City to reimburse those towed on car-free Sunday

People whose cars were ticketed or towed from streets near Volunteer Park during Sunday's car-free hours will be reimbursed by the city.

Five blocks east of Volunteer Park on Capitol Hill were closed off from noon to 6 p.m. during the first of three car-free Sundays planned by Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels.

The closures led to 21 parking citations, including 13 tows, said Alex Fryer, spokesman for Nickels.

The citations have been turned to warnings, Fryer said Tuesday, and the tow fees will be waived. People will likely be notified by mail, he said.

"There was the sense that this was supposed to be a fun thing, an experiment, something new," Fryer said. "We figured we'd give folks a break on the first one."

The Seattle Department of Transportation will reimburse towing charges on a case-by-case basis, contacting people and giving them the benefit of the doubt, said spokesman Rick Sheridan.

"If someone says this is an unfair citation, we'll take them at their word," Sheridan said.

He said residents were properly notified of the street closures, which were meant to reduce pollution and encourage more pedestrian and bicycle traffic on the streets.

In addition to notifying media, the department left door hangers at homes last week and set up no-parking signs 48 hours in advance of the event, he said.

Still, the department will "try to correct this situation" before the next car-free Sunday by advertising in a community newspaper, visiting merchants door-to-door and using a "reverse 911" — an automated telephone message to residents.

"We're going to be very cautious and only use towing if it's absolutely necessary," Sheridan said. "We don't want the focus of the car-free day to be about parking and towing."

Plans for outdoor entertainment at the closed-off streets Sunday were thwarted by rain, and for the most part, streets were empty.

Rainier Avenue South from South Orcas to South Alaska streets will be closed Sunday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. On Sept. 7, the city will close Alki Avenue from California Way Southwest around Alki Beach to the south end of 63rd at Beach Drive from noon-6 p.m.

Noelene Clark: 206-464-2321 or nclark@seattletimes.com