CITY OF SEATTLE
ORDINANCE __________________
COUNCIL BILL __________________
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AN ORDINANCE relating to the Seattle Department of Transportation; amending Section 11.16.121 of the Seattle Municipal Code to set new limits on parking rates at parking payment devices.
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WHEREAS, Section 11.16.121 of the Seattle Municipal Code (SMC) sets minimum and maximum limits on parking rates at on-street parking payment devices (e.g., pay station kiosks, mobile parking payment) and identifies policy for the Director of Transportation to adjust parking rates; and
WHEREAS, since 2010, with the passage of Ordinance 123462, the Seattle Department of Transportation’s (SDOT’s) Performance-Based Parking Pricing Program (the fundamental component of the Department’s overall paid parking system) has used a data-driven process to adjust rates throughout the city to achieve one to two open and available spaces; and
WHEREAS, SMC 11.16.121.C established a minimum and maximum hourly parking rate in 2010, was updated in 2016, was updated again in 2021 specific to event rates around the Climate Pledge Arena, and should be adjusted to more accurately account for the costs of SDOT’s paid parking program and to more effectively achieve the objective of pricing the curb to ensure reliable customer access; and
WHEREAS, increasing the minimum hourly rate would allow SDOT to more fully recover paid parking program costs including non-discretionary fees to process transactions, and increasing the maximum hourly rate would allow SDOT to adjust rates in Seattle’s highest demand areas to provide more reliable customer access; and
WHEREAS, it is the legislation’s intent to direct the new increment of revenues collected after passage of this legislation to SDOT for the purpose of maintaining and administering the on-street paid parking program; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF SEATTLE AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Section 11.16.121 of the Seattle Municipal Code, last amended by Ordinance 126399, 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)) $8 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)) $1 per hour ("Minimum Hourly Rate").
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Section 2. 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 _________________________, 2023, and signed by me in open session in authentication of its passage this ________ day of _________________________, 2023.
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President ____________ of the City Council
Approved / returned unsigned / vetoed this _____ day of _________________, 2023.
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Bruce A. Harrell, Mayor
Filed by me this ________ day of _________________________, 2023.
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Scheereen Dedman, City Clerk
(Seal)