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9 <br />10 <br />11 <br />12 <br />13 <br />14 <br />15 <br />16 <br />17 <br />18 <br />19 <br />20 <br />21 <br />22 <br />23 <br />24 <br />25 <br />26 <br />27 <br />28 <br />29 <br />30 <br />31 <br />32 <br />33 <br />34 <br />35 <br />36 <br />37 <br />38 <br />39 <br />40 <br />41 <br />42 <br />43 <br />44 <br />45 <br />46 <br />City Council Regular Meeting Minutes <br />May 13, 2008 <br />Page 5 <br />City Manager Momson indicated this type of system could be put in place. He noted this <br />ordinance will only be in effect for a one -year period, which will allow them to monitor how <br />well the changes are working. <br />Councilmember Thuesen requested clarification on whether vehicles that are parked on a city <br />street overnight when two inches of snow have accumulated will be towed, or whether the <br />vehicle can remain parked until the snow has stopped. <br />City Manager Morrison replied his interpretation of the ordinance is that the vehicle would be <br />subject to a citation or tow once two inches have snow has accumulated. Typically there would <br />be a citation issued. <br />Councilmember Thuesen stressed that residents should know if their vehicle will be towed if it is <br />left on the street. <br />City Manager Mornson stated in the past remedies or penalties have not been listed in the <br />ordinance; they have been left up to the Police Department. He noted when there is a snowfall it <br />is difficult to get towing companies out; it is easier to issue the citation and hopefully the car will <br />be moved the next day. There are currently rules in the city ordinance under general rules of <br />parking that state if there is a car sitting for a period of hours the City has the ability to take other <br />steps, whether there is snow or not. This amendment just relates to two inches or more of snow, <br />versus the hours of 3:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. He indicated Council can add additional amendments <br />to the ordinance if they choose. <br />Councilmember Thuesen stated this is a major change and to be fair to the residents they need to <br />be as clear as possible on what will happen. The better this is done, possibly the better the <br />acceptance will be by the community. <br />Mayor Faust pointed out that the question regarding a citation or towing could have been asked <br />under the current ordinance. It is a police issue and currently if someone is parked between 3:00 <br />a.m. and 7:00 a.m. between November 1St and April 1St they are issued a citation even though it is <br />not stated in the ordinance. In some ways this is a change and in other ways it is actually a little <br />more lenient. The current ordinance was arbitrarily picked from November 1St to April 1St, and <br />this ordinance may be a little more flexible in putting more control in the hands of the <br />individuals. <br />Councilmember Thuesen stated for the most part he agrees and thinks this ordinance is worth <br />trying, especially with the sunset. He would like to raise some questions to think about in order <br />to make this as seamless as possible, and it should be considered that with the change there will <br />likely be more vehicles on the streets at night because most people now realize they cannot park <br />overnight on city streets. <br />Mayor Faust noted the Council agrees that there should be a sunset on the ordinance and it does <br />not necessarily need to remain the way it is currently written. He pointed out that previously <br />there have been people that have been issued citations in November and December when there <br />was no snow on the ground, and they are trying to reach a balance with the change. <br />