After hearing multiple objections to the city’s new parking boot policy, the Durango City Council agreed to a compromise Tuesday.
In May, the city’s parking division announced that starting in August, it would boot cars after one unpaid ticket. Currently, it takes three unpaid tickets to get the boot. The City Council agreed Tuesday to change the policy to boot a vehicle after two unpaid parking tickets.
Mayor Sweetie Marbury suggested the compromise.
“I hope the second will show our residents that we are listening,” she said. “We are listening to them and responding.”
The fines are staying the same, but the city plans to improve its communication with residents about unpaid tickets. Tickets start at $12, and fines rise to $24 after seven days and $48 after 30 days. The city will release an impounded car after all citations are paid, plus a $50 boot fee.
“We’ve all heard the reasons why people are objecting,” Marbury said.
Councilor Keith Brant said it’s lost on some residents that the city will give more notice on tickets now.
“People don’t understand that there’s better communication now,” he said. “There’s better communication by the city to alert you that you have an outstanding ticket. Previously, it was one letter maybe at some point, I think.”
Roy Petersen, city operations director, said last month that the parking division will send a notice eight days after the ticket’s issuance if it is still unpaid. That will give vehicle owners more timely notice than they get now that they owe a fine. The division also will send a notice to owners on the 28th day after a ticket’s issuance that their car is going on the boot list.
A vehicle will go on the boot list on the 34th day of their second unpaid ticket.
Councilor Christina Rinderle favored the compromise.
“I like the notification,” she said. “I think the notification is robust, and the fines still continue to double. I would be willing to do the two.”
Marbury also announced that the council’s July 8 study session will discuss parking. She has asked staff members to provide a lot of data on parking, including who’s getting tickets – locals or tourists – and whether they are being paid.
Tickets can be paid at the Durango Intermodal Transit Center on Eighth Street, the U.S. Post Office on West Eighth Avenue, Durango Public Library on East Third Avenue and City Hall on East Second Avenue. You also can visit www.durangogov.org to pay online.
smueller@durangoherald.com
