| | | | | | | | | TO: | Finance and Economic Resiliency Committee Members
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| FROM:
| Alina T. Hudak |
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| | DATE: | June 23, 2023
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| | SUBJECT: | DISCUSS THE USE OF TECHNOLOGICAL CAPABILITIES TO COMPLEMENT AND ENHANCE THE OPERATIONS OF THE PARKING DEPARTMENT INCLUDING THE ISSUANCE OF CITATIONS AND PREVENTING THE ABUSE OF DISABLED PARKING PERMITS |
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| | | | | | | | HISTORY:
| On December 14, 2022, at the request of Commissioner David Richardson, the City Commission referred the subject discussion (C4 F) to the Finance and Economic Resiliency Committee (FERC).
At the February 17, 2023 FERC meeting, the Committee discussed the subject item, and recommended that the City Commission engage with Pave Mobility via a license agreement for a pilot program to test its license plate recognition system at five (5) municipal parking lots for a minimum of three (3) months and a maximum of six (6) months. Furthermore, Commissioner Richardson requested that staff return to FERC with ideas on how to prevent the abuse of disabled placards.
At the meeting, a related item sponsored by Commissioner Alex Fernandez, was also discussed. During the discussion, Commissioner Fernandez proposed the adoption of an optional City registration requirement for persons with disabled parking permits or license plates. The intent is to provide registered persons with extended free parking at on-street parking meters, beyond the maximum free parking period set forth in state law, to help curb the abuse and misuse of disabled parking permits. Staff was directed to return to FERC to further discuss both items with the purpose of identifying the means to address disabled placard abuse.
At the March 27, 2023 City Commission meeting, the Commission adopted a resolution accepting the FERC’s recommendation and authorizing the City to enter into a pilot program with Pave Mobility as described above. The license agreement is in the process of being finalized.
At the April 21, 2023 FERC meeting, Commissioners Richardson and Fernandez discussed both related disabled placard items and directed staff to return to FERC with a proposed ordinance for discussion regarding establishment of a disabled placard registration process. Commissioner Richardson also requested information on the number of employees currently conducting enforcement and the number of citations that have been issued in the past eighteen (18) months. The requested information is provided below.
FY 2023 – Budgeted Employees: 50 (25 Fulltime and 25 Part-time)
FY 2023 – Current Actual Employees: 40 (23 Fulltime and 17 Part-time)
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Date
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Citations
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Revenue
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# of Employees
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21-Oct
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16,619
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$668,747
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32
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21-Nov
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15,992
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$636,506
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33
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21-Dec
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9,999
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$440,023
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34
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22-Jan
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16,158
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$653,861
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34
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22-Feb
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15,605
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$632,037
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33
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22-Mar
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20,071
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$843,061
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35
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22-Apr
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15,596
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$802,463
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33
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22-May
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18,738
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$751,031
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30
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22-Jun
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16,407
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$646,991
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30
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22-Jul
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18,790
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$755,797
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32
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22-Aug
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14,844
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$626,521
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32
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22-Sep
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13,612
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$570,063
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31
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22-Oct
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15,985
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$674,166
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31
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22-Nov
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13,215
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$566,274
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35
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22-Dec
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12,107
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$562,691
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30
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23-Jan
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16,283
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$708,733
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30
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23-Feb
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13,983
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$620,480
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29
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23-Mar
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19,834
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$881,539
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40
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| 23-Apr |
19,045 |
$814,911 |
40 |
| 23-May |
20,687 |
$893.496 |
39 |
At the May 24, 2023 FERC meeting, Commissioner Richardson inquired about enforcement officer staffing levels. For FY 24, the Department is anticipated to increase the budgeted number of full-time enforcement officers from 25 to 30 and reduce part-time enforcement officers from 25 to 20. Commissioner Richardson recommended the Administration consider adding officers, which in turn would increase enforcement levels and Parking Department revenue. The Committee requested that the item be discussed further at the June 23, 2023 FERC meeting as it relates to staffing and the technology associated with managing disabled placards. |
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| | | | | | | | ANALYSIS:
| The Parking Department worked with the City Attorney’s Office to identify possible actions to help mitigate disabled placard abuse. Florida Statute 316.1964 authorizes counties and municipalities to charge parking rates to vehicles displaying a disabled parking placard at garages and lots, except for vehicles displaying a Florida Toll Exemption permit, vehicles displaying a disabled veteran license plate and vehicles with specialized equipment, such as ramps, lifts or foot or hand controls.
Miami-Dade County Code, 30-43(7)(c) also allows municipalities to charge and collect parking fees for parking in City facilities and parking lots that provide timed parking spaces for vehicles displaying a disabled parking placard, permit or license plate, except for the exemptions provided by Florida law (listed above). Based on the above, the City has the authority to charge vehicles displaying a disabled placard for parking in municipal lots and garages.
For on-street parking, the City may impose time limits and fees for all persons, including those with disabled placards. When an on-street parking meter restricts the duration of time that a vehicle may be parked, a vehicle properly displaying a disabled placard, disabled veteran license plate or permit may be penalized if parked in excess of posted time limits or parked in areas that are clearly defined as one of the following: bus loading zones; fire zones or fire lanes; emergency vehicle zones; access aisles adjacent to parking spaces for persons who have disabilities; or in areas posted as "no parking" zones. Currently, all persons with disabled placards receive a maximum of four (4) hours free on-street parking but are bound by established time limits for on-street parking similar to all other persons.
In the case where the time limit exceeds four (4) hours, disabled placard holders can be limited to four (4) hours of free parking but would be subject to the established fees for the hours that extend beyond four (4) hours. For example, if there is a two (2)-hour on-street maximum in a particular area, then a person with a disabled placard would be subject to the same two (2)-hour limit, but would get such two (2) hours free. However, if the established time limit exceeds four (4) hours, then the disabled placard holder gets a maximum of four (4) free hours, but then must pay for the remaining hours should the disabled placard holder park beyond those initial four (4) hours.
This item was presented at the April 18, 2023, Disability Access Committee. The Committee expressed concern that those people who truly need and have a valid disabled placard, would be punished along with those that fraudulently obtained disabled placards.
Proposed Ordinance: Voluntary Disabled Person Parking Registration Program
The City Attorney's Office prepared a proposed draft ordinance regarding a voluntary registration program. By establishing a Voluntary Disabled Person Parking Registration Program for persons with valid disabled parking placards and license plates, the City may be better able to mitigate the ongoing issues surrounding the abuse of disabled parking permits/placards and license plates. Additionally, the City may also be better able to distinguish valid and properly issued disabled parking permits/placards and license plates from those that were not properly issued or are being utilized in an inappropriate and/or illegal manner.
The Voluntary Disabled Person Parking Registration Program would require that registrants provide certain basic information concerning their vehicle and the physician who certified their eligibility to receive such disabled parking permit/placard or license plate. The City would provide registrants with free parking in City lots, facilities, and timed on-street metered parking spaces (with the exception of designated residential parking permit zones).
The proposed ordinance (Attachment A) would amend Chapter 106 of the City Code and provide for the following:
Voluntary parking registration program for disabled persons. The city shall establish, and the parking department shall implement and administer, a voluntary disabled person parking registration program which shall be made available to any person properly in possession of a valid disabled person parking permit or license plate, or a disabled veteran license plate.
(a) Registrants electing to participate in the program must provide the following basic information, in a form and manner to be determined by the parking department, prior to being enrolled in the program:
(i) the name, address and telephone number of the registrant (the person to whom the disabled person parking permit, disabled person license plate or disabled veteran license plate was issued);
(ii) the make, model and license plate number of the registrant’s vehicle, or the vehicle used to transport the registrant (the parking director, or designee, may approve the registrant enrolling more than 1 vehicle, as may be necessary, in the sole discretion of the parking director or designee, based upon the particular circumstances of the registrant;
(iii) a certification from the physician or other medical professional that approved the issuance of the disabled parking permit or license plate, or disabled veteran license plate to the registrant; or, alternatively, the registrant may provide the name, business address, telephone number, and medical license number of the physician or other medical professional that approved the issuance of the disabled parking permit or license plate, or disabled veteran license plate to the registrant; and
(iv) a fully executed and duly notarized consent, waiver and release, in a form to be provided by the city, providing express consent for the city to contact the physician or other medical professional who approved the issuance of the registrant’s disabled parking permit or license plate, or disabled veteran license plate, for the limited purpose of the city verifying that such physician or other medical professional exists, is properly licensed and, in fact, certified the registrant as having a qualifying disability.
(b) Registrants approved for enrollment in the program by the parking director, or designee, shall be entitled to park, without incurring any fee, in city parking lots, facilities and timed on-street metered parking spaces, except that the restrictions on parking within designated residential parking permit zones shall not be included, as parking in designated residential zones shall still be governed by section 106-84 of the city code. |
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| | | | | | | | CONCLUSION:
| | The license agreement with Pave Mobility for a license plate recognition system pilot program is in the process of being finalized. A Voluntary Disabled Person Parking Registration Program may also assist in curbing displaced placard abuse. People with disabled placards who do not register with the City, would be subject to parking fees and those who register would continue to receive the same benefits currently afforded to them. Additionally, the requirements to exhibit a disabled placard in conjunction with a registration of a vehicle tag would be necessary to minimize potential abuse of the system. Situations where a person is transported by multiple parties/vehicles, would need to be addressed. The Administration recommends that the Finance and Economic Resiliency Committee discuss the proposed draft ordinance and provide any policy recommendation, and if there is consensus, recommend the draft ordinance be sent to the full City Commission for consideration. |
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| | | | | | | | | Is this a "Residents Right to Know" item, pursuant to City Code Section 2-14? | | Does this item utilize G.O. Bond Funds? | | | Yes | | No | |
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| ATTACHMENTS: | | Description | Type |  | Ref Memo | Memo |
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