Petition to Stay the Enforcement of Parking Violations Targeting Duluth College Students

The Issue

The City of Duluth has issued a letter of increased enforcement of "front lawn" parking violations in neighborhoods immediately surrounding UMD. Even some paved driveways will be in violation. This increase of enforcement is specifically targeting the students that rent properties on Woodland Ave, College Street and W. Arrowhead Rd. The city denies that students are being targeted but anyone who knows the targeted locations knows that they are student heavy. The enforcement took no consideration into the fact that students have signed leases for these properties without the knowledge that the parking spaces on their property was in violation of city code. Also, the city made no effort to reach the tenants and only sent the letter to homeowners.  


This action will force some students to park 2-3 blocks from their houses. The city of Duluth said they spoke with the landlord association but chose not to speak with the UMD Student Association or the CSS Senate. We request that the city hold off the enforcement until June 1st, 2017 to give students and landlords a chance to adjust while they sign their lease for 2017-2018. This is only fair considering they are holding off on ticketing homeowners. 


UMD Student Association is happy to answer any questions. 

 
Mike Purtell

VP of External Affairs

purte004@d.umn.edu

 


Mike Kenyanya

Rep to Board of Regents

kenya005@d.umn.edu

 

avatar of the starter
UMD Student AssociationPetition Starter
Media inquiries
Victory
This petition made change with 1,082 supporters!

The Issue

The City of Duluth has issued a letter of increased enforcement of "front lawn" parking violations in neighborhoods immediately surrounding UMD. Even some paved driveways will be in violation. This increase of enforcement is specifically targeting the students that rent properties on Woodland Ave, College Street and W. Arrowhead Rd. The city denies that students are being targeted but anyone who knows the targeted locations knows that they are student heavy. The enforcement took no consideration into the fact that students have signed leases for these properties without the knowledge that the parking spaces on their property was in violation of city code. Also, the city made no effort to reach the tenants and only sent the letter to homeowners.  


This action will force some students to park 2-3 blocks from their houses. The city of Duluth said they spoke with the landlord association but chose not to speak with the UMD Student Association or the CSS Senate. We request that the city hold off the enforcement until June 1st, 2017 to give students and landlords a chance to adjust while they sign their lease for 2017-2018. This is only fair considering they are holding off on ticketing homeowners. 


UMD Student Association is happy to answer any questions. 

 
Mike Purtell

VP of External Affairs

purte004@d.umn.edu

 


Mike Kenyanya

Rep to Board of Regents

kenya005@d.umn.edu

 

avatar of the starter
UMD Student AssociationPetition Starter
Media inquiries

The Decision Makers

Duluth Police Department
Duluth Police Department
Responded
“Thank you to the student union for initiating a petition to have your voices be heard. I appreciate how you have constructively organized and engaged in local government decisions. I respect and value the perspective of our student population. Your energy and ideas are good for government in Duluth, the State of Minnesota and the United States. I have a son in college and I value his perspective and learn from him daily. With all that said, let's discuss front yard parking. Front yard parking is an ordinance which has been an enforced for more than a decade and it is not a change in law. Why it is important to enforce? Two primary reasons: 1. Safety-Public safety personnel must have ease of access to a residence in case of an emergency. Fire, EMT and police should have clear unobstructed access to a residence to deliver critical safety services to residents in need. 2. Blight-Having vehicles parked illegally transforms yards into parking lots which can detract from the aesthetics of neighborhood properties. Violators are both homeowners and renters. We receive a number of complaints on front yard parking in which citizens, rightfully so, request action by their paid, local government officials. I agree with the many comments offered in this petition regarding shortage of parking in the area, challenges of off-street parking on Arrowhead Road and contractual obligations for lease agreements in place. The City has heard concerns and we have relaxed from our position of issuing tickets (with fines) on October 01 to issuing warning tickets (no fines) and letters to property owners. I will say this again, no tickets with fines will be issued to property owners or students before we have communicated with stakeholders. During this time, we will identify violations and educate tenants, landlords and property owners so there is ample time to forge solutions. We will meet with the student union as we have with the landlords and hear concerns. The City will have a measured and transparent response to solving this problem. Thank you for your engagement. Respectfully, Mike Tusken, Chief of Police”
The Duluth City Council
The Duluth City Council
Keith Hamre
Keith Hamre
Duluth Department of Construction and Planning Services
Mark Bauer
Mark Bauer
City of Duluth

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Petition created on September 28, 2016