BILL ANALYSIS

SB 5117

TITLE OF THE BILL:  An act relating to parking.

WHAT THIS BILL DOES: Requires parking commissions to have at least five members and to set parking fees at or above prevailing rates, and allows cities to operate off-street leased or rented parking facilities.

SPONSORS:  Senate State and Local Government Committee (originally sponsored by Senator Bauer).

HEARING DATE:  Thursday, April 1, 1999

FISCAL NOTE:  Not requested.

ANALYSIS PREPARED BY:  Scott MacColl (786-7106)

BACKGROUND:

Five member parking commissions may be created by first or second cities to establish, acquire and operate off-street parking facilities.  Commission members are be appointed for four year terms, with one member from the parking industry.  The commission may establish rules, regulation and procedures, and resolutions must be adopted with the concurrence of at least three members.

The parking commission is authorized to operate off-street parking facilities with city forces that are owned by the city.  However, the city must contract out operation for off-street parking facilities that are leased or rented by the city.  The commission is required to set parking fees exactly commensurate with the prevailing rates for parking charged by commercial operators in the area.

SUMMARY:

The number of parking commission members is altered, from exactly five members to at least five members.  Parking fees set by the commission must be equal or greater than the prevailing wage.  The requirement that cities contract out to private operators for leased or rented parking facilities is removed.