Article 525
OFF‑STREET PARKING
Sections:
525.01 Metered and reserved parking lots established.
525.02 Parking time limits and charges.
525.02A Parking time limits and charges.
525.02B Effective date of parking limits and rates set forth in MMC 525.02A.
525.03 Days and hours of operation.
525.04 Placement and characteristics of meters.
525.05 Parked vehicles to be within individual parking spaces.
525.06 Manner of parking at meters.
525.07 Overtime parking violation.
525.08 Unlawful to tamper with meters – Exceptions.
525.09 Metered parking lots for private passenger vehicles only.
525.10 Duty of peace officers – Effect of waiver payment.
525.11 Reserved off-street parking.
525.12 Parking in handicapped parking spaces.
525.01 Metered and reserved parking lots established.
The following are hereby established as the metered, unmetered, and reserved parking lots operated by the city, such lots and meter numbers to be indicated on an official map on file in the city engineer’s office:
(A) “Academy Theatre Lot” bounded on the north by West Cherry Street and on the south by Chestnut Street (metered);
(B) Repealed by Ord. 3684;
(C) “Keystone View Lot” bounded on the north by West Center Street, on the east by Seminary Alley, and on the west by Market Street (metered and reserved);
(D) “Market Square Parking Ramp” with an entrance to Market Square via Mulberry Street (both metered and reserved) and with an exit on West Center Street via Mulberry Street;
(E) “Mill Run Parking Ramp” with entrances and exits on Market Street, Mulberry Street, and Water Street (both metered and reserved plus up to 10 unmetered spaces reserved for DEP visitor parking);
(F) ”Park Avenue Central Lot” bounded on the north by West Center Street, on the south by West Cherry Street, and on the east by North Cottage Street (both metered and reserved);
(G) “Robert Smith Memorial Lot” bounded on the south by Arch Street, on the west by Park Avenue, on the north by Clinton Court, and on the east by Federal Court (both metered and reserved);
(H) Unnamed lot bounded on the east by Mulberry Street and on the west by Water Street (reserved);
(I) Unnamed lot bounded on the south by Pine Street and on the west by Market Street (reserved); (Ord. 3684 § 10, 2011; Ord. 3668 § 8, 2009; Ord. 3610 § 2, 2004)
525.02 Parking time limits and charges.
(A) The maximum length of time allowed in metered parking shall be as follows:
(1) Two hours in the Academy Theatre Lot, Keystone View Lot, Mill Run Parking Ramp, and portions of Market Square Parking Ramp;
(2) Five hours in the county-owned lot; and
(3) Twelve hours in the Arch Street Lot, Park Avenue Central Lot, Robert Smith Memorial Lot, and portions of Market Square Parking Ramp.
(B) The rate charged for metered parking shall be $0.10 for 30 minutes in all lots and parking ramps, and $0.25 for 45 minutes on the first level of Market Square Parking Ramp, for 60 minutes in Mill Run Parking Ramp, and for 90 minutes in the Academy Theatre, Arch Street, county-owned, Keystone View, Park Avenue Central, and Robert Smith Memorial Lots and the sixth level of Market Square Parking Ramp.
(C) Effective for the city fiscal year beginning January 1, 2005, the city council of the City of Meadville shall establish the monthly per vehicle rental fees for reserved covered parking spaces and reserved uncovered parking spaces for the following year as part of the general fund budget ordinance. Said fees shall be paid to and collected by the city treasurer. These rates shall not apply to parking stalls covered by individual written agreements between the city and renter in existence as of the date of enactment of the ordinance codified in this section. (Ord. 3610 § 2, 2004)
525.02A Parking time limits and charges.
(A) The maximum length of time allowed in metered parking in the following lots shall be as follows:
(1) Two hours in the Academy Theatre Lot, Keystone View Lot, Mill Run Parking Ramp, and indicated portions of Robert Smith Memorial Lot and Market Square Parking Ramp;
(2) Five hours in the Park Avenue Central Lot and indicated portions of Robert Smith Memorial Lot and Market Square Parking Ramp.
(B) The rate charged for metered parking shall be $0.25 for each one hour in all lots and parking ramps. (Ord. 3684 § 11, 2011; Ord. 3670 § 2, 2009; Ord. 3668 § 9, 2009)
525.02B Effective date of parking limits and rates set forth in MMC 525.02A.
The parking limits and rates set forth in MMC 525.02A shall replace and be in effect at the time each off-street meter/machine within the designated parking lots and ramps is replaced or recalibrated to calculate the time limits and rates based on the parking limits and rates established by MMC 525.02A. At that time, a notice shall be posted on the meter/machine to give notice of the new parking meter/machine limits and rates as established by MMC 525.02A. Until each meter/machine is recalibrated for the new rates and limits, the parking meter/machine limits and rates shall be as set forth in the existing MMC 525.02. MMC 525.02(A) and (B) shall be void and of no effect at the time all off-street parking meters/machines have been recalibrated for the parking limits and meter/machine rates as set forth in MMC 525.02A. (Ord. 3668 § 9, 2009)
525.03 Days and hours of operation.
Each metered parking space in each parking lot in the City of Meadville as identified and set forth above shall be in operation and the provision of this article regulating such operation shall apply only between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. on days other than Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays. Each reserved parking space in each parking lot as identified as set forth above shall be in operation and this provision of this article regulating such operation shall apply only between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. on days other than Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays. (Ord. 3731 § 2, 2014; Ord. 3610 § 2, 2004)
525.04 Placement and characteristics of meters.
Parking meters installed in the lots shall be placed immediately adjacent to the individual parking spaces that shall be marked off in such lots. Each parking meter shall be placed or set in such manner as to show whether the parking space adjacent to such meter is or is not legally occupied. Each parking meter installed shall indicate by a proper legend the legal time established by this article, the duration of the period of legal parking and, on the expiration of such period, shall indicate illegal or overtime parking. (Ord. 3610 § 2, 2004)
525.05 Parked vehicles to be within individual parking spaces.
Lines and/or markings shall be painted or placed upon the various metered parking lots hereby established, adjacent to each parking meter, for the purpose of designating the parking space for which such meter shall be used. Each vehicle parked adjacent to any parking meter shall be parked within the lines or markings so placed and applicable to such meter. It shall be unlawful and a violation of this article for any person:
(A) To park any vehicle across any such line or marking; or
(B) To park any vehicle in such a position that such vehicle shall not be within the area so designated by such lines or markings; or
(C) To park a vehicle elsewhere in any such lot other than in an individual parking space adjacent to a parking meter. (Ord. 3610 § 2, 2004)
525.06 Manner of parking at meters.
No person shall park any vehicle in any of the parking lots otherwise than with the foremost part of the parked vehicle nearest to the parking meter applicable thereto. (Ord. 3610 § 2, 2004)
525.07 Overtime parking violation.
When any vehicle is parked at a parking meter/machine space in a designated metered lot, when meters/machines are in operation, upon entering the parking space, the coin or coins of the United States designated and required for the parking time desired or for the time limit established in each lot as set forth above shall be deposited in the parking meter/machine. If the vehicle shall remain parked beyond the limits prescribed or beyond the time paid for, as set forth in MMC 525.02 or 525.02A as applicable, and the parking meter/machine shall indicate illegal parking, then such vehicle shall be considered as parked overtime and beyond the legal time fixed. The parking of a vehicle overtime or beyond the period of time fixed now or hereafter by the provisions of MMC 525.02 or 525.02A as applicable, in any designated metered parking lot where a meter/machine is located, shall be a violation of this article and punished as hereinafter provided. No person shall cause, allow or permit any vehicle registered in his name to be parked overtime or beyond the lawful period of time as above described. (Ord. 3668 § 10, 2009; Ord. 3610 § 2, 2004)
525.08 Unlawful to tamper with meters – Exceptions.
It shall be unlawful, and a violation of this article, for any person to deface, tamper with, open or willfully break, destroy or impair the usefulness of any parking meter installed under the provisions of this article. Nothing herein shall apply to the servicing or opening of parking meters by officers, employees and/or peace officers of the city under the direction of the city manager and/or council. (Ord. 3610 § 2, 2004)
525.09 Metered parking lots for private passenger vehicles only.
The metered and nonmetered parking lots are hereby established for the parking of private passenger vehicles only, and it shall be unlawful, and a violation of this article, for any person to park any vehicle exceeding the size of an automobile, pickup truck or passenger van, including but not limited to bus, tractor, trailer, tractor-trailer, recreational van or commercial truck, in any such lot. (Ord. 3610 § 2, 2004)
525.10 Duty of peace officers – Effect of waiver payment.
It shall be the duty of the peace officers of the city, acting in accordance with instructions of the chief of police, to report:
(A) The name of the parking lot, and the number of the parking meters therein that indicates that the vehicle occupying the parking space adjacent thereto is, or has been, parked in violation of any of the provisions of this article;
(B) The date and hour of such violation;
(C) The state license number of such vehicle;
(D) Any other facts, the knowledge of which shall be necessary for a full understanding of the circumstances attending such violation. Every such peace officer shall also place upon such vehicle a notice to the owner or operator thereof that such vehicle was parked in violation of the provisions of this article, and instructing such owner or operator concerning the penalty and payment thereof. (Ord. 3668 § 11, 2009; Ord. 3610 § 2, 2004)
525.11 Reserved off-street parking.
(A) No person shall park or permit the parking of any vehicle in any off-street parking space marked as a “Reserved” off-street parking place other than the tenant of such space or the permittee of such tenant, during the hours delineated in MMC 525.03.
(B) Any person parking or permitting the parking of any vehicle in violation of the provisions of subsection (A) of this section shall for each and every violation, upon conviction thereof, pay a fine of $30.00. (Ord. 3668 § 12, 2009; Ord. 3610 § 2, 2004)
525.12 Parking in handicapped parking spaces.
(A) Parking spaces designated as handicap-only parking shall be in accordance with Article 519 MMC, Schedule M.
(B) No person shall park or permit the parking of any vehicle in any off-street parking space marked as “Handicapped” unless the vehicle displays an approved handicapped certificate, sticker or plate.
(C) Any person parking or permitting the parking of any vehicle in violation of the provisions of subsection (B) of this section shall for each and every violation, upon conviction thereof, pay a fine in accordance with MMC 519.99. (Ord. 3610 § 2, 2004)
525.13 Parking meter bags.
The parking meter bags regulations as set forth in MMC 521.15 or Article 521 MMC are hereby incorporated as the parking meter bags regulations of and for this article. (Ord. 3610 § 2, 2004)
525.99 Penalty.
Any person who violates any provision of this article, except MMC 525.08, 525.11 and 525.13, shall be subject to a penalty as follows:
(A) If penalty paid at courtesy box or city police headquarters within 48 hours of the issuance of the traffic ticket: $10.00.
(B) If penalty paid more than 48 hours, but within 10 days after the issuance of the traffic ticket: $15.00.
(C) If penalty paid more than 10 days after the issuance of a traffic ticket, but before the issuance of a citation pursuant to the terms of this article: $30.00.
(D) If penalty is not paid within 15 days after the identity of the owner of the vehicle is determined, a citation shall be filed with the district magistrate and, upon conviction, violators shall be sentenced to pay a fine as set forth below.
(E) Time of payment for the purpose of this article shall be the time of the receipt of payment by the City of Meadville either in a courtesy box or at Police Headquarters, 984 Water Street, Meadville, Pennsylvania.
(F) Each hour or part of an hour during which any person parks or permits or causes a vehicle owned by him to be parked in violation of this article shall be considered separate and distinct offenses for which separate traffic tickets, citations and fines shall be issued, levied and collected.
(G) Any person convicted of the violation of any term or provision of this article (or of aiding, abetting or assisting in the violation of any term or provision of this article) shall be sentenced to pay a fine of not less than $50.00 nor more than $300.00 and may be sentenced to imprisonment for a term not to exceed 10 days.
Any person who violates MMC 525.08 and 525.13 shall, upon conviction, be sentenced to pay a fine of not less than $30.00 and not more than $300.00, together with costs, and upon failure to pay said fines and costs, may be sentenced to imprisonment for a period of time not to exceed 10 days. (Ord. 3668 § 13, 2009; Ord. 3616 §§ 3, 4, 2005; Ord. 3610 § 2, 2004)