Ordinance would ban parking to aid snow removal efforts

Brainerd will draft a proposed ordinance that would ban parking on all city streets from 2-6 a.m. from Nov. 1-April 1.

The Brainerd City Council on Monday directed staff to develop an ordinance. Though it would be in effect every day between Nov. 1-April 1, the ordinance would be an effort to help city crews in their snowplowing efforts.

Voting against were council members Kelly Bevans and Mary Koep. Council members Anne Nelson Fisher and Kevin Goedker didn't express support for the idea but wanted to wait until a draft ordinance was presented to the council.

"I don't see how you'll ever get the entire city of Brainerd to not park on streets between 2-6 a.m.," Bevans said.

Currently, the city declares a snow emergency and bans parking on east-west and north-south routes. Council member Bob Olson said that with the ordinance, the city would save money on snowplowing by not having to revisit a street several times because vehicles haven't been moved.

"It's a new change. It's got some drawbacks, but the reason I'm voting for it ... (is) if it's unbearable and can't work, we've repealed ordinances before," Olson said.

City Engineer Jeff Hulsether said Baxter has a similar ordinance that allows snowplowing crews to respond early rather than waiting for a day for a snow emergency to be declared.

MATT ERICKSON may be reached at matt.erickson@brainerddispatch. com or 855-5857.