Presenter
Presented by Mr. Lavelle
Title
An ordinance amending the Pittsburgh City Code, Title Seven Business Licensing, Article VII Service Businesses, Chapter 763 Parking Lots, Section 763.04 Safety Requirements to update lighting requirements for enclosed parking garages to be consistent with the City of Pittsburgh Lighting Code.
Body
Be it resolved by the Council of the City of Pittsburgh as follows:
Section 1.
ยง 763.04 SAFETY REQUIREMENTS
The operator shall maintain each parking place in a condition so as not to constitute a hazard to the patrons thereof or the motor vehicles parked therein, and shall also comply with the following requirements:
(a) Parking and driving areas shall be of smooth and compact surfacing;
(b) Parking places located on open lots shall be properly enclosed or maintained with bumper protection for sidewalks and adjacent property;
(c) Entrances and exits to and from parking places shall be plainly marked and so situated as to avoid obstructing traffic on the abutting street and to prevent interference with or obstruction of pedestrian traffic on the sidewalk; and
(d) Reasonable effort shall be made to keep the parking area free and clear of all debris.
(e) All open lots shall be lit so that all spaces may be observed from the adjoining public streets, alleys or walkways or, if the open lot is one (1) that is not observable in the regular course from adjoining public streets, alleys or walkways, it shall comply with the licensing and safety requirements for enclosed parking lots applicable to that particular open lot.
(f) There shall be surveillance of all areas of all enclosed parking garages in which attendants do not park all of the vehicles for the entire period that the parking garage is in operation. The surveillance shall include at a minimum, uniformed garage personnel to patrol each area of the parking garage at least one (1) time every thirty (30) minutes, unless the person is detained for security reasons, as verified by Detex or comparable equipment or methodology. No person who is responsible for collecting money or parking cars shall be responsible for surveillance.
The areas to be patrolled shall include the perimeter as well as interior of the garage. Copies of the surveillance records shall be submitted monthly to the License Officer or his or her designee and shall be kept for a period of three (3) years for inspection by the License Officer.
(g) On and after January 1, 1985, the lighting in every part of all enclosed parking garages in which attendants do not park all vehicles shall be consistent with the standards set forth in the City of Pittsburgh Lighting Code, Title 12 Lighting Code, Chapter 1201 Lighting Code, Section 1201.07 Required Calculations for Lighting Installations, Table 7 (E) and (F) Recommended Maintained Illuminance and Luminance Values. a minimum of five (5) foot candles at all times, measured at a level of five (5) feet above the ground. The License Officer may grant an extension for compliance to this provision to any parking garage for the minimum period required to complete renovations for any parking garage which began planning renovations prior to July 1, 1984, but could not complete those renovations which include new lighting by January 1, 1985.
(h) All access to enclosed parking garages shall be through secured entrances during all hours of operation. The access may be secured by alarm and/or lock and key, or closed circuit TV, or verifiable uniformed security patrols at a minimum of at least once every fifteen (15) minutes.
(i) All enclosed parking garages in which attendants do not park all of the vehicles shall be in compliance with BOCA regulations, and in particular fire suppression equipment and emergency alarms/phones for elevators.
Within six (6) months of the effective date of this subsection, the structures shall have emergency phones installed on all parking levels, or panic buzzers/alarms zoned to a central station which is staffed at all times, or comparable equipment. The equipment will be strategically located, visibly marked and accessible to the handicapped.
(j) All enclosed parking garages with three (3) or more floors shall provide escort service for all customers who request the service. Escort service shall be available during all hours of operation, by an employee readily identifiable as a representative of the garage.
(k) All enclosed parking garages which provide escort service shall post a sign at all entrances clearly defining the service. A patron should wait no longer than fifteen (15) minutes for an escort.