HomeMy WebLinkAboutInfo Report Valet ParkingCITY OF PALM DESERT
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
STAFF REPORT
REQUEST: Receive and File Informational Report on Valet Parking
SUBMITTED BY: Mark Greenwood, P.E., Director of Public Works
DATE: February 26, 2009
Recommendation:
By Minute Motion, receive and file this informational report comparing the City of
Palm Desert's valet parking ordinance with the ordinances and practices of other
desert cities.
Discussion:
At the January 22, 2009, meeting, the City Council directed staff to evaluate a recent
ordinance in the City of Rancho Mirage. At its meeting of February 5, 2009, the Rancho
Mirage City Council adopted an ordinance amending its code to allow businesses to
charge for parking at their establishments. Where the Rancho Mirage municipal code
previously prohibited any mandatory fee for parking or valet parking, the new ordinance
will allow businesses to charge non -Rancho Mirage residents for these services and
facilities. According to a staff report to the Rancho Mirage City Council, this change
"...would essentially permit any business in the City to charge non-residents for valet
parking services, guest stay hotel parking, etc." The City of Rancho Mirage intends to
issue resident identification cards which must be shown by residents who wish to avoid
parking charges.
Given such a significant change in a neighbor city's code, it seems appropriate to
review the City of Palm Desert's code as well as the codes and practices of the other
desert cities:
The City of Palm Desert does not currently regulate parking fees on private property.
The code prohibits mandatory fees for parking or valet parking performed or initiated in
the public right-of-way. The permitting process and compliance are managed by the
Code Compliance Department. The fee for a valet parking permit is $50, and $25 for
the annual renewal.
The City of La Quinta does not restrict parking or valet parking. Approval is generally
handled through the development agreement as part of the project approval.
The City of Indio does not regulate parking or valet services on private property or the
public right-of-way.
Staff Report CITY COUNCIL ACTION
Valet Parking APPROVED DENIED
Page 2 of 2 RECEIVED ti Fr OTHER
February 26, 2009
MEETING DATE (o
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NOES: None --
ABSENT: N owe--
ABSTAIN:
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The City of Cathedral City does not p �1 gus ebses 11�,,, �.,,,G,y[�l„ far parh;ng ar
valet parking, although the permit fees dilIi'"�$�rfgicre�a/3'I'j 'hij "e� flihri tfi"tfib other cities,
at $680 - $1,030.
The City of Palm SDrinas has a more complicated system. Businesses may charge for
parking and valet if these activities are conducted entirely on private property; the only
exception is a stipulation that a business's own employees be able to park for no fee. If
a parking operation utilizes any portion of the public right-of-way, a permit must be
obtained. The police department enforces the regulations. The required fees include
$84 for the application and $150 for the annual parking permit.
No timed (metered) parking exists in the public right-of-way in any of the surveyed
cities. Palm Springs did, at one time, have meters in some parking lots but they were
removed as part of a change -over to a central timed parking system, which was then
never implemented.
Staff recommends that the City Council receive and file this informational report.
Prepared By:
Debra Lee
Management Analyst
Approval:
Homer Croy
ACM for De
pment Services
Department H-ad:
Mark Gre4nwood, F.E.
Director of Public Works
sti
Actin
McCarthy
City Manag