Ordinances-2002-251

CITY OF TIFFIN ORDINANCE NO. 2002-251 AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING PROVISIONS FOR THE REMOVAL OF SNOW AND ICE FROM THE CITY STREETS AND ESTABLISHING AN EMERGENCY ROUTE AND PROHIBITING PARKING OF CARS ON CERTAIN STREETS BE IT ENACTED BY THE CITY OF TIFFIN, IOWA; Section 1. Purpose. The purpose of this ordinance is: 1) to provide a procedure for the efficient removal of snow from the city streets; 2) to establish an emergency snow route; 3) to allow and prohibit the parking of vehicles on city streets and 4) to establish the procedure for removal of vehicles in violation. Section 2. Removal of Snow Procedure. The city will begin snow plowing or ice removal immediately after it has stopped snowing or sleeting. However, at the discretion of city officials, plowing of emergency routes may begin after sufficient notice has been provided as outlined below. The priority of clearing city streets shall be as follows: 1) the emergency route; 2) the streets and intersections; 3) the alleys; and 4) the parks. The snow shall be pushed back as far as possible from the streets; edges to allow vehicles to park as close to the property line as possible. The snow plowing may create a snow pile in driveways that cannot be prevented and further, the city shall not be responsible for the removal of this snow. Property owners should act responsibly as to the removal of the snow piled in their driveways by the city plows and should not push the snow back into the city streets where it will create a hazard as a compacted and frozen snow or ice patch. Sanding of icy streets will begin at the city’s discretion and sanding also may follow the plowing of snow from the streets. Section 3. Declaration of Snow/Ice Emergency. A declaration of a snow or ice emergency shall be determined by city officials on the basis of falling snow, sleet, freezing rain or a forecast by the weather bureau or other weather conditions that make it necessary that motor vehicle traffic, including emergency vehicles be expedited and that parking on certain streets be prohibited or restricted for snow plowing or sanding purposes. An emergency declaration shall take effect not earlier than four hours after it is declared, except if it is declared after 8:00 PM in which case it shall not take effect until at least nine o’clock AM the next day. City officials shall give a written declaration to the city clerk which states the beginning and ending time for the emergency declaration. It is provided however, the declaration may be cancelled or changed by the same procedure. The city clerk shall inform area radio and television stations and local newspapers as delineated by resolution of the city council and shall ask for a public service announcement. The city officials shall post signs on all “emergency routes” so