CONSENT - Chris Olson/Police Chief
Title
SECOND READING
TIME LIMITATION ON PARKING AFTER COMMENCEMENT OF SNOWFALL
Background
Certain municipal parking ordinances are often in place in order to assist the Public Works Department with the safe and efficient removal of snow from the roadway. The Police Deparment is responsible to enforce such ordinances. Our current ordinance allows for a vehicle to be left on the roadway for up to twelve (12) hours "Â…after the snow begins to fall" without having to move; no differentiation is made to how quickly the snow is falling or how much snow has accumulated. In order to enhance efficient snow removal in the City of Blaine, snowplow drivers should not have to plow around vehicles. Parked vehicles not only slow down the removal process but create an unnecessary opportunity for potential damage and other dangers. Additonally, plow drivers have to make return trips to get those random locations where the driver intially had to plow around a vehicle. The change to the ordinance will also make it more objective by stating a specified, measurable amount of snow. And finally, the language is more definitive as to when a vehicle can be returned to the roadway.
In order to assist the citizens of Blaine with this winter parking rule change, information will be put into the City newsletter as well as on the website. The Police Department will also conduct an information campaign durng the first two weeks of November by issuing warning notices, and not citations, on vehicles that would be in violation of winter parking rules.
Schedule of Actions
City Council (1st Reading) 10/02/2014
City Council (2nd Reading) 10/16/2014
Recommendation
By motion, adopt the proposed Ordinance.
Body
THE CITY OF BLAINE DOES ORDAIN:
Sec. 82-152. Time limitation on parking after commencement of snowfall.
No person in charge of any vehicle shall park or permit such vehicle to stand upon any highway, street, or alley in the city for more than 12 hours after snow begins to fall.
Sec. 82-152. Parking during snowfall:
It shall be unlawful to park or permit to be parked, or to continue to park or permit to stand, any vehicle upon any street after two inches (2") or more of snowfall, until such time as the snow has been plowed from the street, curb to curb.
INTRODUCED AND READ in full the 2nd day of October, 2014.
PASSED by the City Council of the City of Blaine this 16th day of October, 2014.