Chapter 12.20
SNOW REMOVAL
Sections:
Article I. Routine Snow Removal
12.20.030 Parking restrictions.
12.20.040 Enforcement procedure, removal, impoundment and return of vehicles.
12.20.050 Piling of snow or pushing snow into street.
Article II. Emergency Snow Removal
12.20.080 Determining and declaring a snow emergency.
12.20.090 Parking and travel restrictions.
12.20.100 Abandonment or unlawful parking.
12.20.110 Removal, impoundment and return of vehicles.
12.20.120 Unlawful stopping or parking.
Article I. Routine Snow Removal
12.20.010 Title.
This article shall be commonly referred to as the routine snow removal ordinance, and shall apply to all public streets and parking lots under the jurisdiction of the city, and sets forth methods and authority to effectuate and facilitate the efficient removal of snow, sleet and ice from the public ways. [Ord. 1032-2001. Code 2000 § 72.15.]
12.20.020 Definitions.
For the purpose of this article, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
“Public parking lots” means parking areas designated for public parking by the city.
“Routine snowfall” means snowfall amounting to four or more inches.
“Street” or “highway” means the entire width between the boundary lines of every publicly maintained street, when any part thereof is open to the use of the public for purpose of vehicular travel. [Ord. 1106-2003; Ord. 1032-2001. Code 2000 § 72.16.]
12.20.030 Parking restrictions.
During a routine snowfall an owner, driver, or operator of any vehicle parked or stopped on any street, alley, public square or designated public parking lot shall move, or cause to be moved, the said vehicle each 24 hours. Movement must be sufficient enough to allow for and facilitate the efficient removal of snow, sleet and ice that is in excess of four inches from the public ways. Any person violating this restriction shall be subject to the penalty provisions of AMC 10.10.070 in addition to the other penalties and remedies set forth in this article. [Ord. 1106-2003; Ord. 1032-2001. Code 2000 § 72.17.]
Penalty: See AMC 10.10.070.
12.20.040 Enforcement procedure, removal, impoundment and return of vehicles.
(A) During a routine snowfall, officers of the city Police Department, after being ordered to do so by the Chief of Police, are authorized to issue a snow removal warning tag to a vehicle parked on a public street or parking lot under the jurisdiction of the city. The snow removal warning tag shall be affixed to said vehicle to warn the owner/operator of said vehicle that said vehicle must be moved each 24 hours during a routine snow fall and that if said vehicle is not so moved it will be towed at the owner/operator’s expense.
(B) Officers of the Police Department are authorized to remove or have removed a vehicle found in violation of this article or any provision of the law and have such vehicle towed to a garage or other place of storage. The expense for such towing and the charge for storage of such vehicle shall be paid by the owner/operator of said vehicle. [Ord. 1106-2003; Ord. 1032-2001. Code 2000 § 72.18.]
12.20.050 Piling of snow or pushing snow into street.
It shall be unlawful for the owner or occupant of any property, or for any person, to allow or cause snow to be pushed, piled, or collected into piles whereby the same shall obstruct the view of persons using the public streets and area upon which the public is allowed to park when the obstruction of view creates a hazardous and dangerous condition to public safety, and it shall be unlawful to push snow into a city street, unless such snow is then removed at once. [Ord. 1032-2001. Code 2000 § 72.19.]
Penalty: See AMC 10.10.070.
Article II. Emergency Snow Removal
12.20.060 Title.
This article shall be commonly referred to as the emergency snow removal ordinance, and shall apply to all public streets and public parking lots under the jurisdiction of the city, and sets forth methods to effectuate and facilitate the efficient removal of snow, sleet and ice from public ways. [Ord. 623, 1982. Code 2000 § 72.25; Code 1981 § 10.38.010.]
12.20.070 Definitions.
For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
“Snow emergency” means a condition declared to be such by the Mayor or his or her authorized designee.
“Street” or “highway” means the entire width between the boundary lines of every publicly maintained street, when any part thereof is open to the use of the public for purposes of vehicular travel. [Ord. 623, 1982. Code 2000 § 72.26; Code 1981 § 10.38.020.]
12.20.080 Determining and declaring a snow emergency.
(A) A snow emergency may be determined whenever the Mayor or his or her designee finds, on the basis of falling snow, sleet, freezing rain or on the basis of a forecast by the National Weather Service, that weather conditions will or could make it necessary that motor vehicle parking be forbidden on certain portions of streets.
(B) Whenever the Mayor or his or her designee finds, on the basis of falling snow, sleet or freezing rain or on the basis of a forecast by the National Weather Service, that weather conditions will or could make it necessary that motor vehicle traffic be expedited in accordance with the provisions of this article, and that parking on city streets be restricted, the Mayor or his or her designee shall put into effect parking prescribed by this article. The provision shall remain in effect until terminated by an announcement of the Mayor or designee, in accordance with the provisions of this article. The Mayor or his or her designee may, at his or her discretion from time to time during the course of the effective period of this article, allow parking on any street, subsequent to its being cleared to the Mayor’s or designee’s satisfaction. Such discretionary announcements shall be made in accordance with the provisions of this article.
(C) A snow emergency shall commence by a proclamation or announcement by the Mayor or his or her designee, issued to local radio and other news services, either before, during or after a weather condition may prevail, when in his or her sound judgment and discretion the circumstances warrant the determination of such an emergency for the public safety of the city. The snow emergency shall continue in effect until the Mayor or his or her designee determines that an emergency no longer exists, and accordingly terminates the emergency, using the same media as before. [Ord. 623, 1982. Code 2000 § 72.27; Code 1981 § 10.38.030.]
12.20.090 Parking and travel restrictions.
(A) The Mayor or his or her designee shall have the authority to limit vehicular travel within the city to emergency needs, medical needs, travel for food or supplies, and travel to and from places of business or employment, or to any one of the foregoing. Any person violating this restriction shall be subject to the penalty provisions in AMC 10.10.070.
(B) Vehicles may be parked on the odd-street-numbered side of the street on dates which are odd-numbered.
(C) Vehicles may be parked on the even-street-numbered side of the street on dates which are even-numbered.
(D) The parking prohibitions as shown in subsections (B) and (C) of this section shall be effective between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
(E) During a period of declared snow emergency, the provisions of this article supersede all ordinances and codes of this city relating to the prohibition and/or allowance of parking. [Ord. 623, 1982. Code 2000 § 72.28; Code 1981 § 10.38.040.]
12.20.100 Abandonment or unlawful parking.
Whenever a vehicle becomes stalled for any reason on any part of a street on which there is a parking prohibition in effect, the operator of the vehicle shall take emergency action to have the vehicle removed from the roadway in whatever manner may be necessary. In the event that a vehicle is cited, removed or impounded during the absence of the operator, pursuant to the provisions of this article, the driver shall have abandoned the vehicle at his own peril. [Ord. 623, 1982. Code 2000 § 72.29; Code 1981 § 10.38.050.]
Penalty: See AMC 10.10.070.
12.20.110 Removal, impoundment and return of vehicles.
(A) Officers of the Police Department are authorized to remove or have removed a vehicle found in violation of this article or any provision of the law, and which is interfering or about to interfere with snow removal operations, and have such vehicle towed to a garage or other place of storage.
(B) In the event that it is deemed by any law enforcement officer of the city that a vehicle shall be towed, the officer shall issue a parking ticket, mark the ticket “snow emergency violation,” place the ticket in a conspicuous location on the vehicle, and then order the vehicle towed. The officer will, through the vehicle registration or other means, attempt to identify and locate and notify the owner of the vehicle removal, and the means of gaining the return of the vehicle. In the event the officer cannot identify the owner within 72 hours, the officer will make the necessary notification to the state Bureau of Motor Vehicles.
(C) A person may recover any vehicle removed in accordance with this article from the place of impoundment by presenting to the garage or storage keeper evidence of his identity and the right of his possession of the vehicle, and after paying the garage or storage keeper for the normal cost of such vehicle removal and storage. [Ord. 623, 1982. Code 2000 § 72.30; Code 1981 § 10.38.060.]
Penalty: See AMC 10.10.070.
12.20.120 Unlawful stopping or parking.
No owner, driver or operator of any vehicle shall park or stop the same, or permit the same to be parked or to stand, at any time during the period of any declared snow emergency on any of the streets of the city contrary to the provisions of this article. [Ord. 623, 1982. Code 2000 § 72.31; Code 1981 § 10.38.070.]
Penalty: See AMC 10.10.070.