Pickering Cit¥. Council I' "2 11~ ATTACHMENT#...-L" lOREPORT# OE:~ L\-2.-02-- \ of I THE CORPORATION OF THE CITY OF PICKERING BY-lAW NO. Being a by-law to amend By-law Number 2359/87 (Parking) to regulate parking, standing, and stopping on highways or parts of highways under the jurisdiction of the Corporation of the City of Pickering and on private and municipal property. WHEREAS the Council of the Corporation of the City of Pickering enacted By-law Number 2359/87 on January 19,1987 to regulate parking on private and public property in the City of Pickering; and WHEREAS By-law 2359/87, as amended does not provide adequate provisions to allow for the streets to be cleared during snow and ice removal operations. NOW THEREFORE THE COUNCil OF THE CORPORATION OF THE CITY OF PICKERING HEREBY ENACTS AS FOllOWS: 1. Section 3 of By-law Number 2359/87, as amended, is hereby further amended by adding thereto the following paragraph: Section 3 (11) - No person shall on any highway park any vehicle between the hours of 3:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. from December 1st in any year to April 1st in the next following year. BY-LAW read a first, second and third time and finally passed this 2nd day of December 2002. Wayne Arthurs, Mayor Bruce Taylor, Clerk