(A) An INCLEMENT WEATHER EMERGENCY, also referred to as a SNOW EMERGENCY, means a period of time declared by the City Manager, or his or her designee, when the National Weather Service forecasts weather conditions that substantially impair the safe movement of vehicular traffic within the city. Special parking restrictions become effective when these weather conditions exist and an emergency is declared. The inclement weather emergency shall exist from the time it is formally announced until the time it is formally canceled.
(B) When an inclement weather emergency is declared, the City Manager, or his or her designee, shall request the local news media to announce the emergency and the duration of the declaration, and/or notice of declaration shall be provided through the city’s emergency notification network. Owners and operators of motor vehicles shall be deemed to have notice of the snow emergency two hours after the official announcement and are then subject to the prohibitions of this section. Cancellation shall be effected in the same manner.
(C) Whenever an inclement weather emergency is in effect, no person shall stop or allow to be stopped, abandon, or leave unattended any motor vehicle on a public street in the city.
(D) Any motor vehicle found stopped in a prohibited area during an inclement weather emergency may be removed by order of the police.
(E) It shall be a complete defense to prosecution under this section if the person charged has no off- street parking available at his or her place of residence.
(F) The City Manager, or his or her designee, shall designate by administrative regulation the streets, parts of streets, or areas of the city on which stopping or parking shall be prohibited during the duration of an inclement weather emergency. The City Manager shall designate locations for the posting of “No Stopping or Parking During Snow Emergency” signs.
(G) The owner or operator of a motor vehicle found to be in violation of the prohibitions of this section shall be deemed to have committed a minor misdemeanor, and in addition to any fine which may be imposed by 70.99, the owner or operator of a motor vehicle found in violation of this section shall be responsible for all towing and storage costs for the vehicle during the inclement weather emergency.
(Ord. 05-3187, passed 1-6-05; Am. Ord. 09-3291, passed 5-7-09) Penalty, see § 70.99