Corpus Christi is moving toward eliminating its parking enforcement division as part of mid-year budget adjustments.<\/p>\n
An anonymous email sent to our newsroom last week outlined the scope of the proposed change.<\/p>\n
“Removing junk\/abandoned vehicles on the streets, ADA enforcement in parking lots, upkeep of the parking meters downtown… that’s all going away as of July 31st due to ‘budget cuts.'”<\/p>\n
Corpus Christi considers eliminating parking enforcement division to save $1.7M annually<\/p>\n
The emailer, who wishes to remain anonymous, also highlights that parking enforcement officers handle vehicles blocking sidewalks, ADA ramps, and fire hydrants.<\/p>\n
“The point is that parking enforcement does a lot more than just issue citations and tow vehicles. They work to keep the streets, the kids, and the disabled safer,” they added.<\/p>\n
The change is not yet official. Tuesday’s city council agenda<\/a> includes a proposal to authorize mid-year budget adjustments to account for “the reduction of positions, to revise revenue parking meter revenue,” among other changes involving parking money.<\/p>\n The city memo<\/a> states the council will “reduce the parking enforcement division which includes 8 positions and operating costs.”<\/p>\n The city says the move will save $1.7 million annually.<\/p>\n Under the proposal, code compliance officers would take over issuing citations. However, code compliance is already responsible for monitoring lots, sidewalks, trash, dangerous buildings, garages, and signs.<\/p>\n The anonymous source who contacted our newsroom expressed doubt that the transition would work.<\/p>\n “Code enforcement is far too understaffed to do anything. PD (police department) has far too many more important issues to deal with.”<\/p>\n Development Services, which manages code enforcement as one of its divisions, had no comment at this time.<\/p>\n The issue will be discussed at city council on Tuesday.<\/p>\n For the latest local news updates, click here<\/a>, or download the KRIS 6 News App. <\/a><\/p>\n