(a) Whenever, during any period of 24 hours or less, snow falls in the city or in any section thereof to a depth of two inches or more, an emergency is declared to exist in that such a depth of snow constitutes a serious public hazard, impairing transportation, the movement of food, fuel and other supplies, medical care, fire, health and police protection, and other vital facilities of the city.
(b) The Director of Public Safety, the Service Director or the Police Chief shall make a reasonable effort to announce the existence of the emergency by the use of the local press and radio and television stations. Such emergency shall continue until such time as the snow accumulation is reduced to less than two inches or until the Director of Public Safety, the Service Director or the Police Chief announces that the emergency is terminated. However, owners and operators of motor vehicles shall have the responsibility of determining existing weather conditions and depth or extent of snowfall and to comply with emergency parking regulations when such emergency is in effect.
(c) During the period of the emergency, the Director of Public Safety, the Service Director or the Police Chief may prohibit the parking of vehicles upon any or all of the city streets. During such 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 or description on any of the city’s streets or roads. However, vehicles may be parked for a period of not longer than three minutes for the actual loading or unloading of passengers, or 30 minutes for the actual loading or unloading of property or goods, provided that the operator of such vehicle is immediately available, and provided, further, that no other ordinance restricting parking as to time and place is violated.
(d) Snow emergency streets shall be designated by the Director of Public Safety and posted with appropriate signs. Any motor vehicle parked in violation of this section shall be towed to a place designated by the Director or the Police Chief, at the owner’s expense, pursuant to § 404.05.
(Ord. 1989-229, passed 10-2-1989)