Mayor Tom Barrett released the following statement regarding night parking regulations:

“We need the Council to take action tomorrow to ensure night parking regulations are reinstated. Failing to do so has a major operational impact on the City’s ability to properly collect leaves and manage street conditions going forward. Already we are seeing major leaf piles that are not accessible to sanitation drivers due to the lack of alternate side parking, which is an important part of night parking regulations.

“I know residents want their leaves picked up. It is an important quality of life service that residents have come to expect. The window of opportunity for leaf collection is very narrow, and it depends on Mother Nature. I wish we could be confident we had time, but keep in mind, last year it snowed on Halloween.

“The same men and women who clear the streets of leaves are then redeployed to handle snow and ice control. So, when leaf collection is delayed, handling winter weather conditions is delayed. We simply can’t have that. Residents, businesses and visitors rely on safe streets to get around the city.

“From the very beginning of the pandemic, our approach has been to be sensitive to the impacts of the health emergency on City residents. We relaxed parking enforcement last spring as many businesses shut down and residents were being told to stay home. The City’s plan has always been for parking enforcement to resume and now is the time. With fall here, and winter following, we must ensure our streets are clear so our DPW crews can perform these important municipal services.

BACKGROUND:

Night parking regulations are in effect throughout the City of Milwaukee. A permit is required to park on the street from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m. Among these requirements is alternate side parking (except in certain areas), allowing equipment proper access to provide municipal services such as street sweeping, leaf collections and snow removal. Night parking permits are $55 annually, or $20 per 4-month period. Permits can be purchased at milwaukee.gov/parking or at any police district station. For detailed information go to milwaukee.gov/parking.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.