Re-parking on the same street to avoid a fine will no longer enable a driver to avoid a fine.
By Chris Henry
chenry@kitsapsun.com
PORT ORCHARD
With a 5-to-2 vote, the Port Orchard City Council on Tuesday passed an ordinance prohibiting “chain parking” — re-parking a car to avoid a fine — downtown.
Councilman Fred Chang was the main proponent of the measure. Chang, a downtown resident himself, said he has spoken with several merchants who have complained about other merchants parking in front of their own or others’ businesses and moving their cars to other prime spots throughout the day.
Those spots should be reserved for people doing business and not the merchants, who have the option of buying discounted passes for nonprime spaces, Chang said.
“It’s too bad that we have to legislate common sense,” he said.
The new ordinance makes it illegal to move and re-park any vehicle within two blocks of the original parking space on Bay Street from Sidney Parkway, the road that runs between Kitsap Bank’s main building and its drive-through, to Harrison Street. The ban also applies on Sidney Avenue from Prospect Street to the waterfront and on Frederick Avenue, from Prospect to the waterfront. A block is defined as “a city street or alley section located between consecutive intersections.”
There is a two-hour limit on downtown parking spaces. After two hours, the car must be moved outside the blocks of the ordinance.
Voting against the measure, for opposite reasons, were Councilmen Jerry Childs and Rob Putaansuu.
Childs, also a downtown resident, said he doesn’t believe the problem is that bad. Summer, the most difficult season for parking, is over, Childs said. He’d like to revisit the issue next spring.
“I’m always in favor of less regulation rather than more regulation,” he said.
Putaansuu favors the new parking rule but said he thinks it doesn’t go far enough.
“I like the idea,” he said. “What I have a problem with is having a special set of rules for one area. I think it should be citywide.”
The Kitsap County courthouse, for example, is notorious for its parking problems, Putaansuu said. And City Hall, which is not affected by the ordinance, can also become congested at times.
Chang said he, too, recognizes the need for citywide regulations, but he wanted to address the worst areas first.
“It would be ideal to address the whole city,” Chang said. “I thought that this would be a good small step.”
Also voting in favor of the ordinance were council members Carolyn Powers, John Clauson, Fred Olin and Jim Colebank.