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Willard City Council adopts snow‑removal parking ordinance after debate on 'right of way' and enforcement
Summary
After an extended discussion about whether to define 'street' versus 'city right of way' and how enforcement should work, Willard City Council voted to adopt Ordinance 2025‑09 regulating snow removal and street parking during winter months; council asked staff to reconcile any conflicting parking language in other ordinances.
The Willard City Council adopted Ordinance 2025‑09, a winter parking and snow‑removal regulation, after an extended discussion about drafting and enforcement. Councilmembers debated whether the ordinance should require a fixed clearance (one councilmember had requested a six‑foot requirement), whether the city should rely on the pavement edge or the city right‑of‑way in enforcement, and how to sequence warnings, citations and towing.
Council members settled on preserving the ordinance’s operative language while amending it to reference the "city right of way" to provide clarity for residents and enforcement staff. Councilmembers emphasized that enforcement should begin with a warning and proceed to citation or towing only when warnings are ineffective; several members stressed that enforcement would be handled tactfully and on a case‑by‑case basis by public‑works staff and officers.
A motion to approve Ordinance 2025‑09 as drafted was made by Councilmember Jordan, seconded by Councilmember Mike, and carried by roll‑call vote. Council also asked staff to identify and reconcile any overlapping or conflicting parking provisions elsewhere in the municipal code and to return with a cleanup ordinance if needed.
Why it matters: The measure clarifies municipal authority to act when street parking impedes snowplows, balancing the need to clear roads with residents who lack off‑street parking. Council members raised concerns about narrow roads and subdivisions without driveways, and they asked staff to tailor enforcement to local conditions.
What’s next: Staff will bring any affected existing parking provisions to the next meeting for cleanup or repeal to eliminate conflicts with the new ordinance.
