HomeMy WebLinkAbout25. 14-231
MAY 13, 2014 14-231 ORDINANCE
FIRST READING
(CARRIED__6-0_____LOST_______LAID OVER_______WITHDRAWN_______)
PURPOSE: TEMPORARY SUSPENSION OF BICYCLE REGISTRATION FEE
FROM MAY 14 - JUNE 30, 2014
INITIATED BY: COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee Recommendation: Approved
A GENERAL ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF OSHKOSH PERTAINING TO BICYCLE
REGISTRATION FEES
The Common Council of the City of Oshkosh do ordain as follows:
SECTION 1. That the fees related to bicycle registration and license and
replacement of bicycle registration stickers, as provided in Sections 27-59 and 27-60 are
waived for bicycle registrations submitted to City officials between the dates of May 14,
2014 and June 30, 2014.
SECTION 2. Publication Notice. Please take notice that the City of Oshkosh
enacted Ordinance #14-231 TEMPORARY SUSPENSION OF BICYCLE REGISTRATION
FEE FROM MAY 14- JUNE 30, 2014 on May 13, 2014. The full text of the Ordinance may
be obtained at the Office of the City Clerk, 215 Church Ave. and on the City's website at
www2.ci.oshkosh.wi.us. Clerk's phone: (920) 236-5011.
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ON THE WATER
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the Common Council
FROM: Darryn Burich
Director of Planning Services
DATE: May 8, 2014
RE: Temporary Suspension of Bicycle Registration Fee from May 14 — June 30,
2014 (Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee recommends approval)
BACKGROUND
Sections 27 -57 through 27.62 of the Oshkosh Municipal Code provide for a bicycle
registration program, which includes a registration fee. This program has at least three
primary objectives: reducing bicycle theft, increasing recovery rate of lost or stolen bicycles
and providing funding for the City's Bicycle Fund.
Due to the large amount of bicycles in storage it appears that the bicycle registration program
is not working as effectively as it could be. During 2011, 2012 and 2013, the Oshkosh Police
Department has recovered 809 bicycles of which only 6% or 47 bicycles were returned to the
registered owner. A large portion of Police Department storage is being used for unregistered
bicycle storage and with the new registrations continuing to decrease, the space required will
only increase taking up needed police storage space. Additionally as a direct result of fewer
bicycles registering, the bike fund is continuing to see a decrease in annual revenue.
This proposal will create a registration fee "holiday" from May 14th through June 30th of 2014
to promote registration. The proposed holiday will coincide with programming already in place
and would include bicycle awareness events such as the annual bicycle rodeo and National
Bike Month. During the holiday, the normal $3 registration fee would be waived. Police
Department staff would work concurrently and proactively with schools and other
stakeholders to significantly increase the number of bicycles which are registered.
The fee holiday in 2013 saw an increase of 600 bicycle registrations. Increased awareness
and education coupled with free bike locks saw a 443% increase in registrations.
ANALYSIS
Average annual revenues into the Bicycle Fund from 2004 -- 2013 was $572.70, 40% less
than the overall average of $949.31. The City has seen less than 200 riders register bicycles
each year and the trend is continuing in a negative pattern. The fee holiday and
accompanying public education campaign should help to increase the number of bicycles
being registered. Increasing registration numbers would significantly increase the possibility
of bicycles being returned to their owners. With over 600 additional registrants during the fee
holiday period in 2013, the program appears successful.
FISCAL. IMPACT
From a law enforcement perspective, increases in bicycle registration would have benefits in
personnel savings and inventory requirements. On average, a Community Service Officer
spends about three hours conducting an investigation and processing each bicycle complaint.
The process includes contacting the victim or reporting person, completing the report,
transporting the bicycle, entering the bike into inventory, following up on the investigation and
finally the disposition of the bicycle. If a bicycle were registered in the City of Oshkosh and
happened to be stolen and recovered, the time spent investigating the stolen or abandoned
bicycle would be cut by two - thirds. With the bike registered, the Community Service Officer
would look up the bike registration number and contact the owner to recover the bicycle.
Previous experience suggests that most of the bicycles that would be registered during the
holiday would not have otherwise been registered; therefore, it is unlikely that the Bicycle
Fund will see a meaningful loss in revenue and conversely would cut CSO time on bicycle
investigations.
RECOMMENDATION
The Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee has made the recommendation to the
Common Council in support of the ordinance change request for a bicycle fee registration
holiday. Recommended at April 17, 2014 meeting.
Planning Services staff recommends arproval of the ordinance change for a bicycle fee
registration holiday starting on May 14t , 2014 and ending on June 30th 2014
Approved,
City Manager