Snow Route Parking Restriction System AmendmentTHE CITY OF DUBUQUE
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
Dubuque
All-American City
2007
TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Snow Route Parking Restriction System (Section 32-321.682)
DATE: May 14, 2008
Public Works Director Don Vogt led a staff team in review of Dubuque's snow route
parking restriction system. The staff team consisted of Assistant City Attorney Crenna
Brumwell, Police Captains Tom Callahan and Scott Grabill, Police Chief Kim Wadding,
Parking System Supervisor Tim Horsfield, and Street and Sewer Maintenance
Supervisor John Klostermann.
Dubuque's current snow route odd/even parking restriction system was first adopted
and implemented in 1995. It affects 34 of Dubuque's 307 miles of streets. The vast
majority of those 34 miles are Dubuque's most heavily used arterial streets.
Unfortunately, from almost the first day of the program, some citizens have found fault
with it. Their primary criticisms were and continue to be:
1) Lack of clarity/publicity as to when the system's parking restrictions are
actually in effect;
2) Non-compliance by a number of citizens causing unsatisfactory widening-
plowing on some streets;
3) Confusion as to whether the snowplow has already passed, since the
program allows residents to park again on the affected side of the street if
they think the plow has already been by -often resulting in tickets and their
extreme frustration;
4) The program doesn't go into effect until after a storm, versus during a storm
as in other cities; and,
5) Little post-storm widening is actually accomplished on some of the snow route
streets.
Sharing in those frustrations expressed by some of our citizen-customers are City staff.
After twelve years and numerous declarations of effect (especially this past winter),
almost as many tickets were written by the Police Department per event this year as a
decade ago -and our snow plow operators continue to weave around obstructive
parked cars.
The staff agreed on two major issues with the current snow route system:
1) Some citizens aren't sure as to when it is in effect; and
2) Citizens who are aware of the program being in effect often aren't sure if the plow
in their area has already widened (or attempted to widen) their street -thereby
allowing them to repark their vehicles. The Police Department reported that the
angriest citizens are those who moved their vehicles back onto the prohibited
side after thinking the snowplow had passed by and then received a ticket.
The staff team recommends that Dubuque's current snow route parking restrictions be
made permanent from November 15 through March 15 each year, no matter what the
weather. In addition, they recommend that the system be simplified further by applying
the restrictions on one side of the routes on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and
on the opposite side on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, with no restrictions on
either side on Sundays, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day.
There was also concurrence that the parking restriction hours be changed to 9AM -
3PM, (except along those streets adjacent to schools already posted for early morning
hours). These earlier hours (versus the current Noon - 5PM) should be more
accommodating to those residents who work or attend school during the day. Second
and third shift workers could also park where needed in concert with their schedules.
Finally, due to input from residents and its heavy use by school and KeyLine buses, it is
recommended that Chaney Road from Pennsylvania Avenue to Kane be added to the
snow route system.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
Michael C. Van Milligen
MCVM/jh
Attachment
cc: Barry Lindahl, City Attorney
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
Don Vogt, Public Works Director
TO: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: Don Vogt, Public Works Director
SUBJECT: Snow Route Parking Restriction System (Section 32-321.682)
DATE: May 6, 2008
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this memorandum is to recommend revisions to Dubuque's snow
route parking restriction system, as stipulated in Section 32-321.682 of the Code
of Ordinances.
BACKGROUND
Dubuque's current snow route, odd/even, parking restriction system was first
adopted and implemented in 1995. It affects 34 of Dubuque's 307 miles of
streets. The majority of the 34 miles are Dubuque's most heavily-traveled arterial
streets. Those streets are: Alta Vista Street (University to Kirkwood), Asbury
Road, Bryant Street, Cedar Cross Road, Central Avenue (22"d to 32"d), Clarke
Drive (West Locust to Asbury Road), Delhi Street, Fremont Avenue, Hill Street,
Kane Street, Kaufmann Avenue, Kelly Lane, Loras Boulevard, North Grandview
Avenue, Old Mill Road, Pennsylvania Avenue, Rhomberg Avenue, Rockdale
Road, South Grandview Avenue, University Avenue, West Locust Street,
Windsor Avenue, Wooten Street, East 22th Street (Windsor to Central), East 32"d
Street (Jackson to Central), and, West 32th Street (Central to Fink).
After snowfalls of three or more inches, the Public Works Director recommends
to the City Manager whether the parking restrictions need to be declared. If
determined to be needed, the two-day, post-storm restrictions are announced
through area news media, Mediacom Cable TV Channel 8, and the City of
Dubuque website at least six hours prior to going into effect. Residents are
directed to adhere to the "odd/even" parking restrictions stated on the snow route
signs posted along the 34 miles of streets. Residents are also told that they may
again park their cars along the posted streets once they have been plowed.
Violators are ticketed and fined $30.
Unfortunately, from almost the first day of the program, some citizens have found
fault with it. Their primary criticisms were and continue to be:
1) Lack of clarity/publicity as to when the system's parking restrictions are
actually in effect;
2) Non-compliance by a number of citizens causing unsatisfactory
widening-plowing on some streets;
3) Confusion as to whether the snowplow has already passed, since the
program allows residents to park again on the affected side of the
street if they think the plow has already been by -often resulting in
tickets and extreme frustration;
4) The program doesn't go into effect until after a storm, versus during a
storm as in other cities; and,
5) Little post-storm widening is actually accomplished on some of the
snow route streets.
Sharing in those frustrations expressed by some of our citizen-customers are
City staff. After twelve years and numerous declarations of effect (especially this
past winter), almost as many tickets were written by the Police Department per
event this year as a decade ago -and our snow plow operators continue to
weave around obstructive parked cars. In recognition of the need to re-evaluate
the program, last winter you designated a team to study the current system and
make recommendations to improve it.
DISCUSSION
That team, consisting of Assistant City Attorney Crenna Brumwell, Police
Captains Tom Callahan and Scott Grabill, Police Chief Kim Wadding, Parking
Division Manager Tim Horsfield, Street and Sewer Maintenance Supervisor John
Klostermann, and I met on a number of occasions since January to discuss
possible improvements to the current system.
At those meetings, there was quick concurrence that the two principal complaints
received regarding Dubuque's current snow route system are:
1) Some citizens aren't sure as to when it is in effect; and
2) Citizens who are aware of the program being in effect often aren't sure if
the plow in their area has already widened (or attempted to widen) their
street -thereby allowing them to repark their vehicles.
There was immediate agreement that 2) could be remedied by no longer allowing
citizens to park on the prohibited side until the expiration of the declared time
period. The Police Department reported that the angriest citizens are those who
moved their vehicles back onto the prohibited side after thinking the snowplow
had passed by and then received a ticket.
Concerning 1), the team agreed that media releases and the public's attention to
media announcements have proven less than satisfactory. As a result, and
emulating the snow route programs in other Midwest cities, the team
recommends that Dubuque's current snow route parking restrictions be made
permanent from November 15th through March 15th each year - no matter what
the weather. In addition, the system should be simplified further by applying the
restrictions on one side of the routes on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays,
and on the opposite side on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays -with no
restrictions on .either side on Sundays, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and
New Year's Day. There was also concurrence that the parking restriction hours
be changed (except along those streets adjacent to schools already posted for
early AM hours) to 9AM - 3PM. These earlier hours (versus the current Noon -
5PM) should be more accommodating to those residents who work or attend
school during the day. Second and third shift workers could also park where
needed in concert with their schedules.
Finally, due to input from residents and its heavy use by school and Keyline
buses, I recommend that Chaney Road from Pennsylvania to Kane be added to
the snow route system.
Attached is a copy of Section 32-321.683 with the proposed deletions noted and
the additions underlined. Also attached is a copy of the ordinance as
recommended.
ACTION STEP
I recommend that the proposed ordinance be approved by the City Manager and
City Council.
Attachments
Sec. 32-321.682. Snow Route, Restricted Parking:
(a) Application Of Section: The provisions of this section prohibiting the standing
or parking of vehicles on certain designated streets or parts of streets shall
apply from November 15th through March 15th of each year, except on Deleted: when a snow route
• restricted parking declaration has
Sundays, Thanksgiving Day. Christmas Dav, and New Year s Day. been issued by the city manager.
Parking Prohibited_Under The Foll Conditions: t shall be unlawful for
any person to obstruct the orderly plowing or removal of snow from the city's
streets by parking or otherwise leaving unattended any vehicle upon any
street designated as a snow route, during the times set forth in subsection
of this section- Theparking_restrictions of this section shall supersede all
other parking regulations relating to the streets designated as snow routes.
Desi patron Of Snow Routes: Snow routes shall be desi Hated b sl ns
Parking shall be prohibited from nineP clock 9:00~ A.M.clock
( 00 P.M. on the odd-numbered side of the followin streets on MondaVS
Wednesdays, and Fridays, ,end on the even-numbered side of the following
streets on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays:
Al
Vi
f
U
i
it
A
t
Ki
k
d St
t
S
ree
treet
rom
n
vers
y
venue
o
r
woo
ta
sta
Asbury Road ,
Bryant Street ,
Cedar Cross Road
Central Avenue from 22nd Street to 32nd Street
Chaney Road from Pennsylvania Avenue to Kane Street
Clarke Drive from West Locust Street to Asbury Road
Delhi Street
Fremont Avenue
Hill Street
Kane Street from Kaufmann Avenue to Chaney Road and from Shetland
Court to Carter Road
Kaufmann Avenue
Kelly Lane
Deleted: (b) Declaration Of Snow
Route Restricted Parking: Whenever
snow accumulations of three (3) or
more inches occur, the city manager
after consultation with the operations
and maintenance department
manager shall have the authority to
issue a snow restricted parking
decaration.
(c) Not cation To The Public: The
city manager shall request the
cooperation of the local press, radio
and television media to announce the
decaration of snow route restricted
parking. The provisions of this section
designating snow route restricted
parking shall be effective not less
than six (6) hours after the initial
announcement of the declaration.
Deleted: d
Deleted: Certain
Deleted: After the time specfied in
the declaration of snow route
restricted parking, it
Deleted: e
Deleted: ,until the accumulated
snow has been removed or plowed
from the street. During the period of
the declaration, the
Deleted: e
Deleted: twelve
Deleted: 12
Deleted: noon
Deleted: rive
Deleted: 5
Deleted: even-numbered days
Deleted: odd-numbered days
Loras Boulevard
North Grandview Avenue from Dodge Street to Rosedale Avenue and from
Avoca Street to West 32nd Street
Old Mill Road
Pennsylvania Avenue
Rhomberg Avenue
Rockdale Road
South Grandview Avenue
University Avenue from West 9th Street to Alpine Street and from Glen Oak
Street to John F. Kennedy Road
West Locust Street from West 17th Street to a point 1,300 feet east of Clarke
Drive
Windsor Avenue
Wooten Street
East 22nd Street from Windsor Avenue to Central Avenue
East 32nd Street from Jackson Street to Central Avenue
West 32nd Street from Central Avenue to Fink Street
Parking shall be prohibited from one o'clock (1:00) A.M. to six o'clock (6:00)
A.M. on the odd-numbered side of the following streets on Mondays,
Wednesdays, and Fridays„pnd on the even-numbered side of the following Deleted: even-numbered days
streets on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays; Deleted: odd-numbered days
Kane Street from Chaney Road to Shetland Court
North Grandview Avenue from Rosedale Avenue to Avoca Street
University Avenue from Alpine Street to Glen Oak Street
West Locust Street from Clarke Drive to a point 1,300 feet east of Clarke
Drive
(f)Termination Of Snow Route Parkin Restrictions: The Cit Mana er is Deleted: Whenever the City
Manager shall find that the conditions
authorized to declare the termination of the snow route parking restrictions, in Which gave rise to the deGaration no
whole or in part, effective immediately upon announcement. When the iongerebst, the
termination is announced, it shall then be lawful to park on those streets in
accordance with the regular parking provisions. The City Manager shall
request the cooperation of the local press, radio and television media to
announce the termination of the snow route parking restrictions. (Ord. 57-95,
§ 1, 9-18-1995; Ord. 59-97, § 1, 10-20-1997)
ORDINANCE NO. - 08
AMENDING CITY OF DUBUQUE CODE OF ORDINANCES SECTION 32-321.682 SNOW
ROUTE, RESTRICTED PARKING
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DUBUQUE,
IOWA:
Section 1. Section 32-321.682 of the City of Dubuque Code of Ordinances is hereby
amended by striking it in its entirety and adopting the following language in lieu thereof:
Section 32-321.682. SNOW ROUTE, RESTRICTED PARKING:
(a) Application Of Section: The provisions of this section prohibiting the standing or parking
of vehicles on certain designated streets or parts of streets shall apply from November
15t" through March 15th of each year, except on Sundays, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas
Day, and New Year's Day.
(b) Parking Prohibited Under The Following Conditions: It shall be unlawful for any person
to obstruct the orderly plowing or removal of snow from the city's streets by parking or
otherwise leaving unattended any vehicle upon any street designated as a snow route,
during the times set forth in subsection (c) of this section. The parking restrictions of this
section shall supersede all other parking regulations relating to the streets designated
as snow routes.
(c) Designation Of Snow Routes: Snow routes shall be designated by signs. Parking shall
be prohibited from nine o'clock (9:00) A.M. to three o'clock (3:00) P.M. on the odd-
numbered side of the following streets on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and on
the even-numbered side of the following streets on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and
Saturdays:
Alta Vista Street from University Avenue to Kirkwood Street
Asbury Road
Bryant Street
Cedar Cross Road
Central Avenue from 22nd Street to 32nd Street
Chaney Road from Pennsylvania Avenue to Kane Street
Clarke Drive from West Locust Street to Asbury Road
Delhi Street
Fremont Avenue
Hill Street
Kane Street from Kaufmann Avenue to Chaney Road and from Shetland Court to Carter
Road
Kaufmann Avenue
Kelly Lane
Loras Boulevard
North Grandview Avenue from Dodge Street to Rosedale Avenue and from Avoca
Street to West 32nd Street
Old Mill Road
Pennsylvania Avenue
Rhomberg Avenue
Rockdale Road
South Grandview Avenue
University Avenue from West 9th Street to Alpine Street and from Glen Oak Street to
John F. Kennedy Road
West Locust Street from West 17th Street to a point 1,300 feet east of Clarke Drive
Windsor Avenue
Wooten Street
East 22nd Street from Windsor Avenue to Central Avenue
East 32nd Street from Jackson Street to Central Avenue
West 32nd Street from Central Avenue to Fink Street
Parking shall be prohibited from one o'clock (1:00) A.M. to six o'clock (6:00) A.M. on the
odd-numbered side of the following streets on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and
on the even-numbered side of the following streets on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and
Saturdays:
Kane Street from Chaney Road to Shetland Court
North Grandview Avenue from Rosedale Avenue to Avoca Street
University Avenue from Alpine Street to Glen Oak Street
West Locust Street from Clarke Drive to a point 1,300 feet east of Clarke Drive
(f) Termination Of Snow Route Parking Restrictions: The City Manager is authorized to
declare the termination of the snow route parking restrictions, in whole or in part,
effective immediately upon announcement. When the termination is announced, it shall
then be lawful to park on those streets in accordance with the regular parking
provisions. The City Manager shall request the cooperation of the local press, radio and
television media to announce the termination of the snow route parking restrictions.
(Ord. 57-95, § 1, 9-18-1995; Ord. 59-97, § 1, 10-20-1997)
Section 2. This ordinance shall take effect on the 15th day of November, 2008.
Passed, approved and adopted this day of , 2008.
Roy D. Buol
Mayor
Attest:
Jeanne F. Schneider
City Clerk
(3/8/2008) Mike Van Milligen - Re: Snow Removal Page 1
From: Mike Van Milligen
To: miller0084@hotmail.com
CC: Cindy Steinhauser
Date: 2/28/2008 6:42 PM
Subject: Re: Snow Removal
Thank you for your input. I will be providing you some information after I have visited with the appropriate
Department Managers.
»> kris miller <miller0084@hotmail.com> 02/28/08 6:15 PM »>
Hello,
am Kristopher Miller and I live at 1820 Scenic View Dr. I am contacting you because of my concern
about the snow removal this winter. I know that this has been one of the worst winters the city has seen in
a number of years. I am aware that snow removal is not an easy job.
With that said I have a few concerns I feel that need to be addressed. First, streets that have been
named on the Emergency Snow Routes require more done to them than just pushing snow as close to the
curb as possible. Parked cars still remain a few feet from the curb and can be in what would be the
normal drive path. The snow needs to be removed from the area between the curb and sidewalk. Carter
Road is a good example of this north of Asbury Road on the east side. However, no cars are ever parked
on this part of the street yet roads such as Grandview, North and South, and Asbury remain with huge
piles of snow. This is dangerous! Yesterday on my way back from class at Clarke there was a bad
accident at the intersection of N. Grandview and Kane. I could see how easy this could have happened as
it could have happened with me today.
This brings me to my next concern. Busy intersection such as the one at N. Grandview and Kane
should have snow removed between the curb and sidewalk as far back as 100 feet. This would allow
drivers to have proper vision to look for other traffic instead of creeping out into the intersection to see
past the snow piles. This has been a problem all winter long. We usually have had a week or two
between snow storms for this problem to have been taken care of. But, the snow remains and therefore
the hazard created by this problem.
On Asbury Road there is an apartment building right at the intersection of Chaney Road. Residents of
this apartment building park in front on Asbury Road and on Chaney Road. These cars are parked right
up to the intersection. This is unacceptable, especially with all the snow. This is a busy intersection and
cars should not be allowed to park on Asbury Road so close to this intersection or any other intersection.
This is a problem even during the warmer months because the intersection is so busy and narrow cars
turning left off Asbury Road onto Chaney Road have to wait a long time. Sometimes traffic has to wait two
light cycles because of the traffic coming from the opposite direction. With cars parked alongside the road
traffic is backed up. Asbury has become a very highly used road and traffic. Anyone can tell you that.
Asbury is a whole other problem of its own. The street has to be the worst in the city. It needed to be
resurfaced two years ago but seems to be ignored by the city. I know this will be an expensive project but
it needs to be done this spring because Asbury Road has become a vital route in Dubuque. The street
needs to be widen to allow a middle turning lane which would allow for better traffic flow. I think Dubuque
would like to keep its average travel time down so that its ranking can remain among the best. For this to
be done improvements need to be addressed now. Not when it becomes a real issue. There needs to be
foresight. The intersections at Chaney and Carter need to be wider and room allowed for right turns.
These intersections are narrow and a tight 90 degree turns. It seems that the plows are only out during
the times its snows and the day after. Otherwise I never see them out when they should still be clearing
the roads.
Snow also needs to be removed at the intersection on the North West Arterial and the street the
McDonald's is located. The traffic that wants to turn left and cross the Arterial and go to McDonald's or
wherever cannot see the South bound traffic. Snow is pushed and piled up on the north side of this
intersection. Twice on my way to work this winter I have come very close to t-boning a car crossing the
intersection because the other driver could not see me coming. This is extremely dangerous! While I am
writing about the NW Arterial, the major intersections such as JFK, Asbury, and Pennsylvania should not
(3/8/2008) Mike Van Milligen - Re: Snow Removal Page 2
have been at grade intersections. There is no excuse why these intersections were built the way they
were. I thought the city would have learned its lesson after a complete remodel of Hwy 20 from downtown
to K-Mart. If these intersections would have been like the one for Grandview and Freemont then the
problem of people crossing the street coming from Hempstead would not be such an issue. Building a
pedestrian bridge is only a band aid for the problem and constant reminders of how the NW Arterial was
poorly designed from the get go. Again travel time would have been improved. I hope the city will make
the proper changes whenever the SW Arterial is built.
Thanks for taking the time to read this a-mail,
Kristopher Miller
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