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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 07(a) First Reading of Ordinance Amending Article I, Sections 168-2, 168-4.1 & 168-5.1. I� • 4 ,,o, yob AGENDA ITEM COVER SHEET Meeting Date: January 21, 2020 Item # 7. a Reviewed By: Contact Name: Lt. Scott Nylander Department Director: tit/413. own Contact Number: X3315 City Manager: Rob F Subject: Ordinance Amending Chapter 168 of the City of Ocoee Code Relating to Vehicles and Traffic. a) First Reading of Ordinance Amending Article I, Sections 168-2, 168-4.1 & 168-5.1. Background Summary: The Ocoee Police Department proposes two ordinance changes to the City's Code of Ordinances to address outstanding parking violations as well as making clarifications to policies regulating parking of commercial vehicles on public property. The City of Ocoee does not currently have a system in place for violators who have outstanding parking violations. Additionally, the City has experienced a steady increase in parking of commercial vehicles on public property, including numerous complaints from citizens. Article I, Sections 168-2, 168-4.1, and 168-5.1 of Chapter 168 of the City of Ocoee Code, Relating to Vehicles and Traffic, would be amended to address the following: Section 168.2 (Collection of Outstanding Parking Violations) — This amendment would allow the Department to notify the State of Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicle (DHSMV) of persons who have three or more outstanding parking violations. The tax collector may not issue a license plate or revalidations sticker to any applicant whose name is given to DHSMV by the Department until that person pays for the unpaid parking violations. Section 168-4.1 (Parking of Commercial Vehicles on Public Property) — This ordinance would be modified to prevent any commercial vehicles from parking on any public streets and road rights-of-way, with the exception of loading purposes or otherwise permitted by the Land Development Code. In addition, the definition of a commercial vehicle has been modified. The following vehicles would be considered a commercial vehicle: 1. Any truck or other vehicle with a tandem rear axle or a gross vehicle weight of over ten thousand (10,000) pounds or having a length greater than twenty-one (21) feet or height greater than ten (10) feet. 2. Buses used for transporting passengers for a fee, taxicabs, shuttle vans, limousines, or vans used to transport passengers for a fee; 3. Any vehicle with external modifications designed to be used for the purpose of lifting objects or persons above the height of the vehicle; and 4. Step vans, flatbed, and stake bed trucks, wreckers, farm equipment, dump trucks, and earth moving equipment; Sport utility vehicles, family vans not transporting passengers for a fee, and standard manufactured pickup trucks and dual rear wheel pick-up trucks used for personal use are expressly excluded from the definition of commercial vehicle for purposes of this section. Also excluded from the definition of commercial vehicle are light duty Class A wreckers when they are authorized by the City. Section 168-5.1 (Immobilization of Vehicles Bearing Outstandinlg Parking Citations) — Allows any police officer to cause the immobilization of motor vehicles based on criteria met in Section 168-5.1. Issue: Should the Honorable Mayor and Board of City Commissioners approve Sections 168-2, 168-4.1, and 168-5.1 of Chapter 168, Article I of the City of Ocoee Code, Relating to Vehicles and Traffic? Recommendations: It is staffs recommendation that the Honorable Mayor and Board of City Commissioners approve Sections 168- 2, 168-4.1, and 168-5.1 of Chapter 168, Article I of the City of Ocoee Code, Relating to Vehicles and Traffic. Attachments: First Reading of Ordinance Amending Sections 168-2, 168-4.1, and 168-5.1 of Chapter 168, Article I of the City of Ocoee Code, Relating to Vehicles and Traffic. Financial Impact: There is no financial impact for the City. Type of Item: (please mark with an"x") Public Hearing For Clerk's Dept Use: X Ordinance First Reading Consent Agenda Ordinance Second Reading Public Hearing Resolution Regular Agenda Commission Approval Discussion&Direction Original Document/Contract Attached for Execution by City Clerk Original Document/Contract Held by Department for Execution Reviewed by City Attorney Dana Crosby-Collier N/A Reviewed by Finance Dept. 11.43„3 C,...A.A.-- N/A Reviewed by () N/A ORDINANCE NO. 2020- AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF OCOEE, FLORIDA, AMENDING SECTION 168-2, CITY OF OCOEE CODE OF ORDINANCES, RELATING TO COLLECTION OF OUTSTANDING PARKING VIOLATIONS; AMENDING SECTION 168-4.1, CITY OF OCOEE CODE OF ORDINANCES, RELATING TO PARKING OF COMMERCIAL VEHICLES ON PUBLIC PROPERTY; AMENDING SECTION 168- 5.1, CITY OF OCOEE CODE OF ORDINANCES, RELATING TO IMMOBILIZATION OF VEHICLES BEARING OUTSTANDING PARKING CITATIONS; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING FOR CODIFICATION; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. WHEREAS,as provided in Article VIII of the Constitution of the State of Florida and chapters 163 and 166, Florida Statutes, the City of Ocoee (the "City") enjoys all home rule authority, police power, land development and zoning authority,and governmental and proprietary powers necessary to conduct municipal government and perform municipal functions; and WHEREAS, the City may exercise any power for municipal purposes, except as expressly prohibited by law; and WHEREAS, this Ordinance has been considered by the Ocoee City Commission in a public hearing in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 166.041, Florida Statutes; and WHEREAS, the City Commission in good faith determines that this Ordinance is in the best interest of the City and its residents and promotes the health, safety, and welfare of the public. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF OCOEE,FLORIDA,AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Authority. The City Commission of the City of Ocoee has the authority to adopt this Ordinance pursuant to Article VIII of the Constitution of the State of Florida and Chapter 166, Florida Statutes. SECTION 2. Amendment of Section 168-2. Section 168-2, City of Ocoee Code of Ordinances is hereby amended with strikethroughs showing deletions and underlines showing additions, as follows: § 168-2. - Violations. A. Any person violating any provision of this Chapter shall be subject to the requirements of Chapter 16 of the Code related to violations, including Notices of Violations, fines and procedures, and hearings to contest a Notice of Violation. B. The Chief of Police or his designee is hereby authorized and directed to supply the State of Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicle with a magnetically encoded computer tape reel or cartridge, or send by other electronic means data which is machine readable by the installed computer system at said Department listing persons who (i) have three or more outstanding parking violations, or (ii) one or more including parking violation(s) of Florida Statutes § 316.1955 or Florida Statutes § 316.1956, or any City ordinances which regulate similar parking in spaces designated for use by disabled persons. Under the authority of Florida Statutes § 320.03(8), as amended from time to time, the county tax collector may not issue a license plate or revalidation sticker to an applicant whose name appears on the list referred to in this subsection until that person presents a receipt from the City of Ocoee showing that such parking fines have been paid. SECTION 3. Amendment of Section 168-4.1. Section 168-4.1, City of Ocoee Code of Ordinances is hereby amended with strikethroughs showing deletions and underlines showing additions, as follows: § 168-4.1. - Parking of commercial vehicles or buses on public property. A. The parking of commercial vehicles on any public streets and road rights-of-way within any residential zoned district, including residential planned unit developments, as established by the Land Development Code for the City, shall be prohibited, except for loading purposes or as otherwise expressly permitted by the Land Development Code. For the purposes of this section, a "commercial vehicle" is means the following: 1. Any truck or other vehicle having a rated capacity of over 1 ton with a tandem rear axle or a gross vehicle weight of over ten thousand (10,000) pounds or having a length greater than twenty one (21) feet or height greater than ten(10) feet; 2. Buses used for transporting passengers for a fee, taxicabs, shuttle vans, limousines, or vans used to transport passengers for a fee; 3. Any vehicle with external modifications designed to be used for the purpose of lifting objects or persons above the height of the vehicle; and 4. Step vans, flatbed, and stake bed trucks, wreckers, farm equipment, dump trucks, and earth moving equipment; Sport utility vehicles, family vans not transporting passengers for a fee, and standard manufactured pickup trucks and dual rear wheel pick up trucks used for personal use are expressly excluded from the definition of commercial vehicle for purposes of this section. Also excluded from the definition of commercial vehicle are light duty class A wreckers when they are authorized by the City. B. The parking of buses on any public streets and road rights-of-way ••• ..• - • zoned district, including residential planned unit developments, as established by the Land Development Code for the City, shall be prohibited, except in designated bus parking areas approved by the City as part of a special exception or conditional use. For the purposes of this section, a "bus" is a vehicle designated specifically for the transportation of people for commercial purposes or transportation of students, both public and private. C. Whenever a police officer finds a commercial vehicle or bus to be parked in violation of any of the foregoing provisions of this section, the officer is authorized to take the following actions: (1) If the vehicle is occupied,to require the driver or other person in charge of the vehicle to move the vehicle so as not to be in violation of any of the foregoing provisions of this section. (2) If the vehicle has been parked in violation of the foregoing provisions of this Section and a warning sticker has been conspicuously placed on the vehicle for at least 48 hours pursuant to § 165-6 of the Code,to provide for the removal of any such vehicle to the nearest garage or to the storage area of any person, firm or corporation who has contracted with the City as provided in § 165-9 of the Code. (3) If the vehicle is unoccupied or unattended and within the past 90 days the owner of such vehicle has been issued a Notice of Violation, as provided in § 168-5.B. of this Article, for the violation of any of the foregoing provisions with respect to such vehicle and such Notice of Violation has not been contested, as provided in § 168- 5.C. of this Article, as of the date of the new violation, to provide for the removal of the vehicle without further notice to the nearest garage or the storage area of any person, firm or corporation who has contracted with the city as provided in § 165-9 of the Code. (4) If the vehicle has one outstanding parking violation notice issued or mailed to the owner of the license tag of the vehicle for which the fine remains unpaid after a period of thirty(30) days,and where no hearing has been requested within the requisite time period provided in this Article, the vehicle may be immobilized in accordance with section 168-5.1 of this Article. SECTION 4. Amendment of Section 168-5.1. Section 168-5.1, City of Ocoee Code of Ordinances is hereby amended with strikethroughs showing deletions and underlines showing additions, as follows: § 168-5.1. - Immobilization of vehicles bearing outstanding citations. A. The City may,by resolution after a public hearing preceded by at 1 st seven days'notice o€—the-hearing and the proposed action by publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the City of Ocoee, institute a policy for the immobilization of vehicles bearing outstanding citations issued pursuant to this Article. The provisions of this § 168 5.1 shall apply only in the event the City institutes such a policy. In addition to issuing a parking violation notice, any police officer may cause the immobilization of motor vehicles in conformity with the requirements of this section to prevent the operation of such vehicles. Such vehicles shall be immobilized only by the use of a device or other mechanism which will cause no damage to such vehicle unless it is moved while such device or mechanism is in place. B. Any motor vehicle found parked at any time upon any street or in any off-street parking facility in the City of Ocoee may be immobilized by or under the direction of a police officer of the City if at the time of such immobilization the following is found: (1) No current and valid license plate and validation sticker is affixed to the vehicle; or (2) With respect to such vehicle, there is either: a. One outstanding parking violation notice against the owner of the license tag of the vehicle for parking in a space designated for disabled parking,which has been issued or mailed to the owner of the license tag of the vehicle and for which the fine remains unpaid after a period of thirty (30) days, and where no hearing has been requested within the requisite time period provided in this Article; b. One outstanding parking violation against the owner of the license tag of the vehicle for parking in a fire lane, which has been issued or mailed to the owner of the license tag of the vehicle and for which the fine remains unpaid after a period of thirty (30) days, and where no hearing has been requested within the requisite time period provided in this Article; c. One outstanding parking violation against the owner of a commercial license tag of the vehicle for any parking violation which has been issued or mailed to the owner of the license tag of the vehicle and for which the fine remains unpaid after a period of thirty(30)days, and where no hearing has been requested within the requisite time period provided in this Article; d. B, •. - . . -• - . . - - . . •-- . .. ., -- . •- .. -- parking facility in the City of Ocoee against which there is one outstanding parking citation for parking in a space designated for disabled parking or Three or more outstanding parking citations for other parking violations within the preceding 12 calendar months,for which no hearing has been requested within the requisite time period provided in this Article,may be immobilized in such a manner as to prevent its operation. other mechanism that will cause no damage to such vehicle unless it is moved while such device or mechanism is in place. C. It shall be the duty of the police officer or other authorized person immobilizing such motor vehicle, or under whose direction such vehicle is immobilized, to post on such vehicle, in a conspicuous place, notice sufficient to inform the owner or operator of the vehicle that: 1. Such vehicle has been immobilized pursuant to and by the authority of§ 168-5.1 of the City of Ocoee Code of Ordinances; and 2. The owner of such immobilized vehicle, or other duly authorized person, shall be permitted to repossess or to secure the release of the vehicle upon payment to the City of Ocoee of the applicable fee for removal of the immobilization device and all outstanding fees and penalties due in connection with any outstanding citation(s)that necessitated the immobilization of the vehicle. D. It shall be unlawful for anyone, except for a police officer or such other person authorized by the Chief of Police, to remove or attempt to remove, tamper with, or in any way damage or alter the immobilization device. E. Any vehicle immobilized pursuant to this Section may be towed or otherwise moved to the nearest garage or to the storage area of any person, firm or corporation who has contracted with the City as provided in § 165-9 of the Code. SECTION 5. Severability. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase or portion of this Ordinance is for any reason held invalid or unconstitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction, such portion shall be deemed a separate, distinct and independent provision and such holding shall not affect the validity of the remaining portion hereto. SECTION 6. Codification. It is the intention of the City Commission of the City that the provisions of this Ordinance shall become and be made a part of the Code of Ordinances of the City;and that sections of this Ordinance may be renumbered or relettered and the word"ordinance" may be changed to "chapter," "section," "article," or such other appropriate word or phrase in order to accomplish such intentions; and regardless of whether such inclusion in the Code is accomplished, sections of this Ordinance may be renumbered or relettered and the correction of typographical errors which do not affect the intent may be authorized by the City Manager,without need of public hearing, by filing a corrected or recodified copy of same with the City Clerk. SECTION 7. Effective Date. This Ordinance shall become effective immediately upon passage and adoption. PASSED AND ADOPTED this day of ,2020. APPROVED: ATTEST: CITY OF OCOEE,FLORIDA Melanie Sibbitt, City Clerk Rusty Johnson, Mayor (SEAL) ADVERTISED ,2020 READ FIRST TIME ,2020 READ SECOND TIME AND ADOPTED ,2020 UNDER AGENDA ITEM NO. FOR USE AND RELIANCE ONLY BY THE CITY OF OCOEE,FLORIDA; APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY this day of , 2020. SHUFFIELD, LOWMAN & WILSON, P.A. By: City Attorney