Residents press Alexandria council to enforce residential parking rules as fee increase is debated

Alexandria City Council heard public comment on a proposed increase to residential permit-parking sticker fees at a public hearing in which speakers urged the city to improve enforcement and to shift responsibility for compliance to landlords.

Mallory Lawhon, a resident of Restricted Residential Parking District 7, told the council she was "neither outright opposed or in favor of the increase," but urged stronger enforcement: "I have lived in 1 of the restricted residential parking districts for over 7 years now and can maybe count on 1 hand the number of times I have seen parking enforcement out in my neighborhood." She said tenants and nonresident vehicles often occupy restricted spaces and that owners and landlords should be required to educate tenants or help cover sticker costs.

Carol James, speaking for residents of Districts 12 and 12A, thanked the council for a proposed correction to allow issuance of permits to that area and said stickers had been withheld from District 12/12A beginning in 2019 without public notice. James urged equitable treatment and noted the Police Chief—s report showed restricted-residential parking enforcement by license-plate readers had not occurred for those districts. "There was no reason to exclude 12, 12A from sticker issuance in 2019," she told council.

Councilmembers asked staff and the city manager to follow up with both speakers about enforcement practices. With no further speakers the council closed the public hearing and moved on; the ordinance itself remains under consideration and will return to a future docket for possible adoption.

No formal vote on the ordinance—s substance was taken at the hearing; the action recorded was the closing of the public hearing.