(a) Whenever during a period of twenty-four hours or less snow falls in the City in a section or sections thereof to a depth of two inches or more, an emergency is declared to exist in that such a heavy snow storm constitutes a serious public hazard impairing transportation, the moving of food and fuel supplies, medical care, fire, health and public protection of the City. Such emergency shall continue until an announcement, by the City Manager or his designee, that snow plowing operations have been completed.
(1) During the period of snow emergency, no person shall park or cause to be parked, or permit to be parked, or abandon or leave unattended any motor vehicle of any kind on any of the city streets, public ways, or in designated parking areas on city streets.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of sub section (a)(1) hereof, vehicles may be parked for a period of no longer than three minutes for the actual loading or unloading of passengers, or for thirty minutes for the actual loading or unloading of property or goods, provided that the operator of the vehicle is immediately available, and provided, further, that no other ordinance restricting parking as to time or place is violated.
(b) Whenever there exists an actual or threatened emergency such as fire, flood, riot, or other acts of God, the City Manager or his designee shall have the authority to declare an emergency necessitating the closure and/or clearing of City streets.
(1) During the period of emergency as identified in subsection (b) hereof, no person shall park or cause to be parked, or permit to be parked, or abandon or leave unattended any motor vehicle of any kind on any of the City streets, public ways, or in designated parking areas on City streets.
(c) Whenever such an emergency exists as enumerated in this section, the City Manager or his designee shall request notification through local radio and press of the existence of the emergency. Such announcement to the media shall constitute notice to the general public of the existence of the emergency. However, the owners and operators of motor vehicles shall have the responsibility of determining existing weather conditions and depths or extent of snow fall and of complying with the provisions of this section.
(d) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor and shall be penalized as set forth in Section 351.03. Notwithstanding the penalties set forth for a violation of this section, any motor vehicle parked in violation of this section is hereby declared to be a public nuisance and may be removed from the street and impounded at such place as may be directed by the Chief of Police at the cost and expense of the owner thereof.
(Ord. 2013-11. Passed 3-12-13.)