HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 9174 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 9174
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council January 12, 2010
Page 1 of 2
SUBJECT: Update on the Revision to the Schedule of Standard Fines and Late
role Fees for Various Parking Offenses
The purpose of this informal report is to provide background information on a resolution to be
brought before the City Council on January 20, 2010 whereby the Council would express its
support 1br the revision to the schedule of standard fines and late fees for parking offenses.
The approval of the Fiscal Year 2009.2010 budget on September 15, 2009, by the City Council
authorized an increase to the City of Fort Worth's schedule of standard fines and late fees for
parking offenses.
A benchmark study of five of the top 15 cities in Texas was completed in June 2009; the cities
Include Houston, San Antonio, Austin, Irving and Dallas. The results of the study Indicate that the
average flees for the violations in Fort NI(orth is$266.70; significantly lower relative to the five
benchmark cities average of$54.21. Under the current flne structure, the late fee is $10.00, if the
fine is not paid within 15 days of the violation. It is recommended that the late fee be increased to
$25.00; which is significantly below the Texas cities benchmark average of$3Z.03.
Section 10-26(a)of the Fort Worth City Code provides that any person, firm, or corporation that
violates any provision of the Code related to the stopping, standing,or parking of vehicles shall
be fined in an amount not exceeding $200.00 for each offense` Further, section 10-26(b) provides
that the City Council may, by resolution, adopt a schedule of standard fines which may be paid by
a citation holder who does not wish.to contest the citation.
The suggested fine increases will bring the Fort Worth parking fine schedule closer in alignment
with the average fines assessed throughout the State of Texas by municipalities of a comparable
size(population of greater than 200,000).
The last increase in parking fines was adopted in August 2003. The recommended increases will
raise the standard fine amount for 10 of 10 violations as follows in Table A.
Table A
Vloladoll Double From TM
No Parking Anytime $25.00 $35.00
$25.00 $30.00
Parking on Wrong Side of Street $25.00 $30.00
Storing Car on Street $25.00 $50.00
No Parking from to $25.00 $35.00
Loading Zone $25.00 $50.00
Expired Meter $17.00 $25.00
One or Two Hour Zone $25.00 $30.00
Other(Describe) $25.00 $30.00
Parking in Front/Side Yard $50.00 $75.00
Average =24.70 $39.00
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 9174
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council January 12, 2010
Page 2 of 2
5sr
= SUBJECT: Update on the Revision to the Schedule of Standard Fines and Late
,.,. Fees for Various Parking Offenses
Based on the number of parking citations paid during Fiscal Year 2007-2008, the proposed fine
increases could potentially generate an additional $226,000.00 in parking fine revenue for Fiscal
Year 2009-2010.
Contingent on City Council approval, the revised parking fine schedule will go into effect on
March 1, 2010.
�✓Da . Fisseler, P.E.
City Manager
Attachment
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS