Report from July 17th Council Meeting - Tuesday, July 24, 2007

Parking Tickets/Citations: The Council discussed the problem of parking tickets that have accumulated large penalties. Although the city has a right to impose penalties for overdue unpaid tickets, there have been issues regarding making sure people are properly notified, as well as how much time before the penalties increase. We are trying to develop a fairer procedure that is in keeping with practices of other municipalities. The problem is made more complicated by the fact that unpaid tickets between 7/1/03 and 8/1/06 were given to a collection agency.



(1) Future tickets: The new ordinance, which I drafted and which will be discussed at the public session on September 4, doubles the number of days before the unpaid ticket incurs a penalty. Parking tickets are now $30, but double starting 15 days after the original citation. Under the new ordinance, the fine would double after 30 days to $60; then again after 60 days (instead of 30) to $120: and finally, after 90 days (instead of 45) to $250. In addition, the ordinance mandates that a notice be sent out after 30 days stating that the fine will increase again at 60 days if unpaid. The new ordinance would be effective 1/1/08 (the City needs to print new tickets).



(2) Tickets issued from 8/1/06 to the present: The Council agreed not to give these tickets to the collection agency at this time, but to see if a second notice could be sent out to these people before the matter is referred to the agency. There are 3,000 such tickets.



(3) Tickets that were issued from 7/1/03 to 8/1/06: The Council previously hired a collection agency to go after people with unpaid tickets. 11,000 citations were mailed out for people with violations between 7/1/03 and 8/1/06. Each of these tickets had reached the maximum $250 and some people had multiple tickets. The Council realizes that a fairer practice would have been to send out second notices. However if the Council reduces the fine to the original ticket cost ($30) because of this, then it should reimburse the people who have already paid the full fine, but this would be an administrative headache and expense. 300-500 people have already paid the full $250 fine. Besides, Council may have its hands tied by the contract with the collection agency. Council is now reviewing the contract to see if it has the legal right to reduce the fines.



Speed Bumps and other Traffic Calming Measures: There will be a special public hearing to discuss this matter on Tuesday September 11. The residents of the 3100 and 3200 blocks of Perry St. have submitted a petition asking for speed bumps in that area. The City’s ordinance prescribes that there shall be a public hearing after the petition is submitted. There will also be discussion of other locations in the City where traffic calming devices should be installed to help with safety issues. If you feel there should be some kind of traffic calming device on your street, please print out the attached petition and circulate it among your neighbors on your street. It is necessary for the Council to know that at least 60% of the residents on a street are in favor of a speed bump or some other TCD before it moves ahead with the project.



Corn Bin Silo - Members of the Mount Rainier Corn Cooperative have requested that they be allowed to install a 20-foot tall corn storage bin behind the tool shed at 3601 Bunker Hill Road. There will be a public hearing on this issue on September 11th. The corn would be used by members of the Corn Cooperative to heat their homes by corn burning stoves. According to the Cooperative, burning corn reduces pollution, helps local farmers and saves money on heating bills. Any resident of Mt. Rainier will be able to become a member of the Corn cooperative and use the bin. There will be no cost to the city for installing or maintaining the corn bin. If you want more information you can come to the public hearing or e-mail Jodi-Beth McCain (jbmccain@verizon.net).



Mapping of Mt. Rainier Crime Statistics: Mike Taylor, a Ward 1 resident, has developed monthly crime maps which are now available online. Mike volunteered his free time and spent several months creating these visual representations of our City’s crime statistics.. Crime maps are available for January 2006 through June 2007.
http://www.geocities.com/mtaylor12345/MountRainier/crimestats.html