11-08-82 Special Committee on Snow Removal

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Matt tnttuP EPpnr2 (IIu tile (gammon mounrtl of Or °Iuug of fpDndlt Wrn): SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON SNOW REMOVAL The November 8, 1982 meeting of the Special Committee on Snow Removal was called to order by its Chairman, Councilman Raymond Zielinski at 4 :30 p.m. in the Council informal meeting room. Persons in attendance included: Councilmen Szymkowiak, Zielinski, Crone, McGann, Voorde, Harris, and Serge, Sean Watt, William Penn, Capt. Gargis, Charles E. Dempsey; Sr. , John Leszczynski, Kathy Barnard, Carolyn Pfotenhauer, and Kathleen Cekanski-Farrand. The purpose of the meeting was to receive an update on the various information requested at the October 13th meeting and to review the draft of Bill No. 128-82 prepared by the City Administration. Councilman Zielinski called upon Sean Watt to review the snow route maps. Mr. Watt reviewed the two maps showing how the City was divided into four basic quadrants. He noted that two trucks are assigned to the downtown area where bridges and hospital as well as streets receive priority. There are six trucks assigned per quadrant. • Councilman Szymkowiak voiced concern about accommodating religious institutions during funerals and noted the parking problem around LaSalle High School. He also believed that snow plows travel too fast on the City streets which result in throwing hardened ice and snow onto the sidewalk. He felt that some means of identifying fire hydrandts should also be used. Mr. Watt stated that he would accomodate for winter funerals once all snow routes had been cleared. Mr. Dempsey, a citizen member questioned procedures used to remove bottlenecks. He also voiced concern of giving better services to the people. He felt that requiring individuals to shovel snow who may have a health problem or are over the age of 40 was -unreasonable. Councilman Zielinski then called upon Carolyn Pfotenhauer to review her letter of October 22nd regarding the number of tickets issued during the last snow season. She noted that 1, 154 snow tickets were issued of which 336 were snow route violations and 812 were residential parking violations. 318 tickets were paid for a total amount of approximately $15 ,000. 211 tickets were set for court hearing of which 170 were dismissed. 76 tickets were voided by Capt.Gargis. She noted that the reasons for dismissing tickets included: no signs posted on snow routes, tickets issued after residential streets were plowed, inability of the owner to move their vehicle due to illness or accident, a misunderstanding of the law, confusion of media announcements, and multi-ticket. Multi-family areas were also a problem area. Councilman Crone questioned whether the proposed bill would address any of the problems cited in Mrs. Pfotenhauer' s letter. She noted a problem of selective enforcement. She felt that unless' theproblem areas were specifically addressed that the proposed revisions may not be that helpful. Councilman Zielinski called upon Kathy Barnard for an update on the IR[[ IR[[[ PUBLIONINO CO.