* WARNING: THIS IS AN UNOFFICIAL, INTRODUCTORY COPY OF THE BILL.
THE OFFICIAL COPY CONSIDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL IS THE FIRST READER COPY.
INTRODUCTORY*
CITY OF BALTIMORE
COUNCIL BILL R
(Resolution)
Introduced by: Councilmember Kraft
A RESOLUTION ENTITLED
A COUNCIL RESOLUTION concerning
title
Investigative Hearing - Valet Parking Program
FOR the purpose of calling on representatives from the Departments of Finance and Transportation, the Parking Authority of Baltimore City, the BMZA, and the Baltimore City Police Department to appear before the Council to report on the implementation of the valet parking program created by ordinance in 2013, as well as revenue generated thus far as a result of this law, including but not limited to, application fees, licensing fees, and citations issued for businesses that are not in compliance.
body
Recitals
After much debate and discussion, in early 2013 the City Council approved Council Bill 12 0081 creating a comprehensive regulatory scheme for valet parking in Baltimore. The 2013 bill broke new ground as before it's passage valet parking was largely unregulated. Since Baltimore had previously had little experience with regulating valet parking, it was assumed that implementing the new law would require additional regulation as concerns arose during its roll out into the city as a whole.
Valet regulations to supplement and further define the process by which valet parking operators, and venues desiring valet parking zones, must comply with the new Valet Parking Subtitle in Baltimore's Transit and Traffic Article began implementation on August 1, 2013. Since that time, there has been a staggered schedule for implementation in the most prominent business districts throughout the City. More than half way through the implementation process, some significant concerns have been raised regarding the enforcement of these rules.
Valet parking in Baltimore City was a contentious issue for years leading up to the signing of this bill. Many operators would park the cars on public streets, taking away parking from residents, and sometimes incurring citations on those vehicles, unbeknownst to the owners. The current law came after hard work and dedication of a handful of community members and Council members whose districts are most effected by valet parking services.
It is therefore essential that the Council, and all concerned parties, remain engaged in the process of refining and perfecting the valet parking regulatory scheme to ensure that it is able to fully address all of the issues that were targeted by this reform. A public hearing before the City Council in its oversight role would be an ideal setting to continue the discussions about valet parking in Baltimore that led to the 2013 bill and to allow the Council to determine if further actions on its part are necessary.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE, That the Council calls on representatives from the Departments of Finance and Transportation, the Parking Authority of Baltimore City, the BMZA, and the Baltimore City Police Department to appear before it to report on the implementation of the valet parking program created by ordinance in 2013, as well as revenue generated thus far as a result of this law, including but not limited to, application fees, licensing fees, and citations issued for businesses that are not in compliance.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be sent to the Mayor, the Director of Finance, the Director of Transportation, the Police Commissioner, the Inspector General, the Executive Director of the Parking Authority of Baltimore City, the Executive Director of the Board of Municipal and Zoning Appeals, and the Mayor's Legislative Liaison to the City Council.
dlr15-1062(2)~intro/07Jan15
ccres/ValetUpdate/es:tw
dlr15-1062(2)~intro/07Jan15
??2??
ccres/ValetUpdate/es:tw