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Painesville officials defend snow parking enforcement after residents report blocked driveways
Summary
Residents raised concerns about street parking during storms and the city outlined towing and citation practices; police and public works officials said enforcement aims to keep narrow streets passable and clear sidewalks when possible.
Residents and council members pressed city staff on snow-parking enforcement and plowing after two heavy storms this winter, and officials described how citations and towing are used when parked vehicles impede snow removal.
At a public-comment period, resident Ray Stornot of 346 Birchwood Lane urged stricter enforcement of the city’s snow-parking ban so plows can clear streets and sidewalks. The council also read an email from resident Jeff Pope complaining that a plow left snow on a sidewalk and in front of a back driveway after a recent storm.
City officials responding in the meeting said crews prioritize clearing roadways first and then sidewalks when equipment and conditions allow. Police and public-works staff reported towing 14 vehicles over a recent four-day storm period; of those, they said only about seven were registered to the streets where they were towed. Officials said they attempt to knock on doors when practical but added that doing so at 1 a.m. or in every case is not realistic. The city reiterated that the snow-parking ban automatically goes into effect whenever snowfall exceeds 2 inches.
Council members and staff described the operational challenges on narrow streets where, by about 5 inches of accumulation, plow operations and emergency vehicle access become difficult. Police officials said citations are intended to encourage compliance rather than punish residents: after a first or second citation the city will continue outreach, and vehicles can be towed after repeated citations or when public-safety access is blocked.
Council members asked about follow-up and payment compliance; staff said the “overwhelming majority” of people cited paid their fines and that officers try to work with residents to avoid towing when possible. The city reported that more residents complied after the January 10 storm than earlier storms.
Officials also emphasized the human cost for crews, saying snowplow and salt drivers face long shifts and that repeated circling to clear streets where vehicles remain parked strains resources and slows service to other neighborhoods.
The discussion concluded with council and staff urging residents who can park off-street to do so during declared snow events and reminding residents to contact their ward councilmember or the administration if they have specific concerns.
