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Council considers digital residential parking pilot and enforcement hours for eight streets
Summary
City staff recommended a digital residential parking permit pilot (license-plate based) for eight locations, with staff and council debating hours, permit caps, towing vendors and short-term contract costs; council asked for budget language and to limit the pilot area to the eight named streets.
City code enforcement staff proposed piloting a digital residential parking permit (RPP) program covering eight locations to improve enforcement and reduce the need for physical permits.
Code Enforcement Manager Green told the council he had evaluated both manual and digital program models and recommended a digital system because it allows online applications and license-plate-based enforcement through license plate recognition. The pilot locations cited were Hay Street, Dilwood Avenue, Fisk Avenue, Grant Drive, Tyrone Drive, Beth Avenue, Jeff Road and Gary Lane. Council members asked whether Glenarden Parkway should be included; council members representing that area recommended keeping the pilot to the original eight streets.
Staff described three permit types: residential, guest and emergency. Draft ordinance language discussed two residential permits per household, a caregiver permit and guest permits; during discussion sponsors proposed converting caregiver access into a residential permit and making guest permits non-annual (e.g., single-use or short-duration). Council members asked for a maximum guest-pass duration (Vice President Ferguson suggested capping guest passes at 72 hours to reduce repeated renewal abuse) and for the digital system to block automated re-use.
Council also discussed vendors and costs. Staff reported vendor quotes ranging from near-term implementation (two weeks) up to eight weeks; Community Boss quoted a six-month contract at $3,800 per month for software-only service. Council members asked that staff include anticipated software and towing contract costs in the budget and suggested a $50,000 placeholder until the city completes procurement and pilot evaluations.
Council asked staff to return with a short-term contract option, final vendor proposals, a recommended enforcement schedule (staff proposed late-night enforcement windows: Monday–Thursday 10 p.m.–8 a.m. and Friday–Sunday 11 p.m.–8 a.m., later amended in discussion to consider 9 a.m. end for enforcement), and precise permit counts and rules for caregiver and guest permits. No final vote was taken during the work session.
