Westminster approves parking fine schedule

BY LUKE ZARZECKI LZARZECKI@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Westminster City Council approved a resolution to set parking nes on a 5-1 vote at the Feb. 13 city council meeting, with City Councilor Obi Ezeadi dissenting.

e council also approved to allow the Department of Community Development to enforce parking restrictions on Jan. 23, which was passed on a 6-1 vote with City Councilor Bruce Baker as the ‘no’ vote.

In the past, the police depart- ment and the Community Development department worked together to enforce parking. e fee schedule varies for the violation being committed, but most rest at $33. Some, like illegal parking in a bike lane and improper parking in a handicapped zone are higher.

Community Development was authorized to manage parking in the Downtown Westminster and Westminster Station areas.

Now, the Community Development sta will enforce parking restrictions.

“ is reorganization of tasks will free up PD sworn sta resources to focus on core policing activities,” the meeting agenda reads.

Ezeadi said it was the wrong time for fees at the Feb. 13 meeting.

“We need to validate the concerns of all parts of our community, our residents are su ering, that’s our working class, middle class, small businesses, from the economic downturn that we still have not come out of,” he said, citing the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mentioning childcare, housing and other costs of living that have gone up, he said it’s a bad move by the council.

“ is is the last thing we should be doing,” Ezeadi said.

He also said parking fees have historically disproportionately a ected certain populations within the city.

City Councilor Rich Seymour said that the nes were already on the books, and it’s transferring enforcement to a di erent entity.

“ ese are in existence now, it’s part of the process to let the police do policing groups,” Seymour said.