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HomeMy WebLinkAbout42-26 Amending Section 20-48 of the South Bend Municipal Code Concerning Improper Vehicle Parkingy1 1'F:01'F , , I i leis . CITY OF SOUTH BEND DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY INVESTMENT July 7, 2026 President Canneth Lee Filed in Clerk's Office South Bend Common Council 3rd Floor-South Bend City Hall Jul 7, 2026 South Bend, IN 46601 Bianca'Firado City Clerk, South Bend. IN Re: Ordinance Updates-Vehicle Regulations Dear President Lee: Attached for consideration by the South Bend Common Council("Council") are updates to the existing South Bend Municipal Code including Chapter 20, Article 3-Abandoned Vehicles, Chapter 20,Article 11 -Parking of Trucks Having More than Eleven Thousand Pounds'Gross Vehicle Weight,Section 16-53-Conditions constituting public nuisances, and Section 20-84- Parking on sidewalk, alley or parkway. The proposed ordinances focus on updating South Bend's regulations around vehicles to improve clarity, align with Indiana law, address gaps in parking enforcement, and strengthen the City's ability to protect quality of life. I request that the proposed amendments be included on the full Council agenda for first reading and assignment to the Residential Neighborhoods Standing Committee on July 13, 2026. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Liz Maradik Chief Neighborhoods Officer 215 S. Dr. Martin Luther King,Jr. Blvd., Ste 500, South Bend, Indiana 466oi (574)233-o311 ; southbendin.gov Filed in Clerk's Office BILL NO. 42-26 Jul 7, 2026 ORDINANCE NO. Bianca Tirado City Clerk. South Bend, IN AN ORDINANCE OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA,AMENDING SECTION 20-84 OF THE SOUTH BEND MUNICIPAL CODE CONCERNING IMPROPER VEHICLE PARKING STATEMENT OF PURPOSE AND INTENT The Common Council finds that vehicles parked on sidewalks, alleys, tree lawns, public rights-of-way, and other unauthorized locations may obstruct pedestrian travel, impede accessibility, interfere with traffic visibility, damage public infrastructure,hinder access to private property, and create hazards for the public. The purpose of this ordinance is to clarify and strengthen the City's parking regulations by: 1)Establishing clear standards identifying locations where parking is prohibited in order to protect public safety and preserve access to streets, sidewalks, alleys, driveways, and parking facilities; 2) Protecting pedestrian mobility and accessibility by prohibiting the obstruction of public sidewalks and other public ways; (3)Preventing damage to tree lawns,unimproved portions of the public right-of-way, and other public property; (4) Promoting compliance with applicable zoning and land use regulations governing vehicle parking; (5) Ensuring that approved driveways and parking lot approaches remain accessible to property owners, occupants, emergency responders, service providers, and the public; and(6) Establishing a progressive penalty structure designed to encourage prompt correction of continuing violations and deter repeat violations. It is the intent of the Common Council that these regulations be applied in a manner that promotes public safety, accessibility, neighborhood appearance, protection of public infrastructure, and the orderly use of public rights-of-way while providing clear notice of prohibited parking practices and the consequences for continuing violations. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Common Council of the City of South Bend, as follows: SECTION I. Chapter 20,Article 6, Section 20-84 of the South Bend Municipal Code shall be amended as follows: Sec. 20-84. Parking on sidewalk, alley or tree lawn. a. No person shall park any vehicle in any of the following locations: 1. On or blocking a public sidewalk, 2. In a public alley, 3. In the tree lawn between a public sidewalk and a curb, Page 1 of 2 4. In the portion of the right-of-way adjacent to the street, whether improved or unimproved, 5. On a lot or parcel in violation of Section 21.07.03 of the South Bend Municipal Code, or 6. In the right-of-way in a manner blocking an approved driveway and/or parking lot approach. Unless otherwise indicated, parking is permitted along the side of the paved street in a manner not inconsistent with this Section or in on-street parking designated and intended for parking purposes by the City. b. A citation issued pursuant to this section shall impose a fine not less than fifty dollars 50.00) for the first day of violation, a fine of not less than one hundred dollars 100.00) for the second day of violation and a fine of not less than two hundred dollars 200.00) for every day of violation thereafter with each day of violation constituting a separate violation for which a citation may be issued.No fine, however, shall exceed two thousand five hundred dollars($2,500.00). SECTION II. This ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage by the Common Council and approval by the Mayor and any publication required by law. Canneth J. Lee, Council President South Bend Common Council Attest: Bianca L. Tirado, City Clerk Office of the City Clerk Presented by me, the undersigned Clerk of the City of South Bend, to the Mayor of the City of South Bend, Indiana on the day of 2026, at o'clock .m. Bianca L. Tirado, City Clerk Office of the City Clerk Approved and signed by me on the day of 2026, at o'clock m. James Mueller,Mayor City of South Bend, Indiana Page 2 of 2 Filed in Clerk's Office Jul 7, 2026 BILL NO Bianca"Cirado City Clerk, South Bend, IN ORDINANCE NO. AN ORDINANCE OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA,AMENDING SECTION 20-84 OF THE SOUTH BEND MUNICIPAL CODE CONCERNING IMPROPER VEHICLE PARKING STATEMENT OF PURPOSE AND INTENT The Common Council finds that vehicles parked on sidewalks, alleys, tree lawns, public rights-of-way, and other unauthorized locations may obstruct pedestrian travel, impede accessibility,interfere with traffic visibility,damage public infrastructure, hinder access to private property, and create hazards for the public. The purpose of this ordinance is to clarify and strengthen the City's parking regulations by: 1)Establishing clear standards identifying locations where parking is prohibited in order to protect public safety and preserve access to streets, sidewalks, alleys, driveways, and parking facilities; 2) Protecting pedestrian mobility and accessibility by prohibiting the obstruction of public sidewalks and other public ways;(3)Preventing damage to tree lawns,unimproved portions of the public right-of-way, and other public property; (4) Promoting compliance with applicable zoning and land use regulations governing vehicle parking; (5) Ensuring that approved driveways and parking lot approaches remain accessible to property owners, occupants, emergency responders, service providers, and the public; and(6) Establishing a progressive penalty structure designed to encourage prompt correction of continuing violations and deter repeat violations. It is the intent of the Common Council that these regulations be applied in a manner that promotes public safety, accessibility, neighborhood appearance, protection of public infrastructure, and the orderly use of public rights-of-way while providing clear notice of prohibited parking practices and the consequences for continuing violations. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Common Council of the City of South Bend, as follows: SECTION I. Chapter 20,Article 6, Section 20-84 of the South Bend Municipal Code shall be amended as follows: Sec. 20-84. Parking on sidewalk, alley or-sway tree lawn. a. No person shall park any vehicle in any of the following locations: I_-eOn or blocking a public sidewalk, 2_+n-Ina public alley, 3_or—iit-In the parkway-tree lawn between a public sidewalk and a curb, Page 1 of 2 4. In the portion of the right-of-way adjacent to the street. \\!tether improved or unimproved, 5. On a lot or parcel in violation of Section 21.07.03 of the South Bend Municipal Code, or 6. In the right-of-way in a manner blocking an approved driveway and/or parking lot approach. Unless otherwise indicated,parking is permitted along the side of the paved street in a manner not inconsistent with this Section or in on-street parking designated and intended for parking purposes by the City. ab.A citation issued pursuant to this section shall impose a line not less than fifty dollars 50.00) for the first day of violation, a fine of not less than one hundred dollars 100.00) for the second day of violation and a fine of not less than two hundred dollars 200.00) for every day of violation thereafter with each day of violation constituting a separate violation for which a citation may be issued. No fine,however,shall exceed two thousand live hundred dollars ($2,500.00). SECTION II. This ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage by the Common Council and approval by the Mayor and any publication required by law. Canneth Lee, President, Common Council Attest: Bianca Tirado, City Clerk Presented by me to the Mayor of the City of South Bend, Indiana, on the day of 2026, at o'clock . m. Bianca Tirado,City Clerk Approved and signed by me on the day of 2026, at o'clock . m. James Mueller, Mayor,City of South Bend, Indiana Page 2 of 2