(A) The City Manager may designate snow routes within the city and any snow route so designated by the City Manager prior to the passage of this section shall remain in effect.
(B) When in the opinion of the City Manager, the actual or expected precipitation of snow will create hazardous or dangerous highway conditions for vehicular traffic, the City Manager shall have the authority to declare a snow emergency.
(C) The City Manager shall have the authority to designate certain streets as snow emergency routes. A street so designated by the City Manager shall become effective after a 15-day waiting period, unless changed by the lawful action of City Council.
(D) When a snow emergency is declared, no vehicle will be permitted to be parked or stopped along the streets listed as snow emergency routes.
(E) Any vehicle parked, stalled, or incapable of moving under its own power or left unattended upon any street designated as a snow emergency route may be removed or towed away to any other location by the Police Department or by any person authorized by the City Manager or the City Manager’s designee at the expense of the vehicle owner.
(F) The presence of a vehicle unable to move on the streets named on the snow emergency list of streets due to insufficient traction of the vehicle as a result of not being equipped with safety devices designed for hazardous driving conditions shall be prima-facie evidence of a violation of this section.
(G) All streets designated as snow emergency routes shall be posted with suitable signs or markers at intervals not to exceed 1,000 feet, which signs shall bear the words, “Snow Emergency Route” or other similar appropriate wording.
(H) When snow emergencies are declared, the City Manager or his or her designee shall immediately inform the public of the snow emergency condition by issuing a press release to the local news media as appropriate. The snow emergency condition shall continue in effect until the City Manager declares it to be over and provides a similar press release as indicated in this section.
(I) The City Manager will attempt to give as much advance notification of the snow emergency as possible, however, within one hour after the proper notification to the news media, the provisions of this section shall be in full force and effect.
(J) After such snow emergency has been declared, the vehicle of any motorist which is found parked or becomes stalled by any reason whatsoever along the designated snow emergency route is subject to being towed. Where a vehicle is towed, the vehicle may be recovered upon the payment of the appropriate towing and storage charges imposed. Violation of this section is punishable as a minor misdemeanor with the appropriate fines and restrictions.
(Ord. 21-2004, passed 4-14-04) Penalty, see § 95.99