A. An area may apply to participate in a permit program through a community-initiated petition with signatures representing 50 percent of the affected addresses (one signature per address) to be submitted to the neighborhood association and the business district association. This petition shall include:

1. The parking problem;

2. The probable cause of the problem;

3. The proposed boundaries of the congested area;

4. The number of individual addresses in the congested area; and

5. The permit fees of the program.

B. The neighborhood association and business district association shall discuss the request with the City Traffic Engineer to determine if there are any conditions (as specified in 16.20.830 D above) that would prevent the implementation of a area permit parking program. If the City Traffic Engineer recommends that the application process continue, the neighborhood association and the business district association must work with the area to determine its eligibility and appoint an area parking committee.

C. Upon receipt of the petition, the City Traffic Engineer must initiate a preliminary investigation to verify that the area meets the criteria.

D. Based on the findings of the investigations, the City Traffic Engineer will determine if a proposed area is eligible for an area parking permit program.

E. If an area is approved as eligible, the City Traffic Engineer may propose a program and mail this program and notice of a public meeting to all addresses in the proposal area. After the public meeting, the proposal will be refined and a ballot prepared. The City Traffic Engineer may expand or contract (if larger than the minimum) the proposed area to conform to major physical boundaries such as arterial roadways, rivers, hills, ridges, or political boundaries such as neighborhood boundaries or to protect projected impact areas as determined by the professional engineering or planning staff.

F. A ballot will be mailed to all addresses within the proposed area within 30 days after the last public meeting. The legal occupant of an address is eligible to vote. This ballot must be received by the City Traffic Engineer on or before the date specified in the mailing. A minimum of 50 percent of the ballots must be received, of which 60 percent must be "yes" votes, to approve the program.

G. If the vote in Paragraph F. is negative, a minimum of 12 months must elapse before any new proposal can be initiated.

H. If the vote in Paragraph F. of this Section is positive, the City Traffic Engineer will submit to the City Council an ordinance authorizing the permit system and required funding. If approved by Council, the City Traffic Engineer will notify all addresses of the approval and enclose application materials. Permit fees from at least 50 percent of the addresses must be collected prior to the installation of signs.

I. The program will renew annually, unless:

1. The City Traffic Engineer receives a petition, representing 50 percent of the addresses within the designated permit program area, requesting termination of the program. After receipt of a valid petition, the City Traffic Engineer will mail a ballot to the program area according to subsection F. The vote must be completed before the program will be terminated; or

2. The designated area does not meet the rules or procedures established by the City Traffic Engineer.

J. Changes to boundaries of existing permit areas desired by area residents must be made according to the following procedure:

1. The City Traffic Engineer must determine that the resulting permit area will meet the minimum standards for permit areas established in 16.20.830.

2. The changes must be approved by the City Traffic Engineer and by a majority of the Area Parking Committee.

3. The City Traffic Engineer will mail a ballot to the addresses of the area to be annexed into or deleted from the permit area. The completed ballot must be received by the City Traffic Engineer on or before the date specified in the mailing. A minimum of 50 percent of the ballots must be received, of which 60 percent must be "yes" votes, to approve the changes.

4. If the vote in is negative, a minimum of 12 months must elapse before any new proposal can be initiated.