Title
Amending Chapter 157 of the Legislative Code related to parking of commercial and overweight vehicles.
Body
SECTION 1
WHEREAS, there have been numerous complaints made by City of Saint Paul residents about the increased number of commercial vehicles and semi-trucks parking in the city generating public safety and nuisance concerns; and
WHEREAS, the vehicles that generate complaints are primarily large straight trucks and semi- tractors with or without trailers; and
WHEREAS, it is common for these vehicles to cluster together and park along entire city blocks and sometimes on both sides of the street; and
WHEREAS, the most frequently cited traffic safety concerns include obstructed sightlines at intersections and driveway curb cuts, obstructed regulatory and guide signage, narrowing and encroachment of bicycle and motor vehicle travel lanes; and
WHEREAS, complaints from residents also have included: obstructed views to business signage and addresses, reduced parking availability in neighborhoods for guests and for area businesses, obstructed fire hydrants, noise and emissions from excessive vehicle idling, and litter generated from food and beverage consumption and truck maintenance issues; and
WHEREAS, the City of Saint Paul has a compelling public safety interest to regulate the street parking of commercial vehicles and semi-trucks in residential and other areas throughout the city and to reduce nuisance activities associated with the street parking of these vehicles; now therefore be it;
RESOLVED, that the Council wishes to address these public safety and livability concerns related to the parking of commercial vehicles and semi-trucks on city streets, and be it;
FINALLY RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Saint Paul does hereby ordain:
SECTION 2
Section 157.11 is hereby amended as follows:
(a) Recreational vehicles. No vehicle or combination of vehicles except those licensed under chapter 331A.04(d)(17) as a mobile food vehicle, or those registered as recreational vehicles pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, section 168.013, subdivision 1g or as amended, that is twenty-two (22) feet or more in length and seven (7) feet or more in width, measured between the two (2) most widely separated points or proportions on either side of such vehicle or combination of vehicles, shall be parked on any street or alley for more than thirty (30) minutes. Exceptions to this prohibition include any vehicle or combination of vehicles that is licensed under chapter 331A.04(d)(17) as a mobile food vehicle, or those registered as recreational vehicles pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, section 168.013, subdivision 1g.
(b) Garbage, rubbish or recycling trucks. No vehicle designed, used or maintained for the transportation of garbage or rubbish, or recyclable material as defined in St. Paul Legislative Code Chapter 408, whether licensed or unlicensed, shall be parked or left standing on any private property, street or alley in any R1, R2, R3, R4, RT1, RT2, RM1, RM2, RM3, T1, T2, T3, or T4 Zoning District for more than thirty (30) minutes.
(c) Reserved.
(d) Commercial vehicles.
(1) For the purposes of this section, "commercial" and "overweight" vehicles are defined under Legislative Code section 151.02.
(2) No commercial or overweight vehicle shall be parked overnight or stored on property zoned residential or occupied exclusively as residential.
(3) (a) No vehicle or hitched or unhitched combination, with or without load, which weighs more than ten thousand (10,000) pounds or is registered for a gross weight of more than twelve thousand (12,000) pounds, nor any commercial or overweight vehicle, other than an agricultural vehicle permitted under chapter 165, shall be permitted to stop, stand, or park on any street or alley in an R1 through R4, RT1, RT2, RM1 through RM3, T1, T2, T3 or T4 , which is within or abutting, including across a street or alley, from any residential or traditional neighborhood Zoning District, as defined in Legislative Code section 60.301, unless such vehicle is actually and expeditiously engaged in the loading or unloading of passengers or materials from the vehicle, or is actually engaged in the providing of services at that location, or is in compliance with official traffic-control devices, the direction of a police officer, or unless otherwise provided by law.
(b) No vehicle or hitched or unhitched combination, with or without load, which weighs more than twenty-six (26,000) pounds or is registered for a gross weight of more than twenty-six thousand (26,000) pounds shall be permitted to stop, stand, or park on any street or alley unless such vehicle is actually and expeditiously engaged in the loading or unloading of passengers or materials from the vehicle, or is actually engaged in the providing of services at that location, or is in compliance with official traffic-control devices, the direction of a police officer, or unless otherwise provided by law.
(4) Exception for school bus. A school bus driver may park a school bus at the curb abutting the driver's residential property or on the driver's residential property, said property being the address on the driver's Minnesota driver license, for up to a maximum four-hour period, which is within or abutting, including across a street or alley, from an R- 1 through R-4, Rt-1, RT-2, or RM-1through RM-3 any residential Zoning District, as defined in Legislative Code 60.301.
(5) Tow and impound authorized. Commercial and overweight Any vehicle parked in violation of this ordinance are paragraphs 3(a) and 3(b) this section is illegally parked
and unauthorized, and may be cited and immediately towed and impounded pursuant to the written report of a peace officer or parking enforcement officer.
Any violation of the terms of Section 157.11 (d) shall be subject to a fine in the amount of one hundred and fifty dollars ($150) from January 1, 2024, through June 30, 2024, and two hundred and fifty dollars ($250) thereafter.
(e) No person may leave or park a trailer, including cargo or utility trailers, campers, and boat trailers, on any street or alley unless connected to a motor vehicle capable of drawing or transporting the trailer on the same block for more than forty-eight (48) consecutive hours. Unattached trailers parked in violation of this provision are illegally parked and unauthorized, and may be cited and immediately towed and impounded pursuant to the written report of a peace officer or parking enforcement officer.
SECTION 3
This Ordinance shall take effect and be in force thirty (30) days following its passage, approval, and publication.