Watkins ordinance amendment re: Parking Regulations

Legal Notice

ORDINANCE NO. 2024-1

CITY OF WATKINS, MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA

AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 72 OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF WATKINS PERTAINING TO PARKING REGULATIONS

THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WATKINS, MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA, ORDAINS:

Section 1. Section 72.02 (Snow Removal and Parking; Fines) of the Municipal Code of the City of Watkins, Minnesota, is hereby amended to read as follows:

• For the purpose of this section, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.

STREET. Any street, avenue, alley, or other public way in the city.

VEHICLE. Any self-propelled motor vehicle or other vehicle on wheels which would ordinarily travel on public streets.

• WINTER PARKING.

•• No person shall park a vehicle in the Central Business District on Central Avenue between the hours of 2:30 a.m. and 6:00 a.m., from November 1 to April 1. Vehicles found parked or abandoned in the Central Business District on -Central Avenue in violation of this provision shall be cited by the Meeker County Sheriff’s Department. The first offense shall be a $25 fine; the second offense shall be a $50 fine; recurring offenses shall be a $100 fine. Owners of vehicles so cited shall pay the fine to the State of Minnesota. If the fines are not paid within ten (10) days of the date of the citation, the violation may be prosecuted as a petty misdemeanor.

• DECLARATION OF A SNOW EMERGENCY; PARKING PROHIBITED.

•• The City may declare a snow emergency to exist in the City whenever snow falls to a depth of two (2) inches or more. The emergency shall continue in effect for a period of twenty-four (24) hours or until terminated sooner by the City if conditions permit.

• The City of Watkins web site, City of Watkins Facebook page, Code Red, and City of Watkins Digital Community Sign may be used as a means to notify residents that a snow emergency is declared; however, the notification shall be a service aid only and not a duty on the part of city officials.

• Parking Prohibited. During a snow emergency it shall be unlawful to park on either side of a city street.

• Vehicles in Violation. Any motor vehicle found in violation of this section shall constitute a public hazard and an obstruction of traffic and may be immediately removed and impounded by any police officer or person/entity designated by the City Council.

• Following an impoundment, the vehicle shall be surrendered only to the duly identified owner, or the owner’s agent upon payment of the cost of towing and storage. Any damage occasioned to any towed vehicles by the towing operations shall be the responsibility of the owner or operator of the vehicle. No liability for damages shall be imposed against, nor shall any damage be assumed by the City. In addition to impoundment, any person violating the provision may be charged with a petty misdemeanor.

• No person shall remove snow from public or private property and deposit snow onto any public street or parking lot.

• In addition to the foregoing penalties, any person violating any provision of this section shall be penalized as provided in
§ 72.99.

(Ord. 79-3, passed 12-12-1979; Am. Ord. 97-4, passed 12-11-1997; Am. Ord. 2003-7, passed 11-13- 2003) Penalty, see § 72.99

Cross-reference: Fee, see Chapter 35, Appendix A Public nuisances affecting peace and safety; failure to remove snow from sidewalks, see § 93.04.

Section 2. Section 72.99 (PENALTY) of the Municipal Code of the City of Watkins, Minnesota is hereby amended to read as follows:

Violation of any provisions of this chapter shall be a petty misdemeanor punishable by the maximum fine permitted by state law. The presence of any motor vehicle on any street when standing or parked in violation of this chapter is prima facie evidence that the registered owner of the -vehicle committed or authorized the commission of the violation.

Section 3. Repeal. Section 72.02; 72.99.

Section 4. Effective Date. This ordinance becomes effective from and after its passage and publication.

Ordained by the Watkins City Council on this 11th day of January 2024.

Those Council Members voting for: Rowan, Tschumperlin, Unterberger, Wirz, Carlson.

Those Council Members voting against: None.

Christopher Rowan, Mayor

ATTEST: (SEAL)

Debra S. Kramer, Clerk

Published in the Tri-County News Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024.