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Committee refers emergency parking-ban ordinance to corporation counsel after debate over triggers and communications
Summary
Committee members agreed the current parking-ban ordinance and public-notice language are outdated; they referred the measure to corporation counsel to draft clearer triggers, modernized communication options, and enforcement provisions.
The committee discussed proposed amendments to the city’s emergency parking ban ordinance following confusion during a recent snowstorm and voted to refer the ordinance to corporation counsel for revision.
Chair introduced the item noting residents’ confusion about when parking bans are triggered and how they are announced. Stephanie MacArthur, director of traffic and parking, described operational practice: staff meet in advance of storms and typically advise that residents “assume” a ban at about 3 inches of snowfall, advertise notices 24 hours ahead when possible, and publish alerts on the city website and social channels. She said New England weather unpredictability can force late changes to forecasts and enforcement.
Deputy Chief JT Hoare said enforcement—and clear communication—are a team effort and recommended modernizing ordinance language to list ‘‘any combination of city-operated communication systems’’ (websites, social media, local TV and radio) rather than outdated references to radio. He also said the city attempted to use a reverse-911 system managed by the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office during the last storm and is evaluating improvements.
Councilors raised equity and access concerns for seniors and residents not online and discussed resident-parking permit programs as a possible mitigation, though staff warned permits are administratively complex in multifamily neighborhoods. The committee agreed that the ordinance’s wording is antiquated and that clearer, technology-neutral notification provisions and enforcement clarifications should be drafted.
A motion to refer the ordinance to corporation counsel for review and suggested amendments carried. The committee requested a draft that clarifies automatic-triggers (if the committee wishes to include them), enumerates acceptable city communication channels for public notice, and addresses enforcement language.
Next steps: corporation counsel will prepare suggested ordinance language and return recommendations to committee for consideration.
