CITY COUNCIL TRANSMITTAL Date Received
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ERIN MENDENHALL DEPARTMENT of COMMUNITY Mayor and NEIGHBORHOODS Blake Thomas Director CITY COUNCIL TRANSMITTAL Lisa________________________ Shaffer (Dec 14, 2020 11:10 MST) Date Received: _________________12/14/2020 Lisa Shaffer, Chief Administrative Officer Date sent to Council: _________________12/14/2020 ______________________________________________________________________________ TO: Salt Lake City Council DATE: November 16, 2020 Chris Wharton, Chair FROM: Blake Thomas, Director, Department of Community & Neighborhoods __________________________ SUBJECT: Free Metered Parking for SLC Green Vehicles – Qualifying Vehicles STAFF CONTACT: Jon Larsen, PE, Director, Transportation Division, 801-535-6630 Dan Bergenthal, PE, Transportation Engineer, 801-535-7106 DOCUMENT TYPE: Ordinance RECOMMENDATION: Pass an ordinance BUDGET IMPACT: Annual parking revenues will be reduced by an estimated $65K BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION: Since 2006, “SLC Green Vehicles” have been eligible for a special parking permit that allows free parking for up to two hours at Salt Lake City parking meters. As directed by the 2006 ordinance (Exhibit 1 - SLC Code 12.56.205), a qualifying vehicle was required to either achieve a minimum EPA designated city fuel economy rating of 41 MPG or an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Air Pollution Score (a.k.a. Smog Rating) of at least 8 (on a scale of 1-10). In 2018, the Salt Lake City Council passed an ordinance, amending ordinance 12.56.205, to introduce more stringent criteria for vehicles qualifying for the program. This was done due to the high numbers of vehicles qualifying for the program, the expected rapid acceleration of new vehicles qualifying and to ensure that the free parking incentive is only provided, ongoing, to the cleanest, most efficient vehicles. Under the new criteria (Exhibit 2 - current SLC Code 12.56.205), a qualifying vehicle is required to meet the thresholds established by the EPA to be designated as “SmartWay Elite” as required for the current calendar year. For example, for calendar year 2020, a vehicle from model year 2011 must SALT LAKE CITY CORPORATION 451 SOUTH STATE STREET, ROOM 404 WWW.SLC.GOV P.O. BOX 145486, SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH 84114-5486 TEL 801.535.6230 FAX 801.535.6005 meet the “SmartWay Elite” thresholds established for model year 2020 vehicles to qualify for our program. The Administration understands the intent of the 2018 ordinance amendment but is now concerned about honoring early adopters of green vehicles, many of whom purchased their vehicles with the SLC parking incentive in mind. The Administration feels that the city should continue to reward them for their commitment to improving air quality and reducing our country’s dependence on foreign oil by returning the program to the vehicle eligibility requirements of the original ordinance. This change may also encourage program participants to hold on to their vehicles longer, thereby reducing demand and the accompanying environmental impact of producing new vehicles, however slight that benefit may be. Since the revision in 2018, the Administration has had time to observe the impact the current ordinance’s eligibility requirements have had on the program. In 2017, before adoption of the new ordinance, 1,222 vehicles (by year, make, model and engine) met the requirements of the ordinance to receive free parking (model years 2000 – 2017). After the current ordinance was implemented, that number was reduced to 227 in 2018 (model years 2000 – 2018), 298 in 2019 (model years 2000 – 2019) and 368 in 2020 (model years 2000 – 2020). Returning the program to its original vehicle eligibility requirements will put the number of qualifying vehicles at 1,407 in 2020 (model years 2000 – 2020). Exhibit 3 compares the number of vehicles qualifying for program participation under both ordinances for each year, 2017-2020. Exhibits 4, 5 and 6 look in detail at program year 2020, listing the vehicles qualifying under each ordinance for vehicle model years 2000-2020. Based on a 2016 parking study, the Transportation Division estimates that operating under the current ordinance would have reduced calendar year 2020 city parking revenues by approximately $25K. Under the original ordinance, we estimate that parking revenues would have been reduced by $90K. These estimates assume a normal parking year; one without COVID19 interruptions to parking operations and demand. PUBLIC PROCESS: None EXHIBITS: 1) SLC Code 12.56.205 July 2018 2) SLC Code 12.56.205 August 2018 3) Qualifying Vehicle Comparisons – Original and Current Ordinances 4) Qualifying “SLC Green Vehicles" List for Program Year 2020 – Original Ordinance 5) Qualifying “SLC Green Vehicles" List for Program Year 2020 – Current Ordinance 6) Legislative and Clean Ordinance Drafts – 12.56.205 Exhibit 1 12.56.205: PARKING METERS; NO CHARGE FOR ALTERNATIVE FUEL, FUEL EFFICIENT AND LOW POLLUTING VEHICLES; ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATIONS: A. The following definitions shall apply to this section: ALTERNATIVE FUEL: Propane, compressed natural gas, electricity, or any motor or special fuel that meets the clean fuel vehicle standards in the federal clean air act amendments of 1990, title II, as amended. ALTERNATIVE FUEL VEHICLE: A vehicle with an engine powered full or part time by an alternative fuel. CLEAN FUEL LICENSE PLATE: A special group license plate issued by the Utah department of motor vehicles as authorized by Utah code section 41-1a-418, or its successor. DIVISION: The city's transportation division. ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATION: A parking stall equipped with electrican electrical outlet to charge electric vehicles. FUEL EFFICIENT VEHICLE: A vehicle that is powered by gasoline or diesel that achieves a city driving fuel efficiency of forty one (41) or more miles per gallon. LOW POLLUTING VEHICLE: A vehicle that achieves an environmental protection agency (EPA) air pollution score of at least eight (8) on the EPA vehicle rating scale of zero to ten (10).. B. 1. The division shall issue a vehicle windshield sticker to all persons applying for such sticker who provide evidence acceptable to the division that the vehicle for which the sticker is desired is a "fuel efficient vehicle" or a "low polluting vehicle" as defined in subsection A of this section. Motorcycles and other vehicles that are not automobiles shall not be issued a sticker pursuant to this section. 2. The recipient of the sticker shall affix it only to the bottom of the driver's side of the rear window of the vehicle for which it is issued so that it is readily visible. C. Parking spaces may be used without charge on all days of the week at all hours by: 1. Vehicles properly displaying the sticker referred to in subsection B of this section; and 2. Vehicles properly displaying the clean fuel license plate referred to in subsection A of this section. D. No person parking a vehicle without charge pursuant to this section shall park or permit such vehicle to remain parked in any parking space for a continuous period longer than that designated on the parking meter or on posted signs that correspond to such parking space, nor shall they park in restricted spaces pursuant to section 12.56.180 of this chapter. E. In assessing the evidence provided by an applicant for such sticker as set forth in subsection B1 of this section, the division may consider: 1. The fuel efficiency information for particular years and models of vehicles determined by the department of energy and the environmental protection agency as shown on their website at www.fueleconomy.gov or its successor website; and 2. The EPA's annual "Green Vehicle Guide" as found at the website www.epa.gov/greenvehicles or its successor website. F. Use of electric vehicle charging stations is restricted to electric vehicles actively charging their battery at the provided electrical outlet. The division may establish time limits for use of particular electric vehicle charging stations. No person shall use an electric vehicle charging station for longer than the time period specified for that station. Failure to comply with this provision will result in a civil penalty as set forth in section 12.56.550 of this chapter. Exhibit 2 12.56.205: PARKING METERS; NO CHARGE FOR SLC GREEN VEHICLES; ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATIONS: A. The following definitions shall apply to this section: DIVISION: The city's transportation division. ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATION: A parking stall equipped with infrastructure that supplies electric energy for the recharging of electric vehicles. SLC GREEN VEHICLE: A passenger vehicle that meets the most current model year standards, established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), to qualify as an EPA SmartWay Elite vehicle. B. 1. The Division shall issue a vehicle window sticker to all persons applying for such sticker who provide evidence acceptable to the Division that the vehicle for which the sticker is desired is a SLC Green Vehicle as defined in subsection A of this section. 2. The recipient of the sticker shall affix it to the bottom left side of the rear window of the vehicle for which it is issued, so that it is readily visible, or as directed by the Division. C. Salt Lake City operated on-street metered parking spaces may be used without charge on all days of the week at all hours by vehicles properly displaying the sticker referred to in subsection B of this section. D. No person parking a vehicle without charge pursuant to this section shall park or permit such vehicle to remain parked in any parking space for a continuous period longer than that designated on the parking meter pay station or on the posted sign that corresponds to such parking space, nor shall they park in restricted spaces pursuant to section 12.56.180 of this chapter. E. In assessing the evidence provided by an applicant for such sticker as set forth in subsection B1 of this section, the Division may consider: 1.