The Public Safety & Transportation Committee voted to Approve the following (see Report and watch the Video):
- Semi-annual public auto inspections (7-0, Councilor Greenberg Not Voting). Nine City vehicles passed inspection.
The Public Safety & Transportation Committee voted to Hold the following:
- Discussion, review, and possible action related to parking on-street and in municipal lots (7-0, Councilor Greenberg Not Voting). A brainstorming session. “Councilor Downs stated that DPW indicated they can clear the streets without the winter overnight parking ban in place. Some residents see the winter overnight parking ban as inconvenient and inequitable. Opponents of the current winter overnight parking ban have noted reasons including inconvenience, inequity, people with disabilities, people who can’t get down their driveways, etc. They have also noted it encourages more driveways being built and the installation of curb cuts, which means that either lawns or trees get removed, and we have more impervious surface.” Councilors discussed the workability of overnight permit stickers. Police said it may be difficult for Parking Control officers to work long hours and that 10 years ago a license-plate reader cost $16,000 each. Police tows cars only for safety issues or when a driver has 10+ tickets and $200+ in fines. Te Police do not tow on Fridays or after 3PM.
Councilor Downs presented a working document on options. A request to will be made to the Planning Dept for number of residential units in Newton without off-street parking. The committee discussed whether the schedule of parking fines should be reviewed. (The fine for overnight parking. is $25.) Councilor Block will research other communities’ overnight parking bans and waivers. Councilor Lucas will research permit program costs.