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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.
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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
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Special Committee on Snow Removal
volunteer program. She noted that she had been in contact with the
Volunteer Action Center and hopes that requests for assistance in sidewalk
shoveling can be handled through that agency.
Capt. Gargis noted that there are many areas throughout the City that
do not have adequate parking, especially around multi-family dwelling areas.
Mr. Watt speculated that over 25% of the City had this problem.
Upon questioning by the Council Attorney) Mr. Lesczynski stated that
it would take two to three weeks to complete the process of checking snow
route signs throughout the City. He also noted that a brochure was being
prepared and that a summary of the snow removal ordinance could be placed
on the water bills. However/ he speculated that the utility bills could not
have this information until January or February.
Councilman McGann had several questions related to absentee owners,
and why a $10. 00. fine "was being incorporated for failure to clear snow from a
fire hydrant6. He also suggested that firefighters consider a volunteer
program to assist in "snow duty" similar to a procedure used in the past.
He stressed the need to have similar language in Mishawaka and South Bend snow
removal laws. The Council Attorney offered to contact Jim Olsen regarding
possible changes in the Mishawaka ordinance. Councilman McGann also questioned
the terminology of "temporary emergency vehicles" .
The Council Attorney then asked several questions regarding the
draft bill: drafting mistakes in Section II where terms such as "snow
emergencies, residential emergencies and whether disasters" were still being
incorporated; suggested incorporating a time of 24 hours after a snow fall for
a fire hydrant clearance; questioned why the definitional section was not
incorporated; questioned why a penalty was not incorporated for failure to
clear sidewalks; questioned terminology of streets which are "open and clear
of snow" rather than "cleared to the curb line" ; and questioned why a
specific provision regarding snow birds and their ticketing, towing and
storage procedures were not included.
Several Councilmen voiced concern over the penalty clause pertaining to
the fire hydrant clearance section, and felt that a penalty for failure to
clear sidewalks may have a higher priority.
Councilman Zielinski then called a meeting for Monday, November 15th at
4 :30 p.m. to review the re-draft of Bill No. 128-82 which Mrs. Pfotenhauer
was to prepare.
There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 5:45 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Raymond Zielinski
Chairman