By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette
Although this winter season has seen little snowfall to date, that trend is changing, as seen in the snowstorm earlier this week. With a possibility for more snow this weekend, it’s a good time to review city ordinances regarding sidewalks and parking. Below are the applicable ordinances found on the websites of a few cities in Guthrie County. Ordinances for other nearby cities (Adair, Jamaica, Bagley, Yale, and Linden) were not immediately found on city websites or Facebook pages).
It is the responsibility of citizens and visitors to know and comply with the applicable ordinances. Any questions should be addressed to city staff.
Guthrie Center
CHAPTER 52 PARKING REGULATIONS
69.11 SNOW REMOVAL. During snow events, when plowing will be necessary, the City will implement an Emergency Parking Ban. No person shall park, abandon or leave unattended any vehicle on any residential street, alley, or City-owned off-street parking area during an Emergency Parking Ban. An Emergency Parking Ban shall be defined as commencement of the fall of snow and accumulation of such snow to a depth of two (2) or more inches and/or accumulation of ice covering the entire surface of streets.
- A snow emergency parking ban shall continue until the snow has ceased to fall and has been removed or plowed from said street, alley or parking area.
- All motor vehicles and vehicles of any other kind shall be removed from residential and/or commercial streets during an Emergency Parking Ban and/or when snow removal operations are in progress and before such operations have resulted in the removal or clearance of snow from the City streets. Any City Official may direct motor vehicles of any kind to be removed from City streets.
- The vehicles shall be removed and not left standing or parked on the streets, as provide above, in order to facilitate snow removal. Snow removal shall include the action of any and all snow equipment necessary to remove snow from the City streets to provide access and proper use of said streets.
Vehicles left standing or parked in violation of this Chapter may be towed at the owner’s expense, may be fined, or both.
Penalties. Vehicles left standing or parked in violation of this Chapter shall be fined in accordance in Chapter 70.03
CHAPTER 136 SIDEWALK REGULATIONS
136.03 REMOVAL OF SNOW, ICE AND ACCUMULATIONS It is the responsibility of the abutting property owner’s to remove snow, ice, or accumulations promptly from sidewalks. If a property owner does not promptly remove snow, ice or accumulation, the city may do so and assess the costs against the property owner for collection in the same manner as a property tax. (Chp 136.03)
Panora
69.10 SNOW REMOVAL
- No person shall park, abandon or leave unattended any vehicle on any public street, alley, or City-owned off-street parking area that is not zoned Business Commercial (BC) during the period of time when snow is falling and for a period of forty-eight (48) hours after cessation of snowfall, unless after cessation of snowfall the snow has been removed or plowed from said street, alley or parking area and the snow has ceased to fall.
- Except on the west side of North 1st Street, no person shall park, abandon or leave unattended any vehicle on any public street, alley, or City-owned off-street parking area that is zoned Business Commercial (BC) between 1:00 a.m. and 7:30 a.m. when snow is falling or ‘within forty-eight (48) hours after cessation of snowfall, unless after cessation of snowfall the snow has been removed or plowed from said street or alley and the snow has ceased to fall.
- Parking is allowed on the west side of North lst Street between Main Street and Market Street any time including during and after snowfall. (Ord. 236 — Oct. 07 Supp.)
69.11 SNOW ROUTES. The Council may designate certain streets in the City as snow routes. When conditions of snow or ice exist on the traffic surface of a designated snow route, it is unlawful for the driver of a vehicle to impede or block traffic.
(Code of Iowa, Sec. 321.236172D
Casey
Nov 1-Apr 1
3-1-4(3)
STREET. Allowing water, snow, ice and accumulations on sidewalk. No abutting property owner shall allow water from an improperly located eave or drain, or from any roof, to fall onto a public sidewalk, or fail to remove snow, ice and accumulations from the sidewalks promptly. Upon failure by the abutting property owner to perform the action required under this subsection within a reasonable time, the City may perform the required action and assess the costs against the abutting property. (Code of Iowa, Sec. 364.12(2)(b and e)) 3-3-33
PARKING DURING SNOW EMERGENCY. No person shall park, abandon, or leave unattended any vehicle on any public street, alley, or City-owned off-street parking area during any snow emergency proclaimed by the Mayor unless the snow has been removed or plowed from said street, alley or parking area and the snow has ceased to fall. A snow emergency parking ban shall continue from its proclamation through the duration of the snow or ice storm and the forty-eight hour period after cessation of the storm except as above provided upon streets which have been fully opened. The ban shall be of uniform application and the Mayor is directed to publicize the requirements widely, using all available news media, in early November each year. When predictions or occurrences indicate the need, the Mayor shall proclaim a snow emergency and the City Clerk shall inform the news media to publicize the proclamation and the parking rules under the emergency. Such emergency may be extended or shortened when conditions warrant. (Code of Iowa, Sec. 321.236)
