Citing parking problems and the increasing number of events in downtown Clarskton, City Council approved a slate of new and revised fees and fines.
Fines approved at the May 11 council meeting include: $35, parking facing traffic; $100, parking in front of fire hydrants; $50, blocking crosswalk, sidewalks, alley or driveways; $100, parking in a fire lane; $25, up from $10 previously, violation of parking time limits; $35, failure to display parking permit; $35, parking in handicap spot without a permit; $10, replace lost parking permit; $75, parking in a no-parking or loading zone.
If a ticket is not paid within 15 days, the city will send license plate numbers to the Secretary of State, which will provide the city information about vehicles’ owners. City staff will contact owners, then if still not paid , it is sent to the city attorney for collection.
The city attorney will take those ticketed to court, resulting in additional fees.
City Council voted, May 11, to approve a budget amendment for the additional $5,500 in legal fees to city attorney Tom Ryan.
Jennifer Miller, city ordinance officer and head of the city building department, said she discovered city council had not adopted a fee schedule in recent years, while reorganizing the building department.
Miller consulted with the city attorney, who suggested she create a fee schedule to present to city council for approval.
New fines also include the building department business : $250 for no work permit and; $500 for working without an approved permit from HDC; $250, window permit fee.
‘I worked with Craig Strong, Clarkston City Building Official, Lt. Feneley, Oakland County Sheriff Department and City Manager Carol Eberhardt to develop the fee schedule,? Miller said.
In addition to developing fines relating to parking and building, she also developed an events fee schedule to offset the cost of paperwork and DPW overtime when they work various events.
Fees approved for events include $25 for administrative costs and $25 per hour per man for DPW work.
Miller said it costs $125 for five man hours to work at each Concert in the Park, in Depot Park.
‘Staff will work with each event individually to determine how much time and how many men will be required per event,? she said.
Ryan’s other monthly billing includes calls with Mayor Joe Luginski and city council and commission members, as well as City Manager Carol Eberhardt, city clerk, and the code enforcement officer. Each call is billed for at least half an hour, which cost $47.
The City Charter states “except for the purpose of inquiries and investigations, the council or its members shall deal with city officers and employees who are subject to the direction and supervision of the city manager solely through the city manager,and neither the council nor its members shall give direction to any such officer or employee, either publicly or privately.”
The charter lists the attorney as an administrative officer, as well as the city manager, clerk, treasurer, assessor, and financial officer.
The budget amendment also includes $3,494 in additional revenue from license and permit fees.
Call Clarkston City Hall at 248-625-1559.