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Ord 26-03ORDINANCE NO. 26-03 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF DELRAY BEACH, FLORIDA, AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF DELRAY BEACH, BY AMENDING CHAPTER 71, "PARKING REGULATIONS", SUBSECTION 71.030(B), "REQUIREMENTS FOR IMMOBILIZATION CONTRACTOR OR PROPERTY OWNER", TO PROVIDE FOR A CHANGE IN THE FEES AND PAYMENT PROVISIONS AND TO CLARIFY OTHER MINOR ITEMS; PROVIDING A SAVING CLAUSE, A GENERAL REPEAI.F.R CLAUSE, AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE. WHEREAS, the City Commission has determined it to be in the public's best interest to provide for a change in the fees and payments provisions and to clarify other minor items of the ordinance. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF DFJ.RAY BEACH, FLORIDA, AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. That Chapter 71, "Parking Regulations", of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Delray Beach, is hereby amended by amending Section 71.030, "Immobili~.afion Regulations", Subsection (B), "Requirements for Immobili~.ation Contractor or Property Owner" to read as follows: Sec. 7L030 IMMOBILIZATION REGULATIONS. (B) Requirements for Iraraobih'~ation Contractor or Property Owner. A property owner or immobilization contractor, to be in compliance with the provisions of this Section, must comply with the following requirements: (1) Notice. Property owners are required to post notice if vehicles are subject to immobilization. The notice must clearly indicate on a sign that parking is reserved for customers only and unauthorized vehides will be subject to immobilization at the owner's expense. The notice must also provide the name and telephone number of the person or firm immobili~.ing the vehicle, the fee for the removal of the immobilization device, such fee not to exceed a maximum rate of (3) ...... c_.A fifty dollars ($~5_0.00), and acceptable methods of payment. Such methods shall include cash, check payable in U.S. funds and credit cards. If the property owner or immobil/zation contractor does not accept credit cards, they may require the vehicle owner sign an invoice for payment prior to removal of the immobili~.afion device. The notice shall read substantially, in not less than three (3) inches high, light reflective letters on a contrasting background, the words "RESERVED PARKING"; in not less than one and one-half (1/2) inches high, light reflective letters on a contrasting background, the words "Customers of (insert name of facility) Only--Unauthorized Vehicles Subject to Immobilization and a Fee of ~-cnD-~;-¢ fifty dollars ($~50.00)"; in not less than three-quarters of an inch high, light reflective letters on a contrasting background, the words "To Remove Immobili~.afion Device Calk (insert name, address and telephone number to call to request removal of the immobili~.afion device)". Notice must be prominently placed at each driveway access or curb allowing vehicular access to the property and within five (5) feet from the Public Right-of-Way line. (e) The sign structure containing the required notices must be permanendy installed with the bottom of the sign not less than four (4) feet above ground level and must be continuously maintained on the property for not less than twenty-four (24) hours prior to the immobilizing of any vehicles. (0 The City is authorized to requite permitting and inspection of these signs prior to any mobilizing of vehicles being authorized. Inspection of Real Property ~vhere Immobilization is Used to Enforre Parking Restrictions. The property owner shall provide access to the City Manager or his designee in order to inspect the required signs on premises where immobilization is used to enforce parking restrictions. Notification to Oumer. Prior to immobili~.afion, the property owner or immobili~.afion contractor's representative shall attempt to notify the owner, operator, or person legally in control of the vehicle to have that person retrieve it promptly before the vehicle is immobili~.ed. Notification to a person within reasonable access shall be made by a verbal warning. 2 ORD. NO. 26-03 (4) (5) (8) (9) Method of Immobilization. Immobili~.ation shall be accomplished by placi~ a steel boot or comparable immobili~.afion device to the front wheel on the driver's side of the motor vehicle. The steel boot or comparable immobili~afion device may be placed on any other wheel if placement on the front wheel on the driver's side is not feasible. IVarning Sign Requirement. Upon immobilization, the property owner shall affix a warning notice written in English, e_~_:~. ~_.~ t-.~A~_ on the driver's side window of the vehicle, indicating that the vehicle is immobili~.ed and that any attempt to move it will cause damage, and shall provide the telephone number to contact for release of the immobili~.ation device, and the fee for its removal. The warning sign shall be in a form acceptable to the City. ~lvailabilt~ and Re~)anse Time. The property owner or immobilization contractor shall make available on a twenty-four-hour, seven-days-a-week basis, attendants and equipment for the timely release of the immobili~.afion device. The immobili~.afion contractor is required to remove the immobilization device from the vehicle within "-:~'~..~ sixty (36_0) minutes of a call for said service by the owner of the immobili~.ed vehicle. Record of Contracts. The property owner or immobili~.afion contractor shall file and maintain on record at all times with the City Manager or his designee a list of any and all current written contracts for immobili~.afion services on private real property within the City limits. The list shall be kept current and shall provide the City with: (a) The address of the real property; (b) The date of the agreement; (c) A contact name and tdephone number at the premises. Insurance. The property owner or immobili~.afion contractor shall file with the City's Risk Manager and have in effect an insurance policy or certificates of insurance in lieu thereof, which shall indemnify or insure the property owner or immobilization contractor for all claims of damage to property resulting from any action or operation in connection with the service performed, such mount not to be less than twenty thousand dollars ($20,000.00) for each incident. Recordkaq)ing Procedures. The property owner or immobili~.ation contractor shall keep an immobili~.afion log with information including, but not limited to, date and time the vehicle was observed illegally parked, compliance with subsection 0) of thi.q 3 ORD. NO. 2643 Section, the date and time of immobili~.ation, the location/address of the real property where the immobili~.ation took place, make, model, color and license tag number of the vehicle immobili~.ed. In addition, the immobili:,.ation contractor shall include in the log the following release information: verification of vehicle ownership, the name of the person removing the steel boot or comparable immobilization device and the name of the person requesting the service, if applicable. All files, records and logs shall be available for inspection and checking on the subject premises during normal working hours by the City Manager or his designee. (10) Ethics and Conduct. The property owner and immobili~,.ation contractor shall conduct their business in an orderly, ethical and business-like manner at all times, and shall use every means to obtain and keep the confidence of the motoring public. All public contact shall be courteous. Section 2. That should any section or provision of this ordinance or any portion thereof, any paragraph, sentence, or word be declared by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remainder hereof as a whole or part thereof other than the part declared to be invalid. Section 3. That all ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict herewith be, and the same are hereby repealed. Section 4. That this ordinance shall become effective immediately upon its passage on second and final reading. PASSED AN~ ADOI~ED day of ~ in regular session on second and final reading on this the ,2003. City Clerk First Reading~ Second Reading~z'x/ 4 ORD. NO. 26-03 MEMORANDUM TO: FROM: SUBJECT: DATE: MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSIONERS CITY MANAGER ~ AGENDA ITEM # \~ - REGULAR MEETING OF AUGUST 19, 2003 ORDINANCE NO. 26-03 (AMENDING CHAPTER 71, SUBSECTION 71.030(B)) AUGUST 15, 2003 This ordinance is before Commission for second reading and public hearing to amend Chapter 71, "Parking Regulations", Subsection 71.030(B), "Requirements for Immobili:,.ation Contractor or Property Owner". Ordinance 26-03 provides for changes in the fees and payment provisions, language of warning notices, and length of response time for the removal of the immobilization device. At the first reading on August 5, 2003, the City Commission passed Ordinance No. 26-03. Recommend approval of Ordinance No. 26-03 on second and final reading. S:\City Cle~k\chevelle folde~\agenda memos\Oed.26.03.8.19.03 TO: THRU: FROM: SUBJECT: DA~[~Pc~RI~~TY.MANAGER ..~COTT ARONSON, PARKING MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST MEETING OF AUGUST 5, 2003 - REGULAR AGENDA APPROVE ORDINANCE 26-03 AMENDING PORTIONS OF THE CITY CODE OF ORDINANCES CHAPTER 71, SECTION 71.030, "IMMOBILIZATION REGULATIONS" A recent inquiry from a commercial property owner initiated an evaluation of the City Code of Ordinances Chapter 71, Section 71.030. The concern was that some of the requirements of the ordinance are too restrictive making the immobilization of vehicles illegally parked on private property unfeasible. The request was made to amend the ordinance so the property owner could have illegally parked vehicles immobilized rather than towed. Staff agrees that the immobilizing vehicle is a preferred method of enforcement over towing for the following reasons: 1. The vehicle remains in the same place it was parked by the vehicle owner, 2. Vehicle owner is not required to travel to desolate impound yards and, 3. Cost to remove immobilization device is less expensive than redemption after being towed. Staff suggests the following changes to City Code of Ordinances Chapter 71, Section 71.030: Increase the maximum fee which could be charged for the removal of the immobilization device from $25 to $50, If the property owner or Contractor is unable to accept credit cards they can invoice the vehicle owner for payment at a later date, Extend the maximum response time to remove the device from 30 to 60 minutes and, Require the warning notices affixed to the vehicle window to be in English only (the current requirement is English, Spanish and Creole). These changes shall be accomplished through the adoption of Ordinance No. 26 - 03 (attached for your review) At their meeting of July 10, 2003, the Development Services Management Group reviewed and supported the above modifications. By motion, approve on first reading Ordinance No. 26-03 amending City Code of Ordinances Chapter 71, Section 71.030 and set a public hearing for August 19, 2003. Attachment: ORDINANCE NO. 26-03 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF DE1.RAY BEACH, FLORIDA, AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF DE1.RAY BEACH, BY AMENDING CHAPTER 71, "PARKING REGULATIONS", SUBSECTION 71.03003), "REQUIREMENTS FOR IMMOBILIZATION CONTRACTOR OR PROPERTY OWNER", TO PROVIDE FOR A CHANGE IN THE FEES AND PAYMENT PROVISIONS AND TO CLARIFY OTHER MINOR ITEMS; PROVIDING A SAVING CLAUSE, A GENERAL REPEAI.F.R CLAUSE, AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE. WHEREAS, the City Commission has determined it to be in the public's best interest to provide for a change in the fees and payments provisions and to clarify other minor items of the olrdinallce. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF DFJ.RAY BEACH, FLORIDA, AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. That Chapter 71, '~Parking Regulations", of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Delray Beach, is hereby amended by amending Section 71.030, "Immobilization Regulations", Subsection (B), "Requirements for Immobilization Contractor or Property Owner" to read as follows: Sec. 7L030 IMMOBILIZATION REGULATIONS. 03) tDquir~ments for Immobi~ation Contractor or Property Oamer. A property owner or immobili~.ation contractor, to be in compliance with the provisions of this Section, must comply with the following requirements: (1) Notice. Property owners are required to post notice ff vehicles are subject to immobili~.ation. The notice must dearly indicate on a sign that parking is reserved for customers only and unauthorized vehicles will be subject to immobilization at the owner's expense. The notice must also provide the name and telephone number of the person or firm immobili~.ing the vehicle, the fee for the removal of the immobilization device, such fee not to exceed a maximum rate of the immobili~.ation device, such fee not to exceed a maximum rate of .....~,-~--~ ---,~:"- fifty dollars ($~q50.00), and acceptable methods of payment. Such methods shall include cash, check payable in U.S. funds and credit cards. If the property, owner or immobilization Contractor does not accept credit cards, they may require the vehicle owner sign an invoice for payment prior to removal of the immobili~.ation device. The notice shall read substantially, in not less than three 0) inches high, light reflective letters on a contrasting background, the words "RESERVED PARKING"; in not less than one and one-half (1/2) inches high, light reflective letters on a contrasting background, the words "Customers of (insert name of facility) Only--Unauthorized Vehicles Subject to Immob/li~.ation and a Fee of ..... ~:--- fifty dollars ($~.5_0.00)"; in not less than three-quarters of an inch high, light reflective letters on a contrasting background, the words "To Remove Immobili~,.ation Device Call: (insert name, address and telephone number to call to request removal of the immobilization device)'*. Notice must be prominently placed at each driveway access or curb allowing vehicular access to the property and within five (5) feet from the Public Right-of-Way line. The sign structure containing the required notices must be permanently installed with the bottom of the sign not less than four (4) feet above ground level and must be continuously maintained on the property for not less than twenty-four (24) hours prior to the immobili~.ing of any vehicles. (0 The City is authorized to require permitting and inspection of these signs prior to any mobilizing of vehicles being authorized. (2) In{pec~on of Real Property ~vhert Immobilization is Used to Enforce Parking Restn'ctions. The property owner shall provide access to the City Manager or his designee in ozder to inspect the required signs on premises where immobilization is used to enforce parking restrictions. (3) Notificaa'on to Owner. Prior to immobili~.ation, the property owner or immobiliv, ation contractor's representative shall attempt to notify the owner, operator, or person legally in control of the vehicle to have that person retrieve it promptly before the 2 ORD. NO. 26-03 (5) (6) (8) vehicle is immobilized. Notification to a person within reasonable access shall be made by a verbal warning. Method oflmmobili~.ation. Immobilization shall be accomplished by placing a steel boot or comparable mobilization device to the front wheel on the driver's side of the motor vehide. The steel boot or comparable immobilization device may be placed on any other wheel if placement on the front wheel on the driver's side is not feasible. lVarning Sign Requirement. Upon immobili~.ation, the property owner shall affix a warning notice written in English, e-_-:~u __a r_~_~_ on the driver's side window of the vehicle, indicating that the vehicle is immobili~.ed and that any attempt to move it will cause damage, and shall provide the telephone number to contact for release of the immobili~.afion device, and the fee for its removal. The warning sign shall be in a form acceptable to the City. Availability and Response Time. The property owner or immobili~.afion contractor shall make available on a twenty-four-hour, seven-days-a-week basis, attendants and equipment for the timely release of the immobilization device. The immobilization contractor is required to remove the immobilization device from the vehicle within thaW sixty. (36_0) minutes of a call for said service by the owner of the immobilized vehicle. Record of Contracts. The property owner or immobili~.ation contractor shall file and maintain on record at all times with the City Manager or his designee a list of any and all current written contracts for immobilization services on private real property within the City limits. The list shall be kept current and shall provide the City with: (a) The address of the real property; (b) The date of the agreement; (c) A contact name and telephone number at the premises. Insurance. The property owner or immobilization contractor shall file with the City's Risk Manager and have in effect an insurance policy or certificates of insurance in lieu thereof, which shall indemnify or insure the property owner or immobili~.ation contractor for all claims of damage to property resulting from any action or operation in connection with the service performed, such amount not to be less than twenty thousand dollars ($20,000.00) for each incident. 3 ORD. NO. 26-03 tDcordkeq)ing Procedures. The property owner or immobilization contractor shall keep an immobilization log with information including, but not limited to, date and time the vehicle was observed illegally parked, compliance with subsection (3) of this Section, the date and time of immobilization, the location/address of the real property where the immobili~.afion took place, make, model, color and license tag number of the vehicle immobili~.ed. In addition, the mobilization contractor shall include in the log the following release information: verification of vehicle ownership, the name of the person removing the steel boot or comparable immobili~.afion device and the name of the person requesting the service, if applicable. All files, records and logs shall be available for inspection and checking on the subject premises during normal working hours by the City Manager or his designee. (10) Ethics and Conduct. The property owner and immobilization contractor shall conduct their business in an orderly, ethical and business-like manner at ail times, and shall use every means to obtain and keep the confidence of the motoring public. All public contact shall be courteous. Section 2. That should any section or provision of this ordinance or any portion thereof, any paragraph, sentence, or word be declared by a court of competent juri.~diction to be invalid, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remainder hereof as a whole or part thereof other than the part declared to be invalid. Section 3. That all ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict herewith be, and the same are hereby repealed. Section 4. That this ordinance shall become effective immediately upon its passage on second and final reading. PASSED AND ADOPTED in regular session on second and final reading on this the day of ,2003. ATTEST MAYOR City Clerk Fkst Reading Second Reading 4 ORD. NO. 26-03 A P~UC HEARIN6 MI I~ Mid m f~