Bill 160026-A

..Title Amending Title 12 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Traffic Code," Chapter 12-100, "General Provisions," by adding new definitions, and Chapter 12-900, "Parking Regulations and Penalties," by adding "live performing arts venue" to the entities exempt from paying fees for curb loading zone permits and adding a new Section, entitled "Performing Arts Priority Loading and Unloading Zones," providing for loading and unloading zones to allow easier access for performing artists to load-in and load-out at live performing arts venues around the City of Philadelphia; all under certain terms and conditions. ..Body WHEREAS, Philadelphia has historically been an important cultural center for the performing arts; and WHEREAS, Philadelphia still is the source of great performing arts talent; and WHEREAS, Philadelphia values its role as a World Center for Culture, and desires to enhance that role and reputation; and WHEREAS, Performing Arts Priority Loading and Unloading Zones promote safety, convenience, and efficiency for Performing Artists and Live Performing Arts Venues; and WHEREAS, The establishment of Performing Arts Priority Loading and Unloading Zones is a concrete way that the City of Philadelphia can support Performing Artists and Live Performing Arts Venues; and WHEREAS, The City should do what it can to promote Performing Artists and Live Performing Arts Venues, and thus contribute to its international reputation as a World Center for Culture; now, therefore THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA HEREBY ORDAINS: SECTION 1. Title 12 of The Philadelphia Code is hereby amended to read as follows: CHAPTER 12-100. GENERAL PROVISIONS. * * * � 12-102. Definitions. In this Title the following definitions apply: * * * (9) Live Performing Artists. Live Performing Artists include natural persons or groups of natural persons who do live performance arts including, but not limited to, music, dance, comedy, theater, and opera. (10) Live Performing Arts. Arts performed live including, but not limited to music, dance, comedy, theater, and opera. (11) Live Performing Arts Venues. Venues that host Live Performing Arts performances on at least three separate days per week on a regular schedule and hire one or more Live Performing Artists to perform the equivalent of sixteen individual performances per week. [(9)] (12) Loading and Unloading. The transfer of persons or property between a vehicle and the sidewalk, or between a vehicle and a nearby building or buildings. [(10)] (13) Official Time Standard. Eastern Standard time or daylight saving time, as may be in current use in the City. [(11)] (14) Official Traffic-Control Device. All signs, signals, markings and devices placed or erected by state or city officials having jurisdiction for the purpose of regulating, warning, or guiding traffic, in accordance with the provisions of The Vehicle Code. [(12)] (15) Parking Lane. The portion of a street reserved for the parking of motor vehicles. [(13)] (16) Parking Meter. Any device or mechanism having visible indicators mounted on top of a post, no higher than four and one-half feet over all, which when installed near the curb, adjacent to a parking space, shall indicate by proper legend the legal parking time established by the City. [(14)] (17) Passenger Loading Zone. A place adjacent to a curb reserved for the exclusive use of vehicles during the loading or unloading of passengers. [(15)] (18) Pedestrian Traffic Control Signals Designed to Meet the Needs of the Disabled and Senior Citizens. A traffic signal that has been designed and/or modified to extend the WALK phase of traffic lights to allow the disabled and senior citizens sufficient time to safely cross through an intersection. [(16)] (19) Railroad. A carrier of persons or property upon cars, other than street cars, operated upon stationary rails. [(17)] (20) Stop. Complete cessation of movement. [(18)] (21) Stop, Stopping or Standing. Any stopping or standing of a vehicle whether occupied or not, except where necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with the directions of a police officer or traffic control device. [(19)] (22) Street. Every way or place, of whatever nature, open to the use of the public as a matter of right, for purposes of vehicular travel. The term "highway" shall not be deemed to include a roadway or driveway upon grounds owned by private persons, colleges, universities, or other institutions. [(20)] (23) Taxicab Stand. A place set aside for taxicabs to stand or wait for passengers. [(21)] (24) Travel Lane. The portion of a street available to travel by all vehicle types. [(22)] (25) The Vehicle Code. The Vehicle Code of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, as amended. [(23)] (26) Valet Parking Zone. A place adjacent to a curb reserved for the exclusive use of vehicles for the expeditious loading and unloading of passengers and to turn control of the vehicle over to a valet parking operator for the expeditious removal of the vehicle from the valet parking zone to a licensed off-street parking facility. [(24)] (27) Variable Speed Limit Sign. The term shall include, but is not limited to, a blank-out message, a variable message, or a message in effect during the operation of flashing beacons. [(25)] (28) Watercraft. As defined in 30 Pa. C.S. � 102. [(26)] (29) Watercraft trailer. As defined in 30 Pa. C.S. � 5332. CHAPTER 12-900. PARKING REGULATIONS AND PENALTIES. * * * � 12-905. Permits for Curb Loading Zones. * * * (6) No fee shall be required for the designation of a curb loading zone in front of any public building, theater, live performing arts venue, school, church or hospital. * * * � 12-907. Live Performing Arts Priority Loading and Unloading Zones. (1) The Department may designate a Live Performing Arts Priority Loading And Unloading Zone upon the special request of a Live Performing Arts Venue at the curb immediately in front of that venue, where such a zone would facilitate expeditiously transferring persons or property between a vehicle and the Live Performing Arts Venue in connection with the performance of live performing artists at that venue, unless such zone would create an unsafe condition. (2) A Live Performing Arts Priority Loading and Unloading Zone shall consist of no more than 30 feet of curb space directly in front of the Live Performing Arts Venue. The parking time limit in a Live Performing Arts Priority Loading and Unloading Zone shall be 30 minutes. The Department may establish the hours during which such zones shall be in effect. (3) No person shall stop, stand, or park a vehicle for any purpose or any period of time other than to facilitate expeditiously transferring persons or property between a vehicle and the live performing arts venue in connection with the live performance of performing artists at that venue in any Live Performing Arts Priority Loading and Unloading Zone during hours when the regulations applicable to such zone are effective. [� 12-907] � 12-908. Designation of Public Carrier Stands. * * * [� 12-908] � 12-909. Stopping, Standing, and Parking of Buses and Taxicabs. * * * [� 12-909] � 12-910. Restricted Use of Bus and Taxicab Stands. * * * [� 12-910] � 12-911. Angle Parking. * * * [� 12-911] � 12-912. Permit for Loading or Unloading at an Angle to the Curb. * * * [� 12-912] � 12-913. Stopping, Standing and Parking Outside Business and Residence Districts. * * * [� 12-913] � 12-914. Prohibitions in Specified Places. * * * [� 12-914] � 12-915. Additional Parking Regulations. * * * [� 12-915] � 12-916. Unattended Motor Vehicle. * * * [� 12-916] � 12-917. Additional Parking Prohibitions. * * * [� 12-917] � 12-918. Valet Parking Zones. * * * [� 12-918] � 12-919. Parking for Auto Sharing Organizations. * * * [� 12-919] � 12-920. On-Street Parking of Boats, Motor Homes, Truck Campers and Vending Carts. * * * [� 12-920] � 12-921. Permits for Hotel Loading Zones. * * * [� 12-921] � 12-922. Penalty. * * * SECTION 2. This Ordinance shall take effect immediately. ___________________________________ Explanation: [Brackets] indicate matter deleted. Italics indicate new matter added. ..End