Residents press Brighton leaders on downtown snow and overnight parking; council weighs ordinances and permits

Mike Monroe, a Brighton property owner, told the City Council he has spent 23 years asking the city to clear ice and snow from pedestrian areas and the private parking lot behind his Heiney Street building and provided photos showing icy conditions nine days after a storm. He said DPW plows routinely clear vehicle travel lanes but leave walkways and dumpster approaches untreated and that long-term parked vehicles block crews from accessing problem spots. He offered to put down salt if the city supplied it.

Director Gretch explained how the city's crews prioritize streets and sidewalks and why private parking areas are difficult to service: crews run two teams, start pre-dawn and focus on streets and dead ends first, large plow trucks cannot safely hand-shovel between closely parked vehicles, and new or temporary employees require retraining. Gretch said staff will review Monroe's photos and follow up directly with him.

Council members asked whether the city can tow vehicles left for days in municipal lots and discussed enforcement approaches. Chief Procter said recent Sixth Circuit precedent has constrained the practice of 'tire-chalking' as a means of tracking long-term parking but outlined alternatives the city uses: running vehicle identification numbers to check status, attempting owner contact, placing a 48-hour red-tag notice indicating potential tow for abandonment, and impounding vehicles during declared snow emergencies on public streets.

Councilors and staff discussed possible policy responses. Options under consideration included a temporary winter-only overnight parking restriction in public lots (for example, 3 a.m. to 6 a.m.), a resident or downtown parking-permit system, and targeted signage directing drivers to alternate municipal lots. Staff cautioned the council about practical limits and costs: calling crews back for daytime or overnight clearing triggers overtime; some downtown buildings lack private off-street parking so residents rely on public lots; and enforcement must avoid constitutional pitfalls and unintended hardship for people using the lots to get home safely.

No formal ordinance was adopted at the meeting. Council asked staff to explore a mix of options — including permit schemes and a test 'turnaround' or painted curb area — and to return with implementation costs, enforcement procedures and suggested ordinance language for future consideration.