TITLE
Recommendation to request City Manager to report on street sweeping outreach program to impacted neighborhoods and impacts on first day of enforcement efforts; and direct City Manager on additional potential programs to waive, dismiss, or lower street sweeping citations during COVID-19 emergency as needed.
DISCUSSION
In an effort to provide relief to individuals and families during the COVID-19 crisis, the city suspended street sweeping parking citations beginning Tuesday, March 17 through May 18, 2020. Street sweeping is a critical health service, collecting thousands of tons of debris each year and keeping our oceans and waterways clean. It is not the intent of the city to cause additional financial harm to individuals and families already suffering from the current health crisis.
We recognize in many neighborhoods, the lack of street sweeping access has led to an accumulation of sediment and debris that has also adversely impacted quality of life. And after nine weeks of amnesty for street sweeping citations, the City Council has approved plans to resume street sweeping parking enforcement.
As part of continuing efforts to address parking impacts caused by COVID-19, over 4,000 free parking spaces have been made available to the community. These spaces are located citywide, at beach lots, at least seven parking structures, six libraries and three schools. In preparation for the beginning of street sweeping enforcement, since May 4, the city has placed reminders in English, Spanish, Khmer and Tagalog on vehicles that have not been moved during street sweeping hours. Additionally, the City has utilized the Alert Long Beach System to call all listed numbers, send texts to those registered, and utilized social media to alert the community regarding street sweeping. The reminders advised residents about available parking resources across the City and let people know that enforcement would resume on May 18.
Due to the significant financial and economic impacts COVID-19 has had on the community, it is important to balance the need for street sweeping with penalties issued for non-compliance with parking during street sweeping hours.
The city should be cognizant of these challenges and if enforcement is creating undue hardship beyond normal operations, consider a program by which to alleviate further financial pain for those who have lost their jobs, substantial wages or have otherwise been adversely impacted by COVID-19 if there is a significant increase in street sweeping tickets issued to these individuals and families.
STATEMENT OF URGENCY:
With street sweeping tickets starting to be issued again after a long hiatus, it's urgent to assess the impacts during this pandemic.
FISCAL IMPACT
Financial Management will assess the fiscal impact and include this information in the report back to the City Council. Due to the urgency of this item, it has not yet been reviewed by Financial Management.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
MAYOR ROBERT GARCIA
MARY ZENDEJAS
COUNCILWOMAN, FIRST DISTRICT
JEANNINE PEARCE
COUNCILWOMAN, FIRST DISTRICT
DEE ANDREWS
VICE MAYOR, SIXTH DISTRICT
ROBERTO URANGA
COUNCILMEMBER, SEVENTH DISTRICT