2. Ordinance 1482 - City Snow Plowing Policy - 2nd ReadingCity of KalispellPublic Works Department
Post Office Box 1997, Kalispell. Montana 59903-1997 - Telephone (406)758-7720, Fax 4-06 758-7831
REPORT TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: James C. Hansz, P.E., Director of Public Forks / City Engineer
SUBJECT: Changes to City Snow Plowing Policy
MEETING DATE: 3 November 2003
BACKGROUND: In October of 1997, in response to the severe storms of the previous
winter, the City adopted a new snow policy that for the most part has improved the task of
removing snow from the City's streets and parking lots. Routes, priorities, and
equipment/personnel/materials used are clarified in the policy. Although we have experienced
very few periods of significant snow over the past five years the storms we have received have
provided a number of lessons learned and revealed several areas for improvement. Most changes
have been implemented as routine minor adjustments in the way work is done. However, one
area has been a constant and annoyingly reliable source of concern and complaint both from our
snow plow operators and the public.
On -street parking during snow events is a persistent source of confusion for citizens and
frustration for plow operators confronted by parked cars. The current system requires parking on
even -numbered sides of the street on even numbered days and vice versa on odd -numbered days.
The intent of this is to permit the maximum work space of two traffic lanes and one parking lane,
while trying to recognize the limited amount of off-street parking available for residents of the
older part of central Kalispell. While this parking routine seems simple and effective, and we
have confirmed that it is common practice in many cities across the raid -west, it has proved to be
an insurmountable challenge to implement in Kalispell. As a result, the free work area concept
has not worked out as intended. Vehicle parking rules are ignored and vehicles are not moved as
requested. Other vehicles are left parked for long periods over the winter. The police have tried
to assist but resources for tagging and towing are limited. Further, tagging and towing has
repeatedly proved to be unproductive because of the number of improperly parked vehicles to be
dealt with and the time used unproductively to get it done.
November 3, 2003 Snow Policy Changes second reading.doc
The consensus among the snow plow crews, who must work in several areas of the City
at the same time during a storm, and who trust make any system work, is that, as far as parking
is concerned, the previous method of clearing streets and avenues in the central core of Kalispell
worked pretty well. With that system, streets and avenues in the older parts of central Kalispell
were cleared on alternate days. City snow plow operators cleared the Avenues in central
Kalispell on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and the Streets on Tuesday, Thursday,
and Saturday. This was a long-standing and familiar routine for Kalispell residents. This
approach was coupled with a request for residents to park in their alley or on the nearest crossing
street. After several years experience with the current system, operations personnel have
concluded that the former system was more efficient and created less aggravation and confusion
for the public and everyone else. We believe the City's primary requirement should be to clear
traffic lanes with parking lanes being cleared at the same time where possible, but if access is
restricted by parked cars these lanes should be done as a follow-up task when forces are
available. Owners of cars parked in any way that prevents access to the curb line also should
expect to be inconvenienced by snow piled near and around their car as snow plowing operations
move forward. This is unavoidable on narrow residential streets. Snow piled around parked cars
should be the responsibility of the owner to remove and the City should have no liability for
clearing it away.
Parking restrictions in the central business district (CBD) streets and City parking lots
specified in ordinance 1272 seem to work pretty well and should continue unchanged. And, it
should be further noted that the parking problem noted above has not been greatly evident in
newer neighborhoods where residents have off-street parking in their driveways and garages.
After considering all the experience gained over the last five years, staff recommends the
following:
• Amend Ordinance 1272 to delete all "snow event" language that created the odd -
even parking routine for snow events_ It should be replaced by language that
indicates plowing will be in accordance with the City's administrative policy.
In addition, we recommend the policy be amended to include the guidance that
roadways will be cleared curb -to -curb where ossible provided that curb access is
not restricted by parked vehicles.
Further, we recommend that parking advice for the public, as outlined above be
dealt with as administratively in the City snow policy so that we can be more
responsive to changing operational needs and public input.
• Finally, we believe it to be far simpler to have ordinance 1272 declare the primary
snow season extends from 1 November through 31 March, with adjustments to
conform to seasonal changes of weather made administratively. Ordinance 1273
should be similarly amended to reflect this change.
The City Attorney has prepared Ordinance 1.482 that makes these recommended changes
to ordinance 1272 and ordinance 1273. The City's administrative snow policy will be revised to
reflect these changes once ordinance 1482 is adopted. All snow policy guidance on procedures
and snow route priorities will remain unchanged.
RECOMMENDATION: Adopt Ordinance 1482 as prepared by the City Attorney.
FISCAL EFFECTS: None anticipated.
ALTERNATIVES: As suggested by the City Council.
Respectively submitted,
Chris A. Kukulski
City Manager
November 3, 2003 Snow Policy Changes second reading. doe
ORDINANCE NO.1482
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 17, MOTOR VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC,
KALISPELL MUNICIPAL CODE, BY AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 1272; AND
AMENDING CHAPTER 24, STREETS AND SIDEWALKS, KALISPELL MUNICIPAL
CODE, BY AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 1273; AUTHORIZING THE CITY
ATTORNEY TO RECODIFY CHAPTERS 17 AND 24, KALISPELL MUNICIPAL
CODE, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS ORDINANCE; AND DECLARING AN
EFFECTIVE DATE.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KALISPELL, MONTANA,
AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. That Ordinance No. 1272 (§ 17-76 Kalispell Municipal Code) is hereby
amended to read as follows:
PARKING REQUIREMENTS DURING SNOW EVENT SEASON:
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desefibed herein. On even nuffibefed ealefidef dftys, par -king shall be peffflitted efi
pAlie streets eii the side ef the st-feet with even Ruffibefed addfesses. On edd
ftuffiber-ed ealendaf days, par -king shall be perffiitted en the side of the stfeet with
odd fi.i,�.efed addresses-. The snow season is considered to be the period from
November I through March 31. During the snow season parking shall not be
permitted in city owned off street parking areas between the hours of two o'clock
(2:00) A.M. to six o'clock (6:00) A.M. In the central business district, the on street
parking prohibition shall be between two o'clock (2:00) A.M. to six o'clock (6:00)
A.M.
pfeelamation of the eity Parking in other areas of the City of Kalispell
shall be as recommended in the most current revision of the City of Kalispell
Policy and Procedure Manual for Snow and lee Removal.
SECTION 2. That Ordinance No. 1273 (§ 24-17 Kalispell Municipal Code) is here]
amended to read as follows:
DUTY TO KEEP SIDEWALKS CLEAN GENERALLY,• SNOW ICE
ETC., REMOVAL
Upon the commencement of
a snow season eat, which shall be deemed to be between the dates of November
I through March 31, it shall be the duty of the occupant of any premises within
the City limits, except within the City's Central Business District, or in the case
the same are unoccupied, then the owner or his agent, to keep the sidewalks in
front of and adjoining his premises clean and safe for pedestrians. Such occupant,
owner or agent shall, within 72 hours, of said artnotteeeffieW, remove snow, ice,
slush, mud or other impediment to safe and convenient foot travel, and prevent
the continuance and accumulation of the same.
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Within the City's Central Business District the owners, agents, or occupants shall
remove any accumulation of snow, ice, slush, mud, or other impediments to foot
travel by twelve o'clock (12:00) Noon on the day that any amount accumulates.
For purposes of this Ordinance, the Central Business District shall include all
sidewalks on both sides of any street or avenue within the area bounded by I"
Avenue East (on the East), 1ST Avenue West (on the West), Idaho (on the North)
and 6`h Street (on the South).
Except as otherwise provided herein, any person violating any of the provisions of this
article shall, upon conviction thereof, be punished as provided in Section 1-9.
SECTION 3. This Ordinance shall be effective thirty (30) days from and after the date
of its final passage and approval.
PASSED AND APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL AND SIGNED BY THE MAYOR
THIS 3RD DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2003.
Pamela B. Kennedy
Mayor
Attest:
Theresa White
City Clerk