Council briefed on parking‑code updates including mailed citations and new bike‑lane enforcement; three‑month education period planned

Transportation and Public Works staff on Tuesday briefed the Austin City Council on proposed updates to City Code Chapter 12‑3 governing meter and pay‑station parking. The presentation described a modernization of the parking code that would allow the city to mail parking citations, add three specific violations and implement a three‑month warning and education period for those new violations before full enforcement.

Deputy Director Jim Dale and Assistant Director Louis Lehi said the changes were part of a 15‑year update to the parking code and reflect current operations and expected future practice. The three new violations identified in the draft ordinance are: blocking a signed or marked bike lane; occupying an electric‑vehicle charging space without charging; and improper closure of right‑of‑way areas used for special events. Staff said the ordinance would retain in‑person citation delivery as the primary enforcement method while adding mailed delivery as an…