[Amended 12-5-1988]
The Common Council hereby finds and declares
as a matter of legislative determination and by the authority of the
New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law that it is in the best interests
of the inhabitants of the City of Albany to expedite the removal of
snow on the public streets so as to prevent the congestion of traffic
and to expedite the orderly movement thereof during snow and other
natural emergencies.
[Amended 5-20-1996 by Ord. No. 9.51.96]
Whenever road conditions in the City of Albany
shall become hazardous or such that the free movement of fire, health,
police, emergency or other vehicular traffic may become impeded by
reason of snow, freezing rain, sleet, ice or other natural causes,
the Mayor of the City of Albany, upon the advice of the Chief of Police
and Commissioner of the Department of General Services, is hereby
authorized to declare the existence of an emergency.
[Amended 5-6-2019 by Ord.
No. 7.21.19]
The declaration of an emergency as specified in § 359-31 above shall be conveyed to the public by radio and television announcements and such other means as deemed appropriate, which shall constitute notice to the general public of such emergency.
A.
A snow emergency shall commence at either 8:00 a.m.
or 8:00 p.m.
B.
Such snow emergency shall be in existence for a forty-eight-hour
period.
C.
If conditions warrant, the Mayor, upon the advice
of the Chief of Police and Commissioner of General Services, is authorized
to continue the snow emergency for an additional forty-eight-hour
period. Continuation of such snow emergency shall be conveyed to the
public by radio and television announcements and such other means
as deemed appropriate.
[Amended 5-20-1996 by Ord. No. 9.51.96; 5-6-2019 by Ord. No.
7.21.19]
A.
During a declared snow emergency the following parking
restrictions shall apply:
(1)
Upon commencement of a snow emergency, all vehicular
parking on the odd-numbered side of all City streets is prohibited
for a twenty-four-hour period.
(2)
After 24 hours from the designated snow emergency
commencement, vehicular parking on the even-numbered side of all City
streets is prohibited for the succeeding twenty-four-hour period.
(3)
In the one-hour period prior to the commencement of the second 24
hours of a snow emergency there shall be a one-hour grace period prior
to the commencement of parking restrictions during which vehicular
parking may transition to the odd-numbered side of City streets.
[Added 5-6-2019 by Ord.
No. 7.21.19; amended 12-16-2019 by Ord. No. 47.122.19]
B.
After 48 hours have elapsed from the commencement of the snow emergency, the snow emergency will be officially declared ended, unless such emergency is continued as specified in § 359-33C of this article.
C.
In addition to the odd/even parking restrictions,
the City may restrict parking in designated areas for additional snow
removal. Temporary appropriate signage will be posted in such areas
which shall constitute public notification.
D.
The Department of General Services shall maintain
a list of all areas of the City which do not follow an odd/even numbering
system. Parking restrictions applicable to these areas shall be distributed
to all citizens affected thereby and shall be made available to any
member of the public upon request.
[Amended 5-20-1996 by Ord. No. 9.51.96]
E.
During a declared snow emergency, all ordinary parking
regulations will be suspended excepting those parking regulations
relative to fire hydrants, driveways and handicap zones; additionally,
special events in City parks otherwise designated for snow emergency
parking shall be suspended for the duration of a declared snow emergency
to the extent such special event would otherwise restrict the availability
of snow emergency parking.
[Amended 12-7-2020 by Ord. No. 45.122.19]
[Amended 5-6-2019 by Ord.
No. 7.21.19]
Information relative to the existence of a snow
emergency, when commenced and regulations pertaining thereto can be
obtained by calling 518-476-SNOW.
[Amended 5-20-1996 by Ord. No. 9.51.96]
The Commissioner of the Department of General
Services is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations relative
to a snow emergency in conformance with this article.
In addition to the penalty specified in § 359-38 of this article, any vehicle parked, stalled or otherwise unable to be moved during any snow emergency in violation of the provisions of this article or any rules and regulations promulgated hereto may be towed or caused to be removed under the direction of the Police Department. The vehicle shall be towed at the vehicle owner's expense, and such towing charge shall be paid prior to the release of such vehicle.
[Amended 5-6-2019 by Ord.
No. 7.21.19]
