TO:
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THROUGH:
Bruce Moe, City Manager
FROM:
George Gabriel, Senior Management Analyst
SUBJECT:Title
Consider Adoption of Urgency Ordinance No. 19-0006-U and Introduction of Ordinance No. 19-0006 to Prohibit Shared Mobility Devices from Being Placed or Operated in Any Public Right-of-Way or on Public Property, or Offered for Use Anywhere in the City (City Manager Moe).
a) ADOPT URGENCY ORDINANCE NO. 19-0006-U
b) INTRODUCE ORDINANCE NO. 19-0006
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Recommended Action
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt Urgency Ordinance No. 19-0006-U and introduce Ordinance No. 19-0006 to prohibit shared mobility devices from being placed or operated in any public right-of-way or on public property, or offered for use anywhere in the City.
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FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
There are no fiscal implications associated with the recommended action.
BACKGROUND:
A recent surge of shared mobility systems and devices with "dockless" technology, including motorized scooters and dockless bikes have emerged in cities throughout the United States. Although these devices provide additional mobility and transit options, communities are experiencing impacts from the use and misuse of such devices. These issues include: parking in the public right-of-way and obstructing vehicle and pedestrian access; reduced sidewalk area or parking spaces (docked systems); urban clutter (dockless systems); aggressive competition/oversupply; use of public land for private purposes; potential public liabilities; scooter/pedestrian conflicts; scooter/vehicle conflicts; and increased demand on enforcement resources. These shared mobility devices, primarily electronic scooters, have been launched in cities throughout the United States absent contracts, permits or business licenses.
At the August 21, 2018, meeting, City Council voted unanimously to adopt Urgency Ordinance No. 18-0018-U and introduce Ordinance No. 18-0018, which was subsequently adopted after second reading. (For purposes of this staff report, the ordinances will be referred to as the “Ordinance.”) The Ordinance temporarily prohibited shared mobility devices from being placed in any public right-of-way or on public property, operated in any public right-of-way or on public property, or offered for use anywhere in the City. The City Council adopted the Ordinance to provide time to the City to explore the feasibility of an alternative regulatory scheme involving shared mobility devices. The Ordinance included a sunset provision that will expire soon.
DISCUSSION:
The City’s Traffic Engineer has been actively meeting with cities in the region to discuss the feasibility of uniform electronic scooter and bike-share use regulations. However, more time is needed to consider regulations. Moreover, due to the City’s hilly terrain and uneven topography, a regional plan may not fit Manhattan Beach.
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt Urgency Ordinance No. 19-0006-U and Ordinance No. 19-0006 to extend the prohibition for an additional twelve months. The ordinances are necessary to address the serious safety hazards posed by the proliferation of unregulated shared mobility devices being illegally operated on the sidewalk and abandoned haphazardly on public and private property. Additionally, it will allow staff to continue to gather information and develop policies which will ensure public safety while also being responsive to the community’s needs.
LEGAL REVIEW
The City Attorney has approved Urgency Ordinance No. 19-0006-U and Ordinance No. 19-0006 as to form.
Attachments:
1. Urgency Ordinance No. 19-0006-U
2. Ordinance No. 19-0006