SUBJECT: An ordinance amendment of Section 26-83 An ordinance amending Section 26-83 of the City of Houston Code of Ordinances relating to parking privileges for veterans
RECOMMENDATION: (Summary)
Approve an ordinance amending Section 26-83 of the City of Houston Code of Ordinances relating to parking privileges for veterans.
SPECIFIC EXPLANATION:
The City of Houston, Office of Veterans Affairs recommends an amendment to Section 26-83 of the City of Houston Code of Ordinances. A recipient of the Defense Superior Service Medal (DSSM) is one of the designated groups listed in Texas Transportation Code Section 681.008, which is exempt from payment of parking meter fees pursuant to subsection (b). The exemption in subsection (b) does not extend to parking in a parking garage or lot. Section 681.008(d), however, provides that a governmental unit by ordinance or order may expand the exemption to parking in a parking garage or lot. The City has done so for the list of veterans outlined in Section 26-83 of the City’s Code of Ordinances.
An ordinance change approved by City Council is required to add Defense Superior Service Medal recipients to the list of veterans exempted from fees for parking in a City parking garage or parking lot. The recommended amendment refers to the relevant provisions of the Texas Transportation Code rather than listing each specialty license plate, to ensure that with future additions to state law, all veterans whose vehicles have qualifying specialty license plates are recognized as being exempt from certain parking fees.