Title
Approval of Ordinance Amending Olympia Municipal Code to Discontinue the Acceptance of a Bond in Lieu of Payment for Fines, Fees and Charges Due for Unpaid Parking Citations
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee.
City Manager Recommendation:
Move to approve on second reading an ordinance amending Olympia Municipal Code (OMC) Sections 10.16.280, 10.16.290 and 10.16.300 to discontinue the acceptance of a bond in lieu of payment for fines, fees and charges due for unpaid parking tickets.
Report
Issue:
Whether to approve an ordinance amending OMC Sections 10.16.280, 10.16.290, and 10.16.300, which removes bond language from the immobilization and impoundment section of the parking code.
Staff Contact:
Karen Kenneson, Business Manager, Community Planning and Development, 360.753.8277
Presenter:
None. Consent Calendar Item.
Background and Analysis:
The background and analysis have not changed since the first reading of the ordinance on October 28, 2014.
A vehicle owner who has eight or more parking tickets unpaid more than sixty days after their issuance is included on the parking citation "scofflaw" list. Vehicles on the scofflaw list are eligible for immobilization (booting) after notified as specified in OMC 10.16.280, Parking Services' Scofflaw List and 10.16.290, Immobilization; and/or impoundment (towing) as specified in OMC 10.16.300, Impoundment.
Currently, City Code allows a vehicle owner to post a bond in lieu of paying the fines, fees and charges. Once the bond is posted, the vehicle is removed from Olympia's scofflaw list, even though the actual fines, fees and charges are unpaid and still owing the City.
Olympia Municipal Court is responsible for collection of parking citation fines, fees and charges. The Court Administrator has requested that the bond option be removed from ordinance so that actual payment is received by the City. To date, no one has used the bond option.
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