Administrative
Report
N.1., File # 24-1311 Meeting Date: 9/3/2024
To: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
From: JOE HOFFMAN, CHIEF OF POLICE
TITLE
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING THE CITY’S ENFORCEMENT OF PARKING
RESTRICTIONS DURING STREET SWEEPING HOURS
INTRODUCE BY TITLE ONLY ORDINANCE NO. 3277-24 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF REDONDO BEACH, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING TITLE 3, CHAPTER 7, SECTION 3-7.1308 OF THE
REDONDO BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE PERTAINING TO PARKING RESTRICTIONS DURING
VARIOUS HOURS FOR STREET SWEEPING, FOR INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In July 2024, the Police Department announced that, in compliance with the Redondo Beach Municipal Code (RBMC), parking restrictions would be enforced during all properly posted hours setaside for street sweeping. Accordingly, the previous, non-codified, courtesy of not enforcing parking restrictions after the sweeper passes the street segment was discontinued. This change in enforcement was initiated based on citizen complaints of non-compliance and enforcement challenges resulting from spacing between the street sweeper and assigned Parking Enforcement Officers.
The change in enforcement practice raised other parking concerns in the community and led to further evaluation of citywide street sweeping policies, resulting in the implementation of a revised enforcement practice that allows cars to be parked during restricted hours if both the street sweeper and code enforcement vehicle have passed the parking location. The adjusted practice has generally been well received by the community and staff recommends approving the proposed ordinance to codify the new approach.
This item provides the City Council an opportunity to discuss street sweeping routes and operations, current enforcement practices, and options for modifying enforcement and parking restrictions throughout the City, including the possible use of new technology.
BACKGROUND
Street sweeping in Southern California started in the late 1920’s in response to Federal and State Clean Water regulations. Today, regular street sweeping is important to cities like Redondo Beach for several reasons, including the removal of dirt, debris, and litter, while maintaining an aesthetic appeal to neighborhoods and business districts. The City conducts street sweeping in compliance with the 1972 Federal Clean Water Act and the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES). This is a service to the community to keep the streets and ocean waters clean, while also
N.1., File # 24-1311 Meeting Date: 9/3/2024
(NPDES). This is a service to the community to keep the streets and ocean waters clean, while also keeping storm drains clear of debris from storm water runoff.
In 2019, the City of Redondo Beach entered into a contract with Athens Services for street sweeping.
Athens Services currently has two sweepers operating each weekday, Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. Athens Services covers approximately thirty-seven street sweeping routes in the City, with parking restrictions established, for the most part, in two or three-hour blocks. The current restrictions are as follows:
· Monday
o North Redondo Beach
§ 8am to 11am; 9am to 12pm; 11am to 2pm; 12pm to 3pm
· Tuesday
o North Redondo Beach
§ 8 am to 11am; 9am to 12pm; 11am to 2pm; 12pm to 3pm
o South Redondo Beach
§ 8am to 10am; 9am to 12pm; 11am to 2pm; 12pm to 3pm
· Wednesday
o North Redondo Beach
§ 8am to 11am; 9am to 12pm; 11am to 2pm; 12pm to 3pm
o South Redondo Beach
§ 8am to 10am; 9am to 12pm; 11am to 2pm; 12pm to 3pm
· Thursday
o North Redondo Beach
§ 8am to 11am; 9am to 12pm; 11am to 2pm; 12pm to 3pm
o South Redondo Beach
§ 8am to 10am; 9am to 12pm; 11am to 2pm; 12pm to 3pm
· Friday
o North Redondo Beach
§ 8am to 11am; 9am to 12pm; 11am to 2pm; 12pm to 3pm
o South Redondo Beach
§ 8am to 10am; 8am to 11am; 9am to 12pm; 11am to 2pm; 12pm to 3pm The two to three-hour blocks for street sweeping are needed so that the sweeper has sufficient time to complete all of the streets scheduled for each route. The street sweeper generally arrives about the same time each week, however, when debris accumulates, such as after rain storms or during Fall leaf die offs, the sweeper must travel slower, extending the overall time needed to complete a given route. The sweeper can also experience delays due to other factors, including equipment maintenance, debris deposit, or navigating around illegally parked vehicles.
Parking Enforcement falls under the supervision of the Special Operations Bureau of the Police Department. Currently, there are five full-time Municipal Services Officers (MSO’s) who are assigned to enforce parking regulations during established street sweeping windows throughout the week.
Parking Enforcement during prohibited hours is in accordance with RBMC 3-7.1308(d), which reads, “Prohibited during various hours. Whenever properly posted, authorized signs are in place giving notice that parking is prohibited during such hours or on such days as are indicated on the signs, it is unlawful for any person to park any vehicle at any time during such hours on any such day. The City
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unlawful for any person to park any vehicle at any time during such hours on any such day. The City Manager is hereby authorized and directed to install appropriate and sufficient signs giving notice that parking is prohibited during the hours or on such days, or both or on specified days of the month during specified hours as may be indicated on such sign as follows: (d) On any street within prescribed districts where parking during the times indicated would so seriously impede and obstruct the efficient cleaning of the City streets by the Street Department as to affect the public health.” An unofficial, and uncodified, courtesy had been extended by the City for many years, allowing parking during prohibited street sweeping hours after the street sweeper has passed by a given location. However, there is currently no provision allowing this in the RBMC.
Recently, there has been an increase in resident complaints of non-compliance during street sweeping hours. Residents have shared that they move their vehicle(s) in accordance with the posted signs, only to see other vehicles illegally parked that do not receive citations. Residents have also indicated that their streets are not being cleaned properly and illegally parked vehicles that impede the street sweeper are often not issued citations. Other residents have reported that their neighbors own several vehicles, park them on the street, and only move the vehicles for street sweeping. Immediately after the street sweeper has passed, those same vehicles are re-parked on the street, where they remain for several days, not allowing others access to street parking. Due to these complaints, the courtesy of allowing vehicles to park after the street sweeper has passed, was discontinued in July.
Parking Enforcement Officers face several challenges in regards to issuing citations for vehicles parked during prohibited hours for street sweeping. The Officers try to keep in close proximity to the street sweeper to determine which vehicles are illegally parked, however, when the Officer stops to issue a parking citation, the street sweeper does not stop, creating a gap between the sweeper and the Officer. That gap increases each time the Officer stops to issue citations, despite the fact that issuing a citation to an illegally parked vehicle takes very little time.
Another challenge the Parking Enforcement Officers encounter has to do with the amount of water that is used by the Athens Services sweepers. Athens Services uses a water efficient misting system, as opposed to a heavy spray, which is designed to keep dust levels low. The minimal amount of water evaporates in a short period of time and does not leave much of a trail for the Officers to follow. Due to this rapidly evaporating trail, combined with the gap between the Officer and the sweeper, the Officers find it difficult to determine whether or not the sweeper was forced to drive around illegally parked vehicles. This issue is compounded when residents park their vehicles on the street immediately after the street sweeper has passed the area.
The Police Department is constantly looking for advanced technologies to enhance efficiency. One such advancement is the integration of GPS-enabled tablets with Geographic Information System (GIS) maps, which will allow Parking Enforcement Officers to capture and update street sweeping routes in real time. As the Parking Enforcement Officers patrol street sweeping routes, they can use the GPS functionality to track their location and movements accurately at the beginning and the end of each route. This data is reflected on the GIS map, showing progress as to which routes have not yet started, which routes are in progress, and which routes have been completed. Once this system is ready for public release and use, residents will have online access to the map, which will display the status of the street sweeping routes (and more specifically whether the sweepers and code enforcement vehicles have passed through the neighborhood) in real-time using a color-coded system. The Redondo Beach Police Department is currently in the testing phase of utilizing GPSPage 3 of 5 N.1., File # 24-1311 Meeting Date: 9/3/2024
system. The Redondo Beach Police Department is currently in the testing phase of utilizing GPSenabled tablets and GIS maps to track street sweeping routes.
Another advancement in technology that the Redondo Beach Police Department is currently researching is the integration of Automatic License Plate Reader (ALPR) cameras with software platforms designed to issue parking citations. One Police Parking Enforcement vehicle is already equipped with a Vigilant ALPR camera. The Police Department is exploring the feasibility of following behind the street sweeper, using the ALPR camera to read the license plates for vehicles which are illegally parked. Once a vehicle in violation has been identified, the Officer will be able to use the software platform to auto populate the vehicle information and then generate the citation, which must then be placed on the vehicle. This integration will make the identification and verification of parking violators more efficient and also decrease the time needed to issue citations. Athens Services will not allow surveillance equipment, such as ALPR cameras, to be deployed on their sweepers.
Unfortunately, the integration of the two systems cannot be used to issue parking citations via mail due to California Vehicle Code section 40202(b), which states that “The notice of a parking violation shall be served by attaching it to the vehicle either under the windshield wiper or in another conspicuous place upon the vehicle so as to be easily observed by the person in charge of the vehicle upon the return of the person.” There are exceptions to this section of the vehicle code, however, those only include bus zones and bike lanes.
In addition to advancements in technology, the Redondo Beach Police Department worked with the Redondo Beach City Attorney’s Office to craft an amendment to RBMC Chapter 7, Article 3, Section 3 -7.1308 for Council consideration. The proposed amendment would amend subsection (d) and would allow for vehicles to be parked on the street, despite posted signs for street sweeping restrictions, after the street sweeper and the Parking Enforcement Officer have passed (completed) the street segment.
Staff also, for reference, researched how other jurisdictions enforce parking prohibitions during street sweeping hours, and found that the applied strategies vary by city. · City of Los Angeles - Vehicles will be cited if they are parked in restricted areas on days when street cleaning is scheduled, whether or not the sweeper has passed · San Francisco - During street sweeping hours, you may not park until the street has been physically swept
· Hermosa Beach - Parking allowed after sweeper has passed, as per the City website · City of Montebello - If, for any reason, an enforcement officer is not directly behind the sweeper, and they observe an illegally parked vehicle on their route, a citation will be issued.
Sweepers may revisit any street that needs additional cleaning and a citation can still be issued even if the first sweeper has passed, as per the City website As detailed in this report, the Police Department has taken significant steps to examine issues involving street sweeping and parking enforcement during prohibited hours. These efforts have made it clear that 1) effective street sweeping is a great benefit to the community, 2) Parking Enforcement Officers face challenging circumstances in carrying out their duties, 3) proactive solutions using advanced technology may enhance enforcement efforts in the future, and 4) the informal courtesy of allowing vehicles to park after the street sweeper and enforcement vehicle have passed should be codified in the RBMC. At this time, staff is seeking Council direction in how to best
N.1., File # 24-1311 Meeting Date: 9/3/2024
passed should be codified in the RBMC. At this time, staff is seeking Council direction in how to best apply and enforce parking restrictions during periods designated for street sweeping.
COORDINATION
The Police Department coordinated with the City Attorney’s Office to prepare the proposed Ordinance.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with this item. The proposed real-time mapping feature is available as part of the City’s current GIS system and assigned code enforcement equipment.
APPROVED BY:
Mike Witzansky, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
· Ordinance No. 3277-24 Amending RBMC Chapter 7, Article 3, Section 3-7.1308(d) · Presentation - City Council, September 3, 2024
· Map - City Street Sweeping Route