Some of you might be aware there are parking restrictions on ALL city streets (this includes Solera Circle even though no signage is posted).

I am passing this along for those who are not aware.

A few weeks ago, just before we left for a trip, we noticed a City by-law officer checking for parked cars on Solera Circle on a Friday, mid-morning.

We had run into this on our previous street which was frequently heavily parked, but were very surprised to see it happening on Solera.

I sent an e-mail to Diane Deans’ office asking for clarification. Below is a copy of the e-mail exchange.

Bottomline:

All city streets, signed or not, have a three hour maximum street parking limit between 7am and 7pm.

On streets such as Solera, the by-law is enforced only on reactionary/call for service basis (a.k.a. a complaint).

The officer was on Solera that morning in response to a complaint received the day before saying cars are parking in excess of the three hours.

E-mail exchange with Diane Deans’ office

From: Jim Robertson [mailto:jim@jimrobertson.ca]
Sent: February 10, 2012 11:02 AM
To: Deans, Diane
Subject: Parking bylaw enforcement Solera Circle

I realize there is a 3 hour parking restriction on all streets within the city day and night. (editor:pls note I was incorrect, it only applies 7AM-7pm)

When living on a street with higher density of housing than Solera a few years ago, I was advised that this is normally only enforced if there is an issue e.g. a complaint, abnormally heavy street parking etc.

I also know that it tends to be enforced more on the more narrow streets.

Solera Circle is narrower than collector streets, but it is a public street, not a private, and thus meets city standards.

I also realize that the city can always use more money to run the many facilities and services.

But other than raising money I am not sure why a by-law officer would be marking the cars parked on the street today, Friday at 10:30am. There were only two cars parked on the “circle” at the west end of Solera. Both cars were tight against the snow banks – which have been kept well pushed back by the city plows.

To my knowledge, there has never been a serious parking issue on Solera, sure if there is a gathering at someone’s house sections of the street can be temporarily lined with cars, but I am unaware of any complaints.

Is there a plan to strictly enforce the bylaw on Solera? Or city wide?

A little background would be appreciated.

Thank you

Jim Robertson

185 Solera Circle

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

From: Tam, Sukuen [mailto:Sukuen.Tam@ottawa.ca]
Sent: February-13-12 4:11 PM
To: jim@jimrobertson.ca
Subject: RE: Parking bylaw enforcement Solera Circle

Hello Mr. Robertson,

Thank you for your email.
You are correct that By-law enforcement in residential areas is completed on a reactionary basis (i.e. a call for service). The call for service must have been a complaint for a vehicle (or several) parked in excess of 3 hours between 7:00am and 7:00pm as stipulated in the Traffic and Parking By-law http://ottawa.ca/en/licence_permit/bylaw/a_z/traffic/index.html. If By-law receives a call for service to an area, they are required to attend regardless if there is a parking problem or not in the area.

If you’d like, I can forward your email to the Program Manager of Parking By-law Enforcement to see if he has any further comments to share on this issue? Please let me know, and I’d be pleased to do so.

Thanks,

Sue Tam
Office of Councillor Diane Deans | Bureau de la conseillère Diane Deans
Gloucester-Southgate Ward | quartier Gloucester-Southgate
City of Ottawa | Ville d'Ottawa
110 Laurier Avenue West | 110, avenue Laurier Ouest
T: 613-580-2480 F: 613-580-2520 www.DianeDeans.ca

follow Diane on Twitter (@dianedeans) at http://twitter.com/dianedeans

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

From: Jim Robertson [mailto:jim@jimrobertson.ca]
Sent: February 13, 2012 6:58 PM
To: Tam, Sukuen
Subject: Re: RE: Parking bylaw enforcement Solera Circle

Hi Sue
Thanks for getting back to me.
Yes, pls forward this to the Program Manager of Parking By-law enforcement as I must say that I am VERY surprised that anyone would lodge a complaint given the virtual total lack of on-street parking on Solera.
Thank you
Jim

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

From: Tam, Sukuen [mailto:Sukuen.Tam@ottawa.ca]
Sent: February-17-12 10:25 AM
To: Jim Robertson
Subject: RE: RE: Parking bylaw enforcement Solera Circle

Hi Jim,

Here are comments from Troy Leeson, Program Manager of By-law Parking Enforcement:

“We received a request for service on Feb 9 at about 4:30 pm requesting enforcement of the 3 hour restriction for the following day stating vehicles stay all day. I have copied and pasted the actual complaint below however no tickets were issued.

"Client would like to have his street monitored for three hours tomorrow since there's vehicles that are parked there in excess of three hours all day long"

I hope this helps.

Regards,

Sue Tam
Office of Councillor Diane Deans | Bureau de la conseillère Diane Deans
Gloucester-Southgate Ward | quartier Gloucester-Southgate
City of Ottawa | Ville d'Ottawa
110 Laurier Avenue West | 110, avenue Laurier Ouest
T: 613-580-2480 F: 613-580-2520 www.DianeDeans.ca

follow Diane on Twitter (@dianedeans) at http://twitter.com/dianedeans