Title
An Ordinance to Amend Section 10:143 of Chapter 126 (Traffic) of Title X (Traffic) of the Ann Arbor City Code (ORD-24-32)
Memorandum
The proposed amendment modifies Section 10:143 to rename the Section from Snow Emergencies to On-Street Snow Parking Ban. It eliminates the current odd-even parking ban, which directed motorists to move their vehicles between 8:00 pm and midnight during an emergency. It requires a minimum 12-hour notice for an On-Street Snow Parking Ban to be declared and includes new exemptions from the ban, including vehicles with Disability License Plates or Parking Placards; blocks on which there are no driveways, and other streets for which there is inadequate off-street parking, safety concerns, or other site constraints.
The odd/even on-street parking ban with defined hours described in the current Section (1)(a) and (b) of this ordinance is complicated, difficult to enforce, and does not provide the operational flexibility needed to effectively respond to various snow and ice events.
Simplifying the language to say that the City Administrator has the authority to call an on-street parking ban based on existing or forecasted snowfall without regard to time of the day or sides of the street provide staff more operational flexibility to safely and effectively clear snow.
Parked cars on narrow public streets during and following a large snow event can create an obstacle in some parts of the city that slow down plowing operations, create frozen ridges of snow once cars are moved from the roadway and make it difficult for plow truck drivers to closely wrap corners at crosswalks and handicap ramps to improve pedestrian safety and accessibility following storms
The ability to call an on-street parking ban, when necessary, would provide Public Works and its subcontractors the space to plow streets curb to curb following large snow events and minimize the need for multiple return trips.
The addition of exemption language in the ordinance for vehicles with valid handicapped credentials and for areas with limited or no off-street parking will minimize hardship for residents.
Budget/Fiscal Impact: There is no budget impact due to the revised ordinance language itself. However, if adopted, staff intend to request additional funds in future operating budgets to ensure effective public education and outreach on an ongoing basis to educate both residents and commuters about the on-street snow parking ban, how to receive notifications, and how to comply when the parking ban is declared. These resources would be reallocated from existing Street Maintenance funds.
Staff
Prepared and Reviewed by: John W. Reiser, Senior Assistant City Attorney Skye Stewart, Chief of Staff, Public Services
Reviewed by: Paul Matthews, Public Works Manager
Reviewed by: Andre Anderson, Police Chief
Reviewed by: Lisa Wondrash, Communications Unit Manager
Body
(See Attached Ordinance)