Parking meters precede ordinance at Crocker Park
Garage parking to remain free
By Kevin Kelley
Westlake
Published Feb. 23, 2005

Although the management of Crocker Park has installed approximately 135 coin-operated parking meters along the main boulevards of the residential-retail-office development, an ordinance authorizing them has not yet been approved by city council.

City Council introduced an ordinance on first reading Feb. 17 creating a special parking enforcement district in Crocker Park. Under the ordinance and associated memo of understanding, parking meter proceeds will be used for the maintenance and improvements of Crocker Park's roads and sidewalks.

Under the current schedule, the ordinance is not set to go to a vote until council's March 17 meeting.

While the signs dictating a two-hour parking limit by the meters say "Enforceable by the City of Westlake," Crocker Park security officers are given the main responsibility of enforcing parking regulations and collecting parking meter money under the agreement. Westlake Police reserve the right to patrol Crocker Park and enforce the city's traffic regulations there.

The agreement calls for Crocker Park management to make arrangements with Rocky River Municipal Court to transfer any parking ticket money to a maintenance fund for the development's streets and sidewalks.

Council President Michael Killeen said under the complex lease agreement that established Crocker Park, the streets there are technically publicly owned but practically under the control of Crocker Park management.

"Effectively any costs related to the streets have to be borne by Crocker Park," Killeen said. These costs include snow plowing and cleaning, he said.

There appeared to be uncertainty about whether tickets could legally be issued before the ordinance is passed.

Killeen said until the ordinance is passed, Crocker Park security personnel do not have the legal authority to write tickets.

Capt. Guy Turner of the Westlake Police said they would not issue any tickets before the ordinance is passed.

It's a moot point anyway, as Crocker Park Security Director Mike Velkoff said his security officers were at present issuing only "courtesy parking violation notices," not tickets. He said he did not know when actual tickets would be issued to violators.

The parking rates posted on the meters are 12 minutes for a nickel, 24 minutes for a dime, and an hour for each quarter. Meters are in effect from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. Parking in the adjacent garages will remain free.