(a) Purpose. It is hereby declared to be in the best interest of the public policy and the public safety of the City to regulate and restrict the parking of vehicles on public streets during snow emergencies.
(b) Snow Emergency Defined. A snow emergency is hereby declared to be a period of time prior to, during and after a snow fall during which period of time the parking of such vehicles could hinder, delay and obstruct the safe flow of traffic and emergency vehicles and the proper cleaning, clearing and making safe of all public streets of this City.
(c) Determination of Snow Emergency. Whenever, during any period of twenty-four hours or less, snow falls in the City, or in any section thereof, to a depth of two inches or more, an emergency may be declared to exist by the Mayor or Acting Mayor, and in the absence of either the Mayor or Acting Mayor, then the Chief of Police or Superintendent of Services. Such emergency shall continue in effect until an announcement by the Mayor or Acting Mayor, or in the absence of either the Mayor or Acting Mayor, then the Chief of Police or Superintendent of Service, that snow plowing operations have been completed. The City shall make a reasonable effort to announce the existence of the emergency by the use of local press and radio stations, and shall make similar reasonable efforts to announce the termination of such emergency. However, owners and operators of motor vehicles shall have the full responsibility to determine existing weather conditions and to comply with emergency parking regulations when such emergency is in effect.
(d) No Parking During Snow Emergency. During the period of snow emergency as herein declared, no person shall park or cause or permit to be parked, or permit to remain parked or abandon or leave unattended any motor vehicle of any kind or description, upon designated snow emergency streets. However, vehicles may be parked for a period of not longer than three minutes for actual loading or unloading of passengers, or thirty minutes for actual loading or unloading of property, except for a reasonable time to load or unload elderly or handicapped persons, provided that an operator of such vehicle is immediately available, and provided further that no other ordinance restricting parking as to time or place is violated thereby. Motor vehicles parked in meter zones shall be subject to the terms of this section during an emergency.
(e) Designating Snow Emergency Streets. The Safety Committee shall cause all of the streets and roads to be clearly and distinctly marked and identified as snow emergency streets by placing proper signs of sufficient size and legibility along such streets or roads or by affixing such signs to the utility poles on such streets or roads in sufficient number as will, in the opinion of the Safety Committee, give proper and adequate notice to persons using such streets or roads that such streets or roads are snow emergency thoroughfares.
(f) Removal of Illegally Parked Vehicles. The Superintendent of Services, Police Chief or any member of the Police Division is hereby authorized and empowered to provide for the removal of any vehicle parked on any of the designated snow emergency streets or roads during the period of snow emergency, to a garage or other place as any such person deems proper. Any costs incurred in such removal and storage shall be paid for by the owner of the vehicle and such costs shall be in addition to any fines or penalties which may be imposed on the owner or operator of the vehicle, and shall be paid before the violator can recover his vehicle.
(g) Snow Removal. After such emergency has been declared as set forth herein, no person shall push or place additional snow and ice upon streets or portions of streets from driveways, sidewalks, parking lots or from any other places.
(Ord. 162-12. Passed 4-21-14.)