File #: 2017-0179    Version: 1
Type: Ordinance Status: Lapsed
File created: 5/1/2017 In control: Transportation, Economy, and Environment Committee
On agenda: Final action: 2/1/2018
Enactment date: Enactment #:
Title: AN ORDINANCE relating to traffic enforcement; amending Ordinance 4461, Section 2, and K.C.C. 20.22.040, Ordinance 17093, Section 3, as amended, and K.C.C. 4A.700.700, Ordinance 16553, Section 4, and K.C.C. 7.09.030 and Ordinance 16553, Section 11, and K.C.C. 7.09.100, adding new chapters to K.C.C. Title 14 and prescribing penalties.
Sponsors: Kathy Lambert
Indexes: Enforcement, Traffic
Code sections: 20.22.040 - ., 4A.700.700 - ., 7.09.030 - ., 7.09.100 - *
Attachments: 1. 2017-0179 legislative review form, 2. 2017-0179 Transmittal Letter.docx, 3. 2017-0179 Fiscal Note.xlsx, 4. 2017-0179 advertisement-notice.docx, 5. 2017-0179_SR_Title 46 Admin to Title 14.docx
Staff: Kaye, Lise

Title

AN ORDINANCE relating to traffic enforcement; amending Ordinance 4461, Section 2, and K.C.C. 20.22.040, Ordinance 17093, Section 3, as amended, and K.C.C. 4A.700.700, Ordinance 16553, Section 4, and K.C.C. 7.09.030 and Ordinance 16553, Section 11, and K.C.C. 7.09.100, adding new chapters to K.C.C. Title 14 and prescribing penalties.

Body

STATEMENT OF FACTS:  The council determines that K.C.C. Title 46 should be recodified under K.C.C. Title 14 to avoid confusion with chapter 46 RCW and that provisions related to the traffic code be codified in that title, and all other provisions previously included in K.C.C. Title 46 that are not appropriate to be codified under K.C.C. Title 14 should be codified in the appropriate titles.

                     BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KING COUNTY:

                     SECTION 1.  Section 2 through 4 of this ordinance should constitute a new chapter in K.C.C. Title 14.

                     NEW SECTION.  SECTION 2.  It shall be the general duty of the traffic engineer to determine the installation of traffic control devices, to conduct engineering analysis of traffic accidents and devise remedial measures, to conduct engineering investigations of traffic conditions, to plan the operation of traffic on county roads, to cooperate with other officials in the development of ways and means to improve traffic conditions, and to carry out the additional powers and duties imposed by any county ordinances.

                     NEW SECTION.  SECTION 3.  The traffic engineer is authorized to:

                     A.  Place and maintain traffic control devices when and as required under federal or state law or this title, and may place and maintain such additional  traffic control devices as the traffic engineer deems necessary to regulate, warn or guide traffic.

                     B.  Place and maintain such traffic control devices as the traffic engineer deems necessary to regulate, warn or guide traffic of construction, detours, emergencies and special conditions;

                     C.  Designate and maintain, by appropriate devices, marks or lines upon the surface of the roadway, crosswalks at intersections where the traffic engineer deems necessary;

                     D.  Establish safety zones of such a kind and character and at such places as the traffic engineer deems necessary for the protection of pedestrians;

                     E.  Mark traffic lanes upon the roadway of any highway where a regular alignment of traffic is necessary;

                     F.  Regulate the timing of traffic signals so as to permit the movement of traffic in an orderly and safe manner;

                     G.  Place and maintain traffic control devices within or adjacent to intersections indicating the course to be traveled by vehicles turning at the intersections;

                     H.  Determine those intersections at which drivers of vehicles shall not make a right, left or U-turn, and place and maintain proper signs at those intersections.  The making of the turns may be prohibited between certain hours of any day and permitted at other hours, but the prohibitions shall be plainly indicated on the signs or the signs may be removed when the turns are permitted;

                     I.  Erect and maintain stop signs, yield signs or other traffic control devices to designate arterial highways or to designate intersection or other roadway junctions at which vehicular traffic on one or more of the roadways shall yield or stop and yield before entering the intersection or junction, except as provided in RCW 46.61.195;

                     J.  Issue special permits to authorize the backing of a vehicle to the curb for the purpose of loading or unloading property subject to the terms and conditions of the permits.  The permits may be issued either to the owner or lessee of real property alongside the curb or to the owner of the vehicle and shall grant to the person the privilege as therein stated and authorized by this section;

                     K.  Erect and maintain signs indicating no parking upon both sides of a highway when the width of the improved roadway does not exceed twenty feet, or erect and maintain signs upon one side of a highway when the width of the improved roadway is between twenty and twenty-eight feet;

                     L.  Determine when standing or parking may be permitted upon the left-hand side of any roadway when the highway includes two or more separate roadways and traffic is restricted to one direction upon any such a roadway and erect and maintain signs giving notice of the permission;

                     M.  Determine and designate by proper signs places in which the stopping, standing or parking of vehicles would create an especially hazardous condition or would cause unusual delay to traffic;

                     N.  Determine the location of loading zones, passenger loading zones and tow-away zones, and shall place and maintain appropriate signs or curb markings supplemented with the appropriate words stenciled on the curb indicating the same and stating the hours during which the provisions of this chapter are applicable;

                     O.  Establish bus stops, bus stands, taxicab stands and stands for other for-hire vehicles on such highways, in such places and in such a number as the traffic engineer determines to be of the greatest benefit and convenience to the public, and every such a bus stop, bus stand, taxicab stand or other stand shall be designated by appropriate signs or by curb markings supplemented with the appropriate words stenciled on the curb;

                     P.  Erect and maintain traffic control devices on any highway or part thereof to impose gross weight limits on the basis of an engineering and traffic investigation;

                     Q.  Erect and maintain traffic control devices on any highway or part thereof to prohibit the operation of trucks exceeding ten thousand pounds gross vehicle weight on the basis of an engineering and traffic investigation, but the devices shall not prohibit necessary local operation on such highways for the purpose of making a pickup or delivery;

                     R.  Erect and maintain traffic control devices on any highway or part thereof to impose vehicle size restrictions on the basis of an engineering and traffic investigation;

                     S.  Determine and designate those heavily traveled highways upon which are prohibited any class or kind of traffic that  the traffic engineer deems to be incompatible with the normal and safe movement of traffic on the basis of an engineering and traffic investigation, and shall erect appropriate traffic control devices giving notice thereof;

                     T.  Install parking meters in the established parking meter zones upon the curb adjacent to each designated parking space;

                     U.  Designate the parking space adjacent to each parking meter for which the meter is to be used by appropriate markings upon the curb and/or the pavement of the highway;

                     V.  Designating certain locations as unlawful for pedestrians to use when crossing highways, when the crossing would endanger either pedestrian or vehicular traffic using the highway, and posting appropriate signs at those locations;

                     W.  Test new or proposed traffic control devices under actual conditions of traffic;

                     X.  Designate parking meter zones upon those highways or parts thereof where the installation of parking meters is necessary to regulate parking.

                     NEW SECTION.  SECTION 4.  A.  The county council has determined that after the road engineer has conducted an engineering and traffic investigation of a county road that establishes the maximum speed permitted under state law is greater or less than is reasonable and safe under the conditions found to exist thereon, the maximum limit may be changed to:

                       1.  Decrease the limit at intersections; or

                       2.  Increase the limit but not to more than sixty miles per hour; or

                       3.  Decrease the limit but not to less than twenty miles per hour.

                     B.  At the direction of the road engineer, the traffic engineer shall perform the engineering and traffic investigation to determine if the existing maximum speed limit permitted is appropriate and safe under the conditions found to exist upon a county road.  A member of the public may request the road engineer to direct that an engineering and traffic investigation be conducted.  An engineering and traffic investigation shall be based upon the following factors:

                       1.  Road surface characteristics, shoulder conditions, grade, alignment and sight distance;

                       2.  The eighty-fifth percentile speed and pace speed;

                       3.  Roadside development and land use;

                       4.  Safe speed for curves within the speed zone;

                       5.  Parking practices and pedestrian activity; and

                       6.  Most-recently reported collision history for the preceding thirty-six months.

                     C.  If the traffic engineer, after consideration of the findings of the engineering and traffic investigations, determines that a change in the existing speed limit is appropriate, based on current engineering standards and guidelines, the traffic engineer shall provide a public comment period of at least fourteen calendar days and may hold a public meeting to solicit public input on the proposed change.  The public may submit its testimony to the traffic engineer by letter or email during the comment period.  The traffic engineer shall publish notice of the public comment period in a newspaper of general circulation in the area where the change in the existing speed limit is proposed.

                     D.  If the traffic engineer concludes that there should be a change in the speed limit, based on the engineering and traffic investigations results and public comments, the traffic engineer may propose the speed limit revision to the road engineer.  If the road engineer concurs, then the speed limit amendment takes effect when signs giving notice thereof are erected.  The road engineer shall report all speed limit changes to the council by filing a report with the clerk of the council, who shall distribute copies of the report to councilmembers.  The road engineer shall also file a report of speed limit changes with the sheriff and the records and licensing services division of the department of executive services.  The road engineer shall also maintain a copy of the speed limit change report, make the report available to the public during regular business hours and post the speed limit change report on the King County department of transportation, road services division website for a six-month period following the placement of the revised speed limit signs.

                     E.  A speed limit change shall be final unless within thirty business days from the date when signs giving notice of the speed limit change are erected, a person files a written appeal to the speed limit change, including the bases for the appeal, with the road engineer, who shall render a written decision on the appeal within thirty business days from the date the appeal is received and transmit the written decision to the person who filed the appeal.  Any appeal of the road engineer's decision on the appeal shall be appealable to the hearing examiner under subsection F. of this section.

                     F.  The council specifically designates the hearing examiner to hear on its behalf all appeals from decisions of the road engineer related to changes in speed limits.  An appeal must be initiated in accordance with K.C.C. 20.22.080.

                     SECTION 5.  Ordinance 4461, Section 2, and K.C.C. 20.22.040 are each hereby amended to read as follows:

                     The examiner shall issue final decisions in the following cases:

                     A.  Appeals of orders of the ombudsman under the lobbyist disclosure code, K.C.C. chapter 1.07;

                     B.  Appeals of sanctions of the finance and business operations division in the department of executive services imposed under K.C.C. chapter 2.97;

                     C.  Appeals of career service review committee conversion decisions for part-time and temporary employees under K.C.C. chapter 3.12A;

                     D.  Appeals of electric vehicle recharging station penalties of the department of transportation under K.C.C. 4A.700.700;

                     E.  Appeals of notice and orders of the manager of records and licensing services or the director of permitting and environmental review under K.C.C. chapter 6.01;

                     F.  Appeals of adult entertainment license denials, suspensions and revocations under K.C.C. chapter 6.09;

                     G.  Appeals of the fire marshal's decisions on fireworks permits under K.C.C. chapter 6.26;

                     H.  Appeals of cable franchise non-renewals under K.C.C. 6.27A.060 and notices and orders under K.C.C. 6.27A.240((.));

                     I.  Appeals of notices and orders of the department of natural resources and parks under K.C.C. chapter 7.09;

                     J.  Appeals of decisions of the director of the department of natural resources and parks on surface water drainage enforcement under K.C.C. chapter 9.04((.));

                     K.  Appeals of decisions of the director of the department of natural resources and parks on requests for rate adjustments to surface and storm water management rates and charges under K.C.C. chapter 9.08;

                     L.  Appeals of decisions on water quality enforcement under K.C.C. chapter 9.12((.));

                     M.  Appeals of notices and orders of the manager of animal control under K.C.C. chapter 11.04;

                     N.  Certifications by the finance and business operations division of the department of executive services involving K.C.C. chapter 12.16;

                     O.  Appeals of orders of the office of civil rights under K.C.C. chapter 12.17, K.C.C. chapter 12.18, K.C.C chapter 12.20 and K.C.C. chapter 12.22;

                     P.  Appeals of noise-related orders and citations of the department of permitting and environmental review under K.C.C. chapter 12.86;

                     Q.  Appeals of utilities technical review committee determinations on water service availability under K.C.C. 13.24.090;

                     R.  Appeals of decisions regarding mitigation payment system, commute trip reduction and intersection standards under K.C.C. Title 14;

                     S.  Appeals of suspensions, revocations or limitations of permits or of decisions of the board of plumbing appeals under K.C.C. chapter 16.32;

                     T.  Appeals of all Type 2 decisions under K.C.C. chapter 20.20, with the exception of appeals of shoreline permits, including shoreline substantial development permits, shoreline variances and shoreline conditional uses, which are appealable to the state Shoreline Hearings Board;

                     U.  Appeals of SEPA decisions, as provided in K.C.C. 20.44.120 and public rules adopted under K.C.C. 20.44.075;

                     V.  Appeals of completed farm management plans under K.C.C. 21A.30.045;

                     W.  Appeals of decisions of the interagency review committee created under K.C.C. 21A.37.070 regarding sending site applications for certification under K.C.C. chapter 21A.37:

                     X.  Appeals of citations, notices and orders, notices of noncompliance, stop work orders issued pursuant to K.C.C. Title 23 or Title 1.08 of the rules and regulations of the King County board of health;

                     Y.  Appeals of notices and certifications of junk vehicles to be removed as a public nuisance as provided in K.C.C. Title 21A and K.C.C. chapter 23.10;

                     Z.  Appeals of decisions not to issue a citation or a notice and order under K.C.C. 23.36.010.A.2;

                     AA.  Appeals of permit fee estimates and billings by the department of permitting and environmental review, as provided in K.C.C. chapter 27.50;

                     BB.  Appeals from decisions of the department of natural resources and parks related to permits, discharge authorizations, violations and penalties under K.C.C. 28.84.050 and 28.84.060;

                     CC.  Appeals of department of public safety seizures and intended forfeitures, when properly designated by the chief law enforcement officer of the department of public safety as provided in RCW 69.50.505;

                     DD.  Appeals from decisions of the road engineer in the road services division of the department of transportation related to changes in speed limits under section 4 of this ordinance, and

                     EE.  Other applications or appeals that are prescribed by ordinance.

                     SECTION 6.  Sections 7 through 10 should constitute a new chapter in Title 14.

                     NEW SECTION.  SECTION 7.  The traffic engineer shall maintain a list of all county roads with a designation of maximum speed limits.  The department of transportation shall publish this list on the King County department of transportation, road services division website.

                     NEW SECTION.  SECTION 8.  The road engineer may designate school speed zones in accordance with RCW 46.61.440(2).

                     NEW SECTION.  SECTION 9.  The road engineer is authorized to:

                     A.  Close any county road or parts thereof temporarily to any or all traffic in accordance with K.C.C. 14.12.010;

                     B.  Designate one-way county roads; and

                     C.  Change speed limits on county roads in accordance with Section 4 of this ordinance.

                     NEW SECTION.  SECTION 10.  The road engineer may set reduced temporary speed limits for special conditions, such as where there is construction on or near a county road, if the locations are posted with signs in accordance with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices referenced in the King County Road Standards.  The temporary speed limits may reduce the posted speed limit by more than ten miles per hour.

                     SECTION 11.  Ordinance17093, Section 3, as amended, and K.C.C. 4A.700.700 are each hereby amended to read as follows:

                     A.  User fees are established for public use of electric vehicle charging station stalls located on property owned or leased by King County.

                     B.  The department of transportation shall set the user fees for the use of electric vehicle charging stations stalls in accordance with this section.

                     C.1.  ((The user fees shall not exceed five dollars per use.))  The user fees shall be calculated as a single, per use fee((s)) intended to cover the county's cost of operations related to public use.

                       ((1.)) 2.  The county's cost of operations includes, but is not limited to, planning, outreach and administration, maintenance, charging station vendor costs, utility costs related to the charging stations and facility enforcement costs.

                       ((2.)) 3.  Differing user fees may be established at particular locations and for uses other than typical daytime parking, such as overnight parking, monthly reservations, special event rates and other specific circumstances.

                     D.  The department of transportation shall review all user fees twice each year and adjust the fees based on consideration for the costs established in subsection((s A., B. and)) C. of this section.  However, user fees shall not exceed five dollars per use.

                     E.  ((All user fees and civil penalties authorized in this section shall be deposited into the public transportation operating account of the public transportation fund and used to support the electric vehicle charging station program.

                     F.))  The department of transportation shall post user fees, rules for using the electric vehicle charging station stalls and the penalties for improper use of electric vehicle charging station stall at or near the stalls either via the electronic screen on the charging device or by signage affixed on or near the charging device.  The department also shall post the fees, rules and penalties in an appropriate location on the department of transportation website.

                     ((G.)) F.  Failure to pay the applicable user fee or remaining in an electric vehicle charging station stall longer than entitled as a result of the user fee paid, is a violation of this section.

                     ((H.)) G.  The penalty for a violation under subsection ((G.)) F. of this section may result in a civil penalty in an amount established by the department by rule, in accordance with K.C.C. chapter 2.98, not to exceed two hundred dollars.  Notice and appeal of the civil penalty shall be as follows:

                       1.  The department shall issue a notice and order and serve it as provided for in this section when the department determines that a violation described in subsection ((H.)) F. of this section has occurred.  The notice and order shall contain:

                         a.  a description of the vehicle parked in violation of this section, including make, model, color and license plate number;

                         b.  date and time the notice and order was issued;

                         c.  a description sufficient to identify the area where the vehicle was parked when the violation was discovered;

                         d.  a statement that the vehicle is parked in violation of subsection ((G.)) F. of this section, with a brief and concise description of the conditions that established the violation;

                         e.  a statement that the department is assessing a civil penalty, the amount of the penalty and a time certain by which the penalty shall be paid from the date of the order; and

                         f.  statements advising that:

                           (1)  the director of transportation may review and reconsider the notice and order, but only if a request for review and reconsideration is made in writing as provided in this section and filed with the director within ten days from the date of service of the notice and order;

                           (2)  the address to which the request for review and reconsideration must be sent; and

                           (3)  failure to timely request director's review and reconsideration will constitute a waiver of all rights to any administrative hearing and determination of the matter;

                       2.  The notice and order, and any amended or supplemental notice and order, shall be served by affixing the notice and order to the vehicle for which is the subject of the violation, in a conspicuous location on the vehicle;

                       3.  Proof of service of the notice and order shall be made at the time of service by a written declaration under penalty of perjury, executed by the person effecting service and declaring the time, date and manner in which service was made.  A copy of the notice and order shall be kept on file by the department of transportation;

                       4.  A person served with a notice and order under this section may request in writing, within ten days of being served with a notice and order, that the director review and reconsider the notice and order;

                       5.  The review shall be performed without a hearing and be based solely on written information provided by the person requesting review and by county personnel or agents;

                       6.   Upon review, the director may uphold the notice and order or waive or reduce the fine or any other penalty contained in the notice and order;

                       7.  The director shall mail the written decision to the person requesting review;

                       8.  The decision shall notify the person requesting review of the right to appeal the director's decision in accordance with K.C.C. 20.22.080;

                       9.  The King County office of the hearing examiner shall hear appeals of the director's decisions under this section;

                       10.  ((Any person having received a director's decision under this section may appeal that decision in accordance with K.C.C. 20.22.080;

                       11.))  The procedures for initiating and conducting the appeal shall be governed by K.C.C. chapter 20.22;

                       ((12.)) 11.  Enforcement of any notice and order of the department shall be stayed during the pendency of a director's review or an appeal therefrom that is properly and timely filed in accordance with K.C.C. chapter 20.22;

                       ((13.)) 12.  The registered owner of a vehicle is liable to pay any civil penalty imposed for a violation under this section.  However, the registered owner of a vehicle may avoid liability if the owner proves that the vehicle was reported to the police as a stolen vehicle before the notice and order was issued, and the vehicle had not been recovered;

                       ((14.)) 13.  Except as otherwise provided in subsection ((H.13.)) G.12. of this section, a civil penalty imposed for failure to pay a user fee at a King County department of transportation facility is a personal obligation of the registered owner of the vehicle involved; and

                       ((15.)) 14.  If the penalties assessed by the department are not paid to King County within thirty days from the service of the notice, the mailing of the director's decision, or the mailing of the hearing examiner's decision, whichever occurs last, then the department may send a final warning letter to the registered owner of the vehicle to the address on file with the state Department of Licensing.  If the civil penalties are not paid within ten days after the final warning letter is sent, then the department may pursue other applicable legal remedies.  In pursuing payment of civil penalties that remain delinquent after the final warning letter is sent, and to cover administrative expenses associated with the pursuit of the penalties, the department may charge the registered owner of the vehicle an additional fee not to exceed fifty percent of the total delinquent civil penalties.

                     H.  All user fees and civil penalties authorized in this section shall be deposited into the public transportation operating account of the public transportation fund and used to support the electric vehicle charging station program.

                     I.  In addition or as an alternative to the civil penalty authorized in subsection ((I.)) G. of this section, the department may impound the vehicle without giving prior notice in accordance with the process provided in K.C.C. chapter ((46.08)) 14A.XX (the new chapter created in Ordinance xxxxx (Proposed Ordinance 2017-xxxx), Section 29).  When impoundment is authorized by this section, a vehicle may be impounded by a towing contractor acting at the request of the director or the director's designee.  The director or the director's designee shall provide to the towing contractor a signed authorization for the tow and the impound before the towing contractor may proceed with the impound.

                     SECTION 12.  Ordinance 16553, Section 4, and K.C.C. 7.09.030 are each hereby amended to read as follows:

                     A.  The director shall issue a notice and order when the director determines that an applicable parking fee has not been paid.  The notice and order shall contain:

                       1.  A description of the vehicle parked in violation of this title, including make, model, color and license plate number;

                       2.  Date and time issued;

                       3.  A description sufficient to identify the area where the vehicle was parked when the violation was discovered such as lot identification letter;

                       4.  A statement that the director has found the vehicle parked in violation of parking fee requirements, with a brief and concise description of the conditions that establish the violation;

                       5.  A statement that the director is assessing a civil penalty, the amount of the penalty and a time certain by which the penalty shall be paid from the date of the order; and

                       6.  Statements advising:

                         a.  the director may review and reconsider the notice and order, provided that a request for review and reconsideration is made in writing as provided in this chapter and filed with the director within ten days from the date of service of the notice and order;

                         b.  the address to which the request for review and reconsideration should be sent;

                         c.  the director's decision may be appealed in accordance with K.C.C. 20.22.080;

                         d.  failure to timely request director's review and reconsideration will constitute a waiver of all rights to any administrative hearing and determination of the matter;

                         e.  a vehicle with three or more unpaid notice and orders may be immobilized in accordance with any applicable legal requirements and a vehicle with five or more unpaid notice and orders or a vehicle that has been immobilized for more than twenty-four hours may be towed and impounded without prior notice and at the owner's expense, under this chapter and K.C.C. chapter ((46.08)) 14A.XX (the new chapter created in Ordinance xxxxx (Proposed Ordinance 2017-xxxx), Section 29); and

                         f.  if, in accordance with K.C.C. 7.09.040, the director chooses to provide a uniform automatic civil penalty reduction for prompt payment of a notice and order, then the notice and order shall also include a statement advising how to qualify for that reduction.

                     B.  The notice and order, and any amended or supplemental notice and order, shall be served by affixing the notice and order to the vehicle for which the parking fee was not paid, in a conspicuous location, usually the windshield.

                     C.  Proof of service of the notice and order shall be made at the time of service by a written declaration under penalty of perjury, executed by the person effecting service and declaring the time, date, and manner in which service was made.  A copy of the notice and order shall be kept on file by the department of natural resources and parks.

                     D.  A person served with a notice and order under this section may request in writing, within ten days of being served with a notice and order, that the director review and reconsider the notice and order;

                       1.  The review shall be performed without a hearing and be based solely on written information provided by the person requesting review and by county personnel or agents;

                       2.   Upon review, the director may uphold the notice and order or waive or reduce the fine or any other penalty contained in the notice and order;

                       3.  The director shall mail the written decision to the person requesting review;

                       4.  The decision shall notify the person requesting review of the right to appeal the director's decision in accordance with K.C.C. 20.22.080;

                     E.  The King County office of the hearing examiner shall hear appeals of the director's decisions under this section;

                       1.  The procedures for initiating and conducting the appeal shall be governed by K.C.C. chapter 20.22;

                       2.  Enforcement of any notice and order of the department shall be stayed during the pendency of a director's review or an appeal therefrom that is properly and timely filed in accordance with K.C.C. chapter 20.22;

                       3.  The registered owner of a vehicle is liable to pay any civil penalty imposed for a violation under this section.  However, the registered owner of a vehicle may avoid liability if the owner proves that the vehicle was reported to the police as a stolen vehicle before the notice and order was issued, and the vehicle had not been recovered;

                     F.  If the penalties assessed by the department are not paid to King County within thirty days from the service of the notice, the mailing of the director's decision, or the mailing of the hearing examiner's decision, whichever occurs last, then the department may send a final warning letter to the registered owner of the vehicle to the address on file with the state Department of Licensing.  If the civil penalties are not paid within ten days after the final warning letter is sent, then the department may pursue other applicable legal remedies.  In pursuing payment of civil penalties that remain delinquent after the final warning letter is sent, and to cover administrative expenses associated with the pursuit of the penalties, the department may charge the registered owner of the vehicle an additional fee not to exceed fifty percent of the total delinquent civil penalties.

                     SECTION 13.  Ordinance 16553, Section 11, and K.C.C. 7.09.100 are each hereby amended to read as follows:

                     A.  In addition to the remedies provided elsewhere in this chapter and in K.C.C. Title 23, the director may impound a vehicle without giving prior notice to its owner, but only if:

                       1.  The vehicle to be towed has received five or more notice and orders under this chapter for which appeals have been waived or been completed; and

                       2.  All or a portion of the amount owed pursuant to those notices and orders remains an outstanding debt to King County.

                     B.  Before impounding any vehicle under this section, the director shall cause signs to be posted in King County parks and recreation facilities to clearly communicate that parked vehicles may be towed and impounded for failure to pay parking fees.

                     C.  When impoundment is authorized by this chapter, a vehicle may be impounded by a towing contractor acting at the request of an employee or other authorized agent of the King County department of natural resources and parks.  The employee or authorized agent shall provide to the towing contractor a signed authorization for the tow and the impound before the towing contractor may proceed with the impound.

                     D.  Notice to the owner of an impounded vehicle, redemption of impounded vehicles and ((post impoundment)) postimpoundment procedures shall occur in accordance with K.C.C. ((46.08.070, 46.08.080, 46.08.100, 46.08.110, 46.08.120, 46.08.130, 46.08.132 and 46.08.134)) chapter ((46.08)) 14A.XX (the new chapter created in Ordinance xxxxx (Proposed Ordinance 2017-xxxx), Section 29).

                     NEW SECTION.  SECTION 14.  It is unlawful for a property owner within the unincorporated area to permit the accumulation of snow, ice, trash or any other matter that impedes the normal flow of pedestrian traffic on a sidewalk abutting the owner's property.  A reasonable time shall be provided for the owner or the owner's agent to remove the snow, ice, trash or other material from the sidewalk abutting the owner's property.  If the removal is not accomplished within a reasonable time, the director of the department of transportation may have the sidewalk cleaned and the cost of cleaning shall be assessed against the property owner as provided in K.C.C. 14.52.030.