Tuesday night, Mayor Dave Cieslewicz meets with the Common Council which, among other issues, will attempt to tackle the problem of keeping Madison's streets clear of snow during winter months.
Essentially, the proposal (PDF) calls for steeper fines for those who don't abide by alternate side parking regulations during winter snow emergencies. But maybe the best part of this legislation is a change to the current snow emergency ordinance reads, "Towing. Any person violating Subsection (1) or (4)(c) of this ordinance is subject to towing and fees for towing."
Amen. If you've ever lived in a downtown neighborhood, you might be familiar with the usual post-storm procedure. If someone parks on the wrong side of the street, he or she might receive a ticket (often the parking cop needs to shovel out a little snow cave on the windshield just to attach the ticket to the wiper), but the car will remain right where it is, causing plows to swing a wide arc around the vehicle. When the slacker finally emerges from his den to dig his car out, he leaves a line of snow boulders to ice up into a ridge that remains in place until April.
Of course, the ideal plan is to simply tow the scofflaws' car and plow streets from curb to curb. This is what they do in snow-bound Minneapolis and many residents of that city have stories about having to wait in long lines at the impound lot to free their cars. I know a married couple that met at the impound lot during a snow emergency. It's a hassle, no doubt, but few fret over it. Their streets are clear and driving/parking isn't hazardous. The guilty pay while the innocent benefit.
MAYOR CIESLEWICZ WEEKLY SCHEDULE
Monday, October 6, 2008
8:30 a.m. Office/work time 10:00 a.m. Policy Staff Meeting (Mayor's Conf. Room) 11:30 a.m. Nan Fey, Mario Mendoza (Mayor's Office) 12:15 p.m. State Street 500-600 Blocks Grand Opening (Frances Plaza) 2:00 p.m. Mark Hanson, Ray Harmon (Mayor's Office) 3:30 p.m. Mayors' Innovation Project Steering Committee conference call (Mayor's Office) 4:30 p.m. Common Council Leadership Meeting (Mayor's Conf. Room)
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
8:30 a.m. Mayor's Management Team Meeting (Mayor's Conf. Room) 10:00 a.m. Meet with Channel 3 Editorial Board (Channel 3, Raymond Rd) 11:30 a.m. Department and Division Heads Meeting (MMB 260) 1:00 p.m. Press conference - Budget Introduction (Fire Station 9, 201 N Midvale Blvd) 2:00 p.m. Meet with the Wisconsin State Journal Editorial Board (Fish Hatchery Road) 5:30 p.m. Council Overview of Mayor's 2009 Operating Budget (City-County Bldg, Room 201) 6:30 p.m. Common Council Meeting (City-County Bldg, Room 201)
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
9:00 a.m. Welcome at 5th Anniversary Walk for Full Speed Ahead After 50 event (Monona Terrace) 10:00 a.m. Staff Meeting (Mayor's Conf. Room) 1:00 p.m. Meet with Capital Times Editorial Board (Fish Hatchery Road) 2:30 p.m. Office/work time
Thursday, October 9, 2008
8:30 a.m. Visit Lowell Elementary School kindergarten class (401 Maple Ave) 10:00 a.m. Office/work time 2:00 p.m. Chief Noble Wray, Joel Plant (Mayor's Office) 3:30 p.m. Mayor Nancy Osterhaus, Steven Sobiek, Ray Harmon (Mayor's Conf. Room)
Friday, October 10, 2008
9:00 a.m. A Clean Future for the Yahara Lakes: Solutions for Tomorrow, Starting Today (Monona Terrace)
6:00 p.m. Northside Planning Council 15th Anniversary Celebration (Warner Park Community Recreation Center)
Sunday, October 12, 2008
10:30 a.m. 17th Annual Literacy Network Run/Walk (corner of State St and Gorham)
