Children's Hospital Hires Full Time Parking Enforcement Officer To Patrol For Violators On Neighborhood Streets

 

Children's Hospital recently hired a full time parking enforcement officer who patrols the streets around the Hospital checking for employees violating Hospital policy to not park on neighborhood streets. 

Todd Johnston, Vice President, Facilities & Supply Chain, told the Laurelhurst Blog that the office looks for Children’s employees and contractors who don’t belong in the neighborhood and issues warnings.  The officer runs license plate numbers and tags vehicles, communicate with employees and supervisors, and "employs progressive discipline to improve compliance."

 

Todd added:

We communicate frequently with employees and contractors, admonishing them not to park in any unauthorized area.  We follow up consistently and forcefully.   Our charge covers those vehicles that are tied to the Hospital in some way.   

While we don’t expect neighbors to call in cars, we appreciate the alerts and do follow up whenever a neighbor contacts us. 

We visit the specific areas of concern multiple times daily and have stepped up our efforts as we continue to patrol them.

And from emails the Laurelhurst Blog has received, seems there are many areas in the neighborhood  that employees are regularly parking in - corner of NE 45th Street and 45th Avenue NE, corner of NE 45th Street and 43rd Avenue NE, 41st Avenue NE, up and down NE 45th Street and several others.

Todd also added that Sellen Construction and Aldrich & Associates, the general contractors working on their ongoing construction projects, give all of their personnel, as well as the workers of their subcontractors, an orientation to working on our campus, which includes where the workers may and may not park.  This material is also covered with Children’s staff on their “Day One” orientation.     

Jim Sawyer, Children's Hospital Director of Security said:

Children's Hospital Security actively tickets the streets and attempt to respond to all complaints within an hour. This is a priority for our patrol and enforcement team. We patrol and ticket the streets regardless of whether we receive calls or not. IF one of our neighbors calls we have and will give their concern priority response. It again is a priority for our team.

There are no assigned  parking areas in the neighborhoods - all assigned areas are on hospital property or in one of our designated off site lots. 

I will note that we advise staff there is NO cut off street distance-all street parking is unauthorized. By cut off distance we mean-if an employee were to ask “If I park a mile and a half away and walk in-is that OK”? If-when we field these questions we answer NO-you need to park in your assigned area if you drive-there is no amnesty so to speak if you park a greater distance away. 

If an employee is a repeat offender it becomes a  serious performance issue which could result in disciplinary action up to and including termination.     

 

To report a Children's Hospital employee car parked on neighborhood streets call Hospital Security at 987-2030 or call Tom Cheshier, Enforcement Officer, at 206-987-2489.