Alderman Robert J. Bauman Questions the Unilateral Extension of Winter Parking Rules
“This action by the Department of Public Works Commissioner to extend winter parking rules to March 15 is a tacit admission that the city’s snow and ice control efforts this year have been very poor."
City of Milwaukee truck trying to clear the street. Photo taken February 12th, 2019 by Jeramey Jannene.
Alderman Robert Bauman, chair of the Public Works Committee, criticized the Department of Public Works’ extension of the city’s winter parking rules until March 15 as a decision made without input from the Common Council.
“This action by the Department of Public Works Commissioner to extend winter parking rules to March 15 is a tacit admission that the city’s snow and ice control efforts this year have been very poor,” said Alderman Bauman. “Instead of extending parking restrictions, DPW should be sending out plows and front-end loaders to finish the plowing that was never finished.”
Alderman Bauman continued: “I also have grave concerns about parking tickets. Many residents will not get the word and will dutifully go back to regular parking rules today as instructed by the signs on their block. Are they now going to all get tickets?”
“My research indicates that as of the end of February, the 2018/2019 snowfall amounts in the City of Milwaukee total 46.3 inches – only the sixth highest in 15 years,” said Alderman Bauman. “As chair of the Public Works Committee, I will schedule a hearing on this matter at our Wednesday, March 6 meeting to discuss this unilateral declaration in detail.”
Alderman Bauman introduced legislation at the February 26 Common Council meeting to beef up the city’s snow and ice control efforts, directing the Department of Public Works (DPW) to develop a reserve force of drivers and supervisors recruited from the ranks of retired city employees to add resources during snow and ice removal operations. File #181747 is scheduled to be heard at the March 6 Public Works Committee meeting as well.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
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Could the decision be a factor of the amount of snow still on the ground? Even if the DPW hadn’t had the personnel and equipment difficulties this year, the amount of snow we received in the last 3 weeks along with the slow melt, there still would be a need to extend parking regulations. There is a limit to where excess snow can be put. Stop playing politics with the weather.
Leave it to the politicians to use mother nature to their political advantage.
This was a bit of an unusual winter. We were all blindsided.
My area is usually curb to curb, this year not so much. Where do you put it all ???
Can’t dump it in the lake or rivers. I know, have the common council hold there meetings out doors
and all the hot air generated will melt the snow.