§ 26-99. On-street parking for Car-share Houston vehicles.

(a)

Definitions. As used in this section, the following terms and phrases shall have the following meanings:

Car-share vehicle means a motor vehicle made accessible by a car-share for use by its members.

Car-share means a business entity that operates a fleet of on-demand self-service vehicles located throughout a service area in the city, the use of which may be rented by the hour or the day and are accessible by an automated online reservation and billing system.

Designated car-share parking space means an on-street parking space within the city designated for the exclusive use of Car-share Houston vehicles.

Car-share Houston means a car-share who enters into a master license agreement with the city.

(b)

Master license agreement. Subject to approval by city council, the city may enter into a master license agreement with car-shares to authorize the parking of car-share vehicles in designated car-share parking spaces and to establish fees and requirements. Car-share Houston licensees shall be chosen through a competitive process pursuant to section 15-44 of this Code and preference shall be granted to vendors who use vehicle technologies that result in increased fuel economy and lower CO2 emissions.

(c)

Permit required. A Car-share Houston vehicle that occupies a designated car-share parking space shall display a city-issued permit. A permit is vehicle specific and is not transferable from one vehicle to another. A Car-share Houston vehicle that occupies a designated car-share parking space shall also display the identifying emblem of the Car-share Houston licensee.

(d)

Designation of car-share parking spaces. The traffic engineer, in consultation with the parking official, is authorized to designate up to 20 on-street parking spaces for the exclusive use of any Car-share Houston vehicle in or upon which a permit issued pursuant to this section is displayed. The traffic engineer, in consultation with the parking official, shall determine the number of parking spaces assigned to each Car-share Houston licensee. City council may increase the maximum number of on-street parking spaces the traffic engineer is authorized to designate for the exclusive use of a Car-share Houston vehicle.

(e)

Notice of designation of car-share parking spaces.

(1)

Notice to district council member. Notice of a proposed designated car-share parking space shall be given to each district council member whose district includes the proposed designated car-share parking space.

(2)

Notice to surrounding property owners. Before the designation of any car-share parking space, the parking official shall provide notice to owners of property within 200 feet of the proposed designated car-share parking space at the name and address as indicated by the most recent appraisal district records. The notice shall be in a form prescribed by the parking official and shall contain the location of the proposed designated car-share parking space, the name of the Car-share Houston licensee, a city office, city telephone number and city e-mail address that interested persons may call or contact by e-mail to obtain further information or to provide input regarding the impact of the proposed car-share parking space designation, and contact information for the district council member whose district includes the proposed designated car-share parking space. Input received by the parking official within ten business days after the date of the notice will be considered by the parking official and the traffic engineer before designation of the car-share parking space.

(f)

Signage. The traffic engineer is authorized to erect one or more signs or markings in the right-of-way giving adequate notice that the designated car-share parking space or spaces are restricted and to be used by Car-share Houston vehicles only. Upon a determination by the traffic engineer that there has been a change in traffic conditions, the traffic engineer is authorized to remove, move, or add designated car-share parking spaces.

(g)

Offense. It shall be unlawful for any person to park a motor vehicle in a designated car-share parking space unless the motor vehicle has a valid permit displayed as directed by the city.

(h)

Annual report to city council. The parking official shall make an annual report to a city council committee regarding Car-share Houston.

(Ord. No. 2018-421 , § 2, 5-23-2018)