Lifetime Citizen Portal Access — AI Briefings, Alerts & Unlimited Follows
Port Orchard land-use panel backs zonal approach for waterfront parking with LPR system
Loading...
Summary
Port Orchard staff told the Land Use Committee that a proposed license-plate reader system cannot enforce the city's current chain-parking rule without code changes; staff recommended zoning the four waterfront lots and requiring a next-block move in residential areas and the committee asked staff to draft ordinance language.
At the April 15 meeting of the Port Orchard Land Use Committee, Nick Bond, the city's community development director, told members a proposed license-plate reader (LPR) parking-enforcement system cannot operate under the city's existing chain-parking rule and recommended changes to the code.
"Our chain parking restrictions in the city are not something that can be enforced by an LPR system in the way in their current form," Bond said, explaining the vendor's system supports three enforcement options: geographic zones, a requirement to move a vehicle at least one block (or around the nearest intersection), or a minimal-in-place movement check akin to digital "chalk." Bond said zones would work for the waterfront parking lots but would impose excessive signage in residential neighborhoods.
Bond urged a hybrid approach: create zones for Lots 1 through 4 on the waterfront and require next-block or around-the-corner movement on residential streets. "So if you're in these lots, once you've exceeded the time limit, you would need to move to a different lot or to a street," Bond said, adding that on street segments the system could require a vehicle be moved past the next cross street to avoid a violation.
Committee members raised practical concerns. Scott Deener noted the potential for drivers to defeat turnover goals by rolling a vehicle a few feet forward, and he questioned whether the "adjustment" option would undercut the policy's purpose. Jay Rose Pepe, who opened the meeting, asked staff to check the existing code (Bond referenced Port Orchard code 10.0.120.06) and to draft ordinance language if needed.
Bond said LPR would also provide better enforcement data than the current paper-ticket and chalk system, allowing staff to identify hot spots for tickets. The committee expressed broad support for Bond's recommendation and agreed to have staff prepare draft code changes and bring them to the full council for further discussion.
No formal motion or vote was taken at the committee meeting; members requested staff-drafted language and follow-up to be scheduled for future council consideration.
