CITY OF SEATTLE
ORDINANCE __________________
COUNCIL BILL __________________
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AN ORDINANCE relating to the Traffic Code; amending Sections 11.14.277, 11.16.121, and 11.76.015 of, and adding a new Section 11.14.276 to, the Seattle Municipal Code to establish on-street paid parking rates for large events that are expected to draw at least 10,000 attendees.
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WHEREAS, Section 11.16.121 of the Seattle Municipal Code (SMC) sets limits on parking rates at parking payment devices and establishes policy objectives for the Director of Transportation to adjust parking rates; and
WHEREAS, the City's Comprehensive Plan recognizes the importance of paid on-street parking to encourage vehicle turnover, customer access, and efficient allocation of parking among a diverse group of users; and
WHEREAS, SDOT currently manages an installed base of about 11,000 paid parking spaces in 20 business districts with over 30 parking areas with different hourly rates, maximum time limits, and hours of operation; and
WHEREAS, since 2010, with the passage of Ordinance 123462, the Seattle Department of Transportation’s Performance-Based Parking Pricing Program has conducted regular paid parking studies and adjusted rates based on those data results as needed, in order to achieve the policy goal of one to two spaces available on each block face throughout the day in paid parking areas in downtown and neighborhood business districts; and
WHEREAS, since 2010, SDOT has made over 300 changes to parking area rates and hours of operation, based on data, and will likewise manage event rate pricing based on data; and
WHEREAS, subsection 11.16.121.C of the Seattle Municipal Code encourages an adequate amount of on-street parking availability for a variety of parking users, efficient use of off-street parking facilities, and enhanced use of transit and other transportation alternatives; and
WHEREAS, the Climate Pledge Arena is scheduled to open in the fall of 2021, and is eventually expected to have up to 250 large events per year with over 10,000 attendees; and
WHEREAS, given the significant number of attendees expected to attend large events at Climate Pledge Arena in comparison to the small number of on-street parking spots in the surrounding neighborhood, the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) needs to increase the maximum hourly on-street parking rate during large events (referred to as “event rates”) to ensure parking turnover consistent with SDOT’s goals of parking turnover set forth at SMC 11.16.121.C; and
WHEREAS, SDOT and the Uptown community want to ensure some on-street parking access for businesses, residents, and visitors in this neighborhood and prevent gridlock in Uptown during large events and one way to meet these goals is through adoption of event parking rates as set forth in this ordinance; and
WHEREAS, SDOT may eventually charge event rates in other areas around or near large stadiums or arenas if needed to meet its goals of parking turnover at SMC 11.16.121.C; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF SEATTLE AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. A new Section 11.14.276 is added to the Seattle Municipal Code as follows:
11.14.276 Large Seattle Center event
“Large Seattle Center event” means planned commercial or public event that is expected to draw at least 10,000 people to Seattle Center, including but not limited to a sports event, concert, festival, or exhibition.
Section 2. Section 11.16.121 of the Seattle Municipal Code, last amended by Ordinance 125210, is amended as follows:
11.16.121 Director of Transportation-Rate setting for parking payment devices((.))
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B. The Director of Transportation is authorized to set parking rates up to $5((.00)) per hour ("Maximum Hourly Rate"), except that for large Seattle Center events the Director is authorized to set parking rates up to $12 per hour for locations within a mile of Seattle Center. When parking rates are in effect, parking rates shall be set no lower than $0.50 per hour ("Minimum Hourly Rate").
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D. The Director of Transportation is authorized to develop a Director’s Rule setting forth how rate setting will occur for the Performance-Based Parking Pricing Program, including for large Seattle Center events and how the Seattle Department of Transportation will determine the applicable geographical area that is subject to large Seattle Center event rates. Performance-Based Parking Pricing has a policy goal of achieving approximately one to two parking spaces available on each block face.
Section 3. Section 11.14.277 of the Seattle Municipal Code, last amended by Ordinance 122243, is amended as follows:
11.14.277 Legal parking holidays((.))
Except where otherwise indicated by signposting in the area or for individual parking spaces, the following are parking holidays: Sunday; the first day of January, New Year's Day; the third Monday of January, the anniversary of the birth of Martin Luther King, Jr.; the third Monday of February, Presidents' Day; the last Monday of May, Memorial Day; the fourth day of July, the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence; the first Monday in September, Labor Day; the eleventh day of November, Veterans Day; the fourth Thursday of November, Thanksgiving Day; and the twenty-fifth day of December, Christmas Day.
Whenever any parking holiday, other than Sunday, falls on a Sunday, the following Monday shall be a parking holiday.
Rates for large Seattle Center events, defined in Section 11.14.276, shall apply regardless of whether the day is a parking holiday.
Section 4. Section 11.76.015 of the Seattle Municipal Code, last amended by Ordinance 125609, is amended as follows:
11.76.015 Parking violations on blockfaces, or portions thereof, requiring payment to park((.))
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C. The prohibitions in this Section 11.76.015 shall not apply on ((Sundays and)) legal parking holidays as defined in Section 11.14.277, except that the prohibitions in this Section 11.76.015 shall apply to parking for large Seattle Center events, defined in Section 11.14.276, regardless of whether the day is a parking holiday.
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Section 5. This ordinance shall take effect and be in force 30 days after its approval by the Mayor, but if not approved and returned by the Mayor within ten days after presentation, it shall take effect as provided by Seattle Municipal Code Section 1.04.020.
Passed by the City Council the ________ day of _________________________, 2021, and signed by me in open session in authentication of its passage this _____ day of _________________________, 2021.
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President ____________ of the City Council
Approved / returned unsigned / vetoed this ________ day of _________________, 2021.
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Jenny A. Durkan, Mayor
Filed by me this ________ day of _________________________, 2021.
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Monica Martinez Simmons, City Clerk
(Seal)