Villa Park Municipal Code Art. 19-12 Residential Parking Permit Program

The City Council shall, upon recommendation of the Traffic and Safety Commission or City Manager, consider the designation of a preferential parking district for those areas satisfying the criteria established in this section and may authorize the Traffic and Safety Commission to establish appropriate parking restrictions for a district.

The City Council may at its discretion designate by resolution a certain area as a preferential parking district and authorize the Traffic and Safety Commission or City Manager to establish parking restrictions for this district. Motor vehicles displaying a valid parking permit may stand or be parked exempt from the parking restriction established pursuant to authority of this section in the preferential parking district for which the permit is issued. The resolution shall establish the streets and boundaries of this district.

(Ord. #90-389, § 1; Ord. #91-391, § 1)

If, based on surveys and studies, the Traffic and Safety Commission or City Manager establishes that on-street parking in an area is substantially reduced or impaired by vehicles for an extended period, it may recommend that the area be designated as a preferential parking district.

In determining whether an area identified as eligible for preferential parking may be designated as a preferential parking district, the Traffic and Safety Commission, City Manager and the City Council shall consider factors and criteria which include but are not limited to the following:

a. The extent to which the residents desire and need permit parking;

b. The extent to which legal on-street parking spaces are available for the use of residents and their guests;

c. The extent to which motor vehicles registered to persons residing in the area cannot be accommodated by the number of available off-street parking spaces;

d. The size and configuration of the area as it relates to the problems of enforcement of parking and traffic regulations and the potential impact of parking and traffic congestion, on this and adjacent areas as a result of the establishment of such a district;

e. Whether other regulatory measures would better solve the problem; e.g., parking restrictions and strict enforcement of such restrictions.

(Ord. #90-389, § 1; Ord. #91-391, § 1)

Upon receipt and verification of a petition signed by residents living in two-thirds of the dwelling units comprising not less than fifty (50) percent of the developed frontage of the area proposed for designation, or upon adoption of a motion by the City Council, all or part of an area may be designated as a preferential parking district.

Within sixty (60) days of the completion of surveys and studies to determine whether designation criteria are met, the City Council shall give notice and conduct a public hearing for the purpose of receiving public comments on the proposed preferential parking district.

Notice of the public hearing provided for herein shall be published in a local newspaper of general circulation, and posted in the area. The notice shall clearly state the purpose of the hearing and shall include a description of the location and boundaries tentatively considered for the proposed preferential parking district, the streets involved, parking restrictions being proposed, and the fee to be charged for permits.

(Ord. #90-389, § 1; Ord. #91-391, § 1)

Within sixty (60) days of the completion of this hearing or hearings conducted with regard to a particular area, the Traffic and Safety Commission or City Manager shall recommend by written report to the Council, based on the record of such hearing or hearings and the surveys and studies performed, whether to designate the area under consideration as a preferential parking district.

The Traffic and Safety Commission or City Manager report shall set forth the evidence generated as a result of surveys and studies performed, the significant concerns raised at public hearing(s), the findings relative to the designated factors and criteria listed in subsection 19-12.2 which are applicable to the area, any other factors used and conclusions reached which justify preferential parking for that particular area, the proposed streets and boundaries of the area, and the proposed parking restrictions.

The designation process and designation criteria set forth in this section shall also be utilized by the City Manager and the City Council in determining whether to dissolve a preferential parking district. Dissolution of a preferential parking district shall be initiated by any of the following methods: (1) upon receipt of a verified petition of residents living in not less than one-half of the dwelling units comprising not less than one-half of the residential developed frontage within the district proposed to be dissolved; (2) by recommendation of the Traffic and Safety Commission; or (3) by resolution of the City Council.

(Ord. #90-389, § 1; Ord. #91-391, § 1)

Parking permits for preferential parking districts shall be issued by the Police Department. Each such permit shall be designated to state or reflect thereon the particular preferential parking district and the date on which the permit shall expire.

No more than four (4) parking permits shall be issued to any one dwelling unit as defined in Chapter XXIII of the Villa Park Municipal Code or to any business establishment except at the discretion of the Traffic and Safety Commission or City Manager which is consistent with the rules adopted pursuant to subsection 19-12.1 hereof.

Parking permits may be issued only to the following natural persons: residents or merchants.

Guest permits shall be issued as provided below.

(Ord. #90-389, § 1; Ord. #91-391, § 1)

Upon the adoption by the City Council of a resolution designating a preferential parking district, the Street Maintenance Superintendent shall cause appropriate signs to be erected in the district prominently indicating the parking limitation periods and the fact that motor vehicles with valid permits shall be exempt from such limitation.

(Ord. #90-389, § 1; Ord. #91-391, § 1)

A motor vehicle on which is displayed a valid parking permit as provided for herein shall be permitted to stand or be parked in the preferential parking district for which it was issued without being limited by the parking restrictions established pursuant to this section. Except as provided below, all other motor vehicles parking within a preferential parking district shall be subject to the parking restrictions adopted as provided in this section as well as the penalties provided for herein.

A preferential parking permit shall not guarantee or reserve to the holder thereof an on-street parking space within the designated preferential parking district.

The following vehicles shall be exempt from parking restrictions established pursuant to this section:

a. A motor vehicle owned by or operated under contract to a utility whether privately, municipally or publicly owned, when used in the construction, operation, removal, or repair of utility property or facilities or engaged in authorized work in the designated preferential parking district;

b. A motor vehicle owned by or operated under contract to a governmental agency, when used in the course of official government business.

(Ord. #90-389, § 1; Ord. #91-391, § 1)

No person shall, without a permit therefore, park or leave standing any commercial vehicle or trailer in a preferential parking district in excess of the parking restrictions authorized pursuant to this section, except (a) while loading or unloading property; or, (b) when such vehicle is parked in connection with, or in aid of, the performance of a service to or on a property in the block in which such vehicle is parked.

(Ord. #90-389, § 1; Ord. #91-391, § 1)

Except as otherwise provided, each parking permit issued by the Police Department shall be valid for a period not to exceed one (1) year. Permits may be renewed annually upon reapplication in the manner required by the City Manager. Each application or reapplication for a parking permit shall contain information sufficient to identify the applicant, his/her residence address or address of real property owned or leased within a preferential parking district, the license number(s) of the motor vehicle(s) for which application is made, and such other information that may be deemed relevant by the Police Department.

(Ord. #90-389, § 1; Ord. #91-391, § 1)

Except for visitor permits, the fee for a preferential parking permit shall be as established from time to time by resolution of the City Council; the above notwithstanding, a new resident of a preferential parking district or an eligible applicant registering a vehicle for the first time shall pay a fee prorated by the month for the unexpired period of that district, but in no case less than the minimum established by the City Council. Upon the permittee's change of place of residence, or business, the permittee shall surrender the permit to the Police Department. If the permit is lost or stolen, the Police Department shall be notified immediately. The replacement permit shall expire on the same day as the original permit. In the event a permittee moves from one preferential parking district to another preferential parking district, the Police Department shall transfer the permit. The permits so transferred or replaced shall expire on the same day as do all permits in the new district.

(Ord. #90-389, § 1; Ord. #91-391, § 1)

No vehicle shall be parked or stopped adjacent to any curb or allowed alley parking in a preferential parking zone in violation of any posted or noticed prohibition or restriction, unless such vehicle shall have prominently displayed, on the windshield thereof, a permit indicating an exemption from such restriction or prohibition. Visitor permits, however, must be displayed as required by the terms of said permit and be visible from the outside of the vehicle.

(Ord. #90-389, § 1; Ord. #91-391, § 1)

Unless exempted pursuant to this section, no person shall stand or park a motor vehicle in violation of any parking restrictions established pursuant to this section. A violation of this section shall constitute an infraction, which shall be punishable by a fine as established by the City Council.

No person shall falsely represent him/herself as eligible for a parking permit or furnish false information in an application for a parking permit to the Police Department.

No permit issued pursuant to this section shall thereafter be assigned, transferred or used for any consideration, monetary or otherwise.

No person shall copy, produce or create a facsimile or counterfeit parking permit; nor shall any person use or display a facsimile or counterfeit preferential parking district permit.

The permit of any person who, after a hearing, has been found by the Traffic and Safety Commission or City Manager to have violated this subsection of Article 19-12 shall be revoked by the Police Department and no new permit shall be issued to that person for a period of one (1) year. Such person, upon written notification of such revocation, shall surrender the permit to the Police Department within fifteen (15) days. Failure to surrender a revoked parking permit shall be grounds for the Police Department to refuse to issue any preferential parking permits to such individual for any district within one (1) calendar year from the date of violation.

(Ord. #90-389, § 1; Ord. #91-391, § 1)

Any resident or merchant eligible for a preferential parking permit in a preferential parking district may also apply to the Police Department for a visitor preferential parking permit for the use of guest visitors to said district. No more than eight (8) visitor preferential parking permits shall be issued for any one (1) dwelling or business establishment at any one (1) time. Visitor preferential parking permits shall be valid for a period not to exceed one (1) week and shall not be replaced if lost or stolen. Such permits may be extended on a week-by-week basis upon application to the Police Department.

(Ord. #90-389, § 1; Ord. #91-391, § 1)

The specific locations where preferential parking districts are designated shall be included within the Master Parking and Traffic Resolution, as amended from time to time.

(Ord. #2011-565, § 4)