Loading...
Resolution 2025-33553RESOLUTION NO.2025-33553 A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH,FLORIDA,ACCEPTING THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY AND NEIGHBORHOOD QUALITY OF LIFE COMMITTEE, AT ITS JANUARY 29,2025 MEETING,FOR THE PARKING DEPARTMENT TO IMPLEMENT A NOTIFICATION SYSTEM THAT ALERTS RESIDENTS IF THEIR VEHICLE IS ILLEGALLY PARKED,IN ORDER TO PROVIDE A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME TO COMPLY WITH THE CITY'S PARKING POLICIES BEFORE THE VEHICLE IS TOWED. WHEREAS,at the November 20,2024 City Commission meeting,at the request of Commissioner Alex Fernandez,the City Commission referred an agenda item to the Public Safety Neighborhoods Quality of Life Committee ("PSNQLC")to discuss implementing a system that notifies Miami Beach residents if their vehicle is illegally parked in order to provide a reasonable amount of time to comply with the City's parking policies before the vehicle is towed;and WHEREAS,at the January 29,2025 PSNQLC meeting,the Administration presented this item (Attachment A)and during the discussion,the Parking Department staff requested input from the Committee on the various parameters of developing and implementing a text messaging system to notify illegally parked residents prior to towing their vehicle;and WHEREAS,the Committee passed a motion by acclamation recommending that the Parking Department implement a text messaging system that would alert Miami Beach residents prior to being towed,with the following parameters:1)providing a one-time text notification to Miami Beach residents prior to initiating a tow;2)allowing for a 15-minute grace period from the time the text alert is issued for residents to have the opportunity to comply with parking regulations;and 3)providing text notifications to residents only for non-life safety parking violations;and WHEREAS,any parking violation related to life safety would result in the immediate towing of the unauthorized vehicle;and WHEREAS,the Parking Department enforces towing policies which require the towing of vehicles parked in residential zones during restricted hours without a valid permit;vehicles parked in no-parking zones,fire lanes,and Freight Loading Zones (FLZ);vehicles obstructing the public rights-of-way,including,but not limited to,travel lanes,bicycle lanes,and sidewalks;vehicles parked in disabled spaces without a valid permit;and abandoned vehicles;and WHEREAS,currently,when a parking enforcement officer identifies a vehicle illegally parked in a residential zone,the officer scans the vehicle's license plate to verify if the vehicle has permit to be parked in that zone.During this process,the parking enforcement officer waits for the tow truck to arrive,which provides the vehicle owner an opportunity to move their vehicle before the vehicle is towed;and WHEREAS,the average time for a tow truck to arrive at the scene is approximately 15 to 20 minutes,depending on the time of day and location;and WHEREAS,in cases where the vehicle owner arrives while the vehicle is in the process of being towed,the vehicle is released without the owner incurring any towing fees;and WHEREAS,the Parking Department acknowledges the potential benefit of implementing a system that would notify residents if they are illegally parked,by providing them with an opportunity to comply with the City's parking regulations before their vehicle is towed;and WHEREAS,while the Administration is receptive to notifying residents in advance,it is important to note that there are approximately only 20,000 active registered residents in the City's parking permit system,and approximately 4,000 of those registered residents have not listed any contact phone number;and WHEREAS,for a notification system to be effective,all residents who wish to be notified would need to register in the City's parking system and provide a contact phone number;and WHEREAS,the goal would be to create an efficient and resident-friendly automated parking notification system that minimizes unnecessary towing while ensuring compliance with parking policies;and WHEREAS,furthermore,to move forward with the implementation of an advance notification system,the Administration would need to ensure a streamlined registration process, conduct outreach to encourage all residents to register and provide their contact phone number; and WHEREAS,it is essential that residents understand how the notification system works, how to register,and how to respond to the alerts;and WHEREAS,a multi-channel approach,utilizing social media and community outreach,will be key to ensuring broad awareness of the program;and WHEREAS,under the proposed advance notification system,a fifteen (15)minute grace period will be granted to residents after a citation is issued and the resident is notified via text message,allowing residents time to comply with parking regulations before their vehicle is towed; and WHEREAS,advance notifications will be sent for non-life safety violations only,including parking in residential areas during restricted hours without a valid permit,parking in no-parking zones,and for abandoned vehicles;and WHEREAS,no notifications will be issued for life safety violations,such as vehicles parked in fire lanes,blocking travel lanes,or occupying disabled parking spaces.In addition,the Parking Department will continue to tow unauthorized vehicles parked in FLZs without advance notification;and WHEREAS,to prevent misuse,residents will receive a one-time notification per citation; and WHEREAS,the City's current automated parking enforcement system,provided through BLINKAY,has the capabilities to issue automated text alerts to registered residents -who have provided their contact phone numbers -when their vehicle is detected in violation of parking regulations by a parking enforcement officer;and WHEREAS,these text notifications would provide instructions to residents on how to resolve the parking violation and avoid further enforcement actions resulting in towing;and WHEREAS,adopting this Resolution is anticipated to have a fiscal impact of approximately $20,000 for the development and deployment of an advance notification system for the first year with a recurring annual cost of $7,500 beginning in the second year of deployment.Funds have been identified in the Parking Department's Fiscal Year 2024/25 Operating Budget;and WHEREAS,the use of automated text alerts from the City's current enforcement vendor, BLINKAY,along with a comprehensive resident awareness campaign,will help ensure the system is well-received and effective;and WHEREAS,the Administration is committed to working collaboratively with BLINKAY and residents to implement this solution in a way that supports both compliance and suitability. NOW,THEREFORE,BE IT DULY RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH,FLORIDA,accepting the recommendation of the Public Safety and Neighborhood Quality of Life Committee,at its January 29,2025 meeting, for the Parking Department to implement a notification system that alerts residents if their vehicle is illegally parked,in order to provide a reasonable amount of time to comply with the city's parking policies before the vehicle is towed. PASSED AND ADOPTED this_;day or _ltbu«;y 2025.7 ATTEST: MAR 0 3 2025 (Sponsored by Commissioner Alex Fernandez)Q[~;:I:i, Sponsored by Com m issioner Laura Dominguez Sponsored by Com missioner Joseph Magazine Sponsored by M ayor Steven Meiner Sponso red by Com missioner David Suarez Sponsored by Comm issioner Tanya K.Bhatt Sponsored by Com m issioner Kristen Rosen Gonzalez APPROVED AS TOFORM&LANGUAGE &FOR EXECUTION@-,.,J,sJu,i< an5.5 \,Ww Steven Meiner,Mayor Resolutions -R7 D MIAMI BEACH COMMISSION MEMORANDUM TO:Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Commission FROM:Eric Carpenter,City Manager DA TE:February 26,2025 TITLE:A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH,FLORIDA,ACCEPTING THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY AND NEIGHBORHOOD QUALITY OF LIFE COMMITTEE,AT ITS JANUARY 29,2025 MEETING,FOR THE PARKING DEPARTMENT TO IMPLEMENT A NOTIFICATION SYSTEM THAT ALERTS RESIDENTS IF THEIR VEHICLE IS ILLEGALLY PARKED,IN ORDER TO PROVIDE A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME TO COMPLY WITH THE CITY'S PARKING POLICIES BEFORE THE VEHICLE IS TOWED. RECOMMENDATION The City Administration ("Administration")recommends that the Mayor and City Commission ("City Commission")adopt the Resolution. BACKGROUND/HISTORY At the November 20,2024 City Commission meeting,at the request of Commissioner Alex Fernandez,the City Commission referred an agenda item (C4 D)to the Public Safety Neighborhoods Quality of Life Committee ("PSNQLC"or "Committee")to discuss implementing a system that notifies Miami Beach residents if their vehicle is illegally parked to provide a reasonable amount of time to comply with the City of Miami Beach ("City")parking policies before the vehicle is towed. At the January 29,2025 PSNQLC meeting.the Administration presented this item (Attachment 8),and,during the discussion,the Parking Department staff requested input from the Committee on the various parameters of developing and implementing a text messaging system to notify illegally parked residents prior to towing their vehicle.The Committee passed a motion by acclamation recommending that the Parking Department implement a text messaging system that would alert Miami Beach residents prior to being towed,with the following parameters:1) providing a one-time text notification to Miami Beach residents prior to initiating a tow;2) allowing for a 15-minute grace period from the time the text alert is issued for residents to have the opportunity to comply with parking regulations;and 3)providing text notifications to residents only for non-life safety parking violations.Any parking violation related to life safety would result in the immediate towing of the unauthorized vehicle. ANALYSIS The Parking Department enforces towing policies which require the towing of vehicles parked in residential zones during restricted hours without a valid permit;vehicles parked in no-parking zones,fire lanes,and Freight Loading Zones (FLZ);vehicles obstructing the public rights-of-way, including,but not limited to,travel lanes,bicycle lanes,and sidewalks;vehicles parked in disabled spaces without a valid permit;and abandoned vehicles. Page 931 of 1310 Currently,when a parking enforcement officer identifies a vehicle illegally parked in a residential zone,the officer scans the vehicle's license plate for a permit.If no permit exists,the officer contacts dispatch to validate the vehicle's status.If the dispatcher confirms the vehicle does not have a valid permit,a tow truck is requested.During this process,the parking enforcement officer waits for the tow truck to arrive,which provides the vehicle owner an opportunity to move their vehicle before the vehicle is towed.The average time for a tow truck to arrive at the scene is approximately 15 to 20 minutes,depending on the time of day and location.In cases where the vehicle owner arrives while the vehicle is in the process of being towed,the vehicle is released without the owner incurring any fees. The Parking Department acknowledges the potential benefit of implementing a system that would notify residents if they are illegally parked,by providing them with an opportunity to comply with the City's parking regulations before their vehicle is towed.While the Administration is receptive to notifying residents in advance,it is important to note that there are currently approximately only 20,000 active registered residents in the City's parking permit system.Of these,approximately 16,000 residents have provided contact phone numbers,leaving approximately 4,000 registered residents without any registered contact information.For a notification system to be effective, all residents who wish to be notified would need to register in the City's parking system and provide a contact phone number.The goal would be to create an efficient and resident- friendly automated parking notification system that minimizes unnecessary towing while ensuring compliance with parking policies. Furthermore,to move forward with the implementation of an advance notification system,the Administration would need to ensure a streamlined registration process,conduct outreach to encourage all residents to register and provide their contact phone number.It is essential that residents understand how the notification system works,how to register,and how to respond to the alerts.A multi-channel approach,utilizing social media and community outreach,will be key to ensuring broad awareness of the program. Under the proposed advance notification system,a fifteen (15)minute grace period will be granted to residents after a citation is issued and the resident is notified via text message,allowing residents time to comply with parking regulations before their vehicle is towed.Advance notifications will be sent for non-life safety violations only,including parking in residential areas during restricted hours without a valid permit,parking in no-parking zones,and for abandoned vehicles.However,no notifications will be issued for life safety violations,such as vehicles parked in fire lanes,blocking travel lanes,or occupying disabled parking spaces.In addition,the Parking Department will continue to tow unauthorized vehicles parked in FLZs without advance notification.To prevent misuse,residents will receive a one-time notification per citation. In terms of implementation,the City's current automated parking enforcement system,provided through BLINKAY,has the capabilities to issue automated text alerts to registered residents -who have provided their contact phone numbers -when their vehicle is detected in violation of parking regulations by a parking enforcement officer.These text notifications would provide clear instructions to residents on how to resolve the parking violation and avoid further enforcement actions resulting in towing. FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT Adopting this Resolution is anticipated to have a fiscal impact of approximately $20,000 for the development and deployment of an advance notification system for the first year with a recurring annual cost of $7,500 beginning in the second year of deployment.Funds have been identified in the Parking Department's Fiscal Year 2024/25 Operating Budget. Page 932 of 1310 Does this Ordinance require a Business Impact Estimate? (FOR ORDINANCES ONLY) If applicable,the Business Impact Estimate (BIE)was published on: See BIE at:https://www.miamibeachfl.gov/city-hall/city-clerk/meeting-notices/ FINANCIAL INFORMATION Account:480-0462-000343-27-421-526-00-00-00- CONCLUSION The Parking Department acknowledges the potential benefit of implementing a system that would notify residents if they are illegally parked,by providing them with an opportunity to comply with the City's parking regulations before their vehicle is towed.The proposed text message advance notification system presents a valuable opportunity for residents to avoid being towed by providing residents a 15-minute grace period from the time the parking citation is issued and clear instructions for compliance.The use of automated text alerts from the City's current enforcement vendor,BLINKAY,along with a comprehensive resident awareness campaign,will help ensure the system is well-received and effective.The Administration is committed to working collaboratively with BLINKAY and residents to implement this solution in a way that supports both compliance and convenience. The Administration recommends that the City Commission adopt the subject Resolution. Applicable Area Citywide Is this a "Residents Right to Know"item, pursuant to City Code Section 2-17? Yes Is this item related to a G.0.Bond Project? No Was this Agenda Item initially requested by a lobbyist which,as defined in Code Sec._2-481, includes a principal engaged in lobbying?No If so,specify the name of lobbyist(s)and principal(s): Department Parking Sponsor(s) Commissioner Alex Fernandez Co-sponsor(s) Page 933 of 1310 Condensed Title Notify Residents Before Towing of Vehicle.(Fernandez)PK Previous Action (For City Clerk Use Only) Page 934 of 1310 NEW BUSINESS 7 MIAMI BEACH COMMITTEE MEMORANDUM TO:Public Safety and Neighborhood Ouclity of Life Committee Members FROM:Eric Carpenter,City Manager DATE:January 29,2025 TITLE:DISCUSS IMPLEMENTING A SYSTEM THAT NOTIFIES RESIDENTS IF THEIR VEHICLE IS ILLEGALLY PARKED TO PROVIDE A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME TO COMPLY WITH THE CITY'S PARKING POLICIES BEFORE IT IS TOWED. RECOMMENDATION The City Administration ("Administration")recommends that the Public Safety and Neighborhood Quality of Life Committee ("PSNQLC"or "Committee")discuss and provide input on this item,in particular,defining the key parameters of a paring violation advance notification system,such as the duration of the advance notification period,number of times a resident may be notified in advance,and limiting the advance notification to certain types of parking violations. BACKGROUND/HISTORY At the November 20,2024 City Commission meeting,at the request of Commissioner Alex Fernandez,the Mayor and City Commission ("City Commission")referred an agenda item (C4 D) to the PSNQLC to discuss implementing a system that notifies residents if their vehicle is illegally parked to provide a reasonable amount of time to comply with the City of Miami Beach ("City") parking policies before it is towed. ANALYSIS The Parking Department enforces towing policies which require the towing of vehicles parked in residential zones during restricted hours without a valid permit;vehicles parked in no-parking zones,fire lanes,and Freight Loading Zones (FLZ);vehicles obstructing the public rights-of-way, including,but not limited to,travel lanes,bicycle lanes,and sidewalks;vehicles parked in disabled spaces without a valid permit;and abandoned vehicles. Currently,when a parking enforcement officer identifies a vehicle illegally parked in a residential zone,the officer scans the vehicle's license plate for a permit.If no permit exists,the officer contacts dispatch to validate the vehicle's status.If the dispatcher confirms the vehicle does not have a valid permit,a tow truck is requested.During this process,the parking enforcement officer waits for the tow truck to arrive,which provides the vehicle owner an opportunity to move their vehicle before the vehicle is towed.The average time for a tow truck to arrive at the scene is approximately 15 to 20 minutes,depending on the time of day and location.In cases where the vehicle owner arrives while the vehicle is in the process of being towed,the vehicle is released without the owner incurring any fees. The Parking Department acknowledges the potential benefit of implementing a system that would notify residents if they are illegally parked,by providing them with an opportunity to comply with the City's parking regulations before their vehicle is towed.While the Administration is receptive to notifying residents in advance,it is important to note that there are currently approximately only 20,000 active registered residents in the City's parking permit system.Of these,approximately Page 938 of 1310 16,000 residents have provided contact phone rumbers,leaving approximately 4,000 registered residents without any contact information.For a notification system to be effective,all residents who wish to be notified would need to register in the City's parking system and provide a contact phone number.The goal would be to create an efficient and resident- friendly automated parking notification system that minimizes unnecessary towing while ensuring compliance with parking policies. Furthermore,to move forward with the implementation of an advance notification system,the Parking Department would need to ensure a streamlined registration process,conduct outreach to encourage all residents to register and provide their contact phone number,work with the vendor currently providing automated parking enforcement solutions as well as the Information Technology Department to develop the resident notification system,and develop a departmental procedure to ensure residents are notified in a tinely manner.The notification system could issue real-time alerts via text messages or mobile app,allowing residents to promptly address any parking violations before their vehicle is towed. It is important to note a potential unintended consequence that may arise from implementing an advance notification system.For instance,some residents may deliberately park illegally,fully aware that they will not be subject to immediate towing,which could lead to situations where vehicles are left in violation of parking regulations for extended periods,as residents know they will be afforded advance notice before any towing actions are taken.This could undermine the intended effectiveness of the City's towing policy and exacerbate illegal parking occurrences.As such,parameters should be established,such as the duration of the advance notification period,number of times a resident may be notified,and limiting the advance notification to certain types of parking violations. Given these concerns,it is important to thoroughly discuss and define the key parameters of a parking violation advance notification system to ensure such system achieves the intended goals of compliance and minimizes any unintended consequences which may result in increased numbers of parking infractions throughout the City.A thoughtful approach to registration, notification timing,and enforcement policies will be essential to balancing resident convenience with the need for compliance. FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT N/A Does this Ordinance require a Business Impact Estimate? (FOR ORDINANCES ONLY) The Business Impact Estimate (BIE)was published on . See BIE at:https://www.miamibeachfl.gov/city-hall/city-clerk/meeting-notices/ FINANCIAL INFORMATION N/A CONCLUSION The implementation of a potential parking violation advance notification system presents an opportunity to reduce unnecessary towing;however,it is essential to define certain key parameters,such as appropriate duration of advance notification period,number of times residents may be notified,and types of parking violations.By developing an efficient registration process,conducting thorough resident outreach,and developing the appropriate automated Page 939 of 1310 notification system,the City can enhance compliance with parking regulations and create a more resident-friendly environment.However,it is equally important to address potential unintended consequences,such as the risk of abuse or exploitation of such system,to ensure that the City's towing policy remains effective in promoting responsible parking and compliance with parking regulations. Applicable Area Citywide Is this a "Residents Right to Know"item, pursuant to City Code Section 2.17? Yes Is this item related to a G.O.Bond Project? No Was this Agenda Item initially requested by a lobbyist which,as defined in Code Sec.2.481, includes a principal engaged in lobbying?No If so,specify the name of lobbyist(s)and principal(s): Department Parking Sponsor{s) Commissioner Alex Fernandez Co-sponsor{s) Condensed Title Notification to Residents of Illegally Parked Vehicles.(Fernandez)PK Page 940 of 1310 Committee Referrals -C4 D MIAMI BEACH COMMISSION MEMORANDUM TO:Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Commission FROM:Commissioner Alex Fernandez DATE:November20,2024 TITLE:REFERRAL TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY AND NEIGHBORHOOD QUALITY OF LIFE COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS IMPLEMENTING A SYSTEM THAT NOTIFIES RESIDENTS IF THEIR VEHICLE IS ILLEGALLY PARKED TO PROVIDE A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME TO COMPLY WITH THE CITY'S PARKING POLICIES BEFORE IT IS TOWED. RECOMMENDATION Please place on the November 20,2024 City Commission agenda a referral to the Public Safety and Neighborhood Quality of Life Committee (PSNQLC")to discuss the feasibility of implementing a system that notifies residents if their vehicle is illegally parked,providing them with a reasonable amount of time to move their vehicle before it is towed. This proposal aims to balance the need for efective enforcement of parking regulations with consideration for residents who may not be immediately aware that their vehicle is in violation.By offering a brief notification period,we can provide residents the opportunity to correct the situation before facing the inconvenience and cost of towing,all while maintaining the integrity of our city's parking policies. Accordingly,I would request the City Administration be prepared to discuss at Committee how this notification system could be effectively implemented.This should include an overview of the potential costs,logistical considerations,and proposed communication methods to ensure residents are promptly and clearly informed of any parking violations. BACKGROUND/HISTORY ANALYSIS FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT n/a Does this Ordinance require a Business Impact Estimate? (FOR ORDINANCES ONLY) If applicable,the Business Impact Estimate (BIE)was published on: See BIE at:https://www.miamibeachfl.gov/city-hall/city-clerk/meeting-notices/ Page 941 of 1310 FINANCIAL INFORMATION CONCLUSION Applicable Area Citywide Is this a "Residents Right to Know"item, pursuant to City Code Section 2-17? Yes Is this item related to a G.O.Bond Project? No Was this Agenda Item initially requested by a lobbyist which,as defined in Code Sec._2-481, includes a principal engaged in lobbying?No If so,specify the name of lobbyist(s)and principal(s): Department Office of Commissioner Alex Fernandez Sponsor(s) Commissioner Alex Fernandez Co-sponsor(s) Condensed Title Ref:PSNQLC -Notification to Residents of Illegally Parked Vehicles.(Fernandez) Page 942 of 1310