Snow easy parking solution

Photo: Contributed

How do you get people to move their vehicles off the street during a snow event?

And, what exactly is a snow event?

West Kelowna Mayor Doug Findlater has directed staff to seek amendments to the city's traffic bylaw that would prohibit on-street parking during snowfalls.

Findlater said there are still bulges of snow along the centre line of some streets because plows have had to work around parked vehicles. There have also been reports of damage to some vehicles caused by plows.

While acknowledging there are issues with hillside developments and neighbourhoods where residents don't have access to off-street parking, Coun. Rick de Jong agreed something needs to be done.

"I certainly like the idea in Kelowna where, during a significant snow event, (the city) can declare off-street parking only for a period of time, and when that significant event passes and the plows have done their job and the roads are safe again, it can be lifted and you can go back to on street parking if necessary," said de Jong.

Coun. Bryden Winsby noted the city will have to be clear as to just what constitutes a snow event.

"People don't necessarily know what a snow event is. The attitude of some people is not going to change, so we have to determine what we are going to do if they don't move their vehicles," he said. "It's not as easy as banning parking."

Coun. Duane Ophus, who voted against the motion, said whatever the city does, it won't be easy. He said if the city decides to go ahead, it will increase the cost of snow removal.

"Basically, you have to go neighbourhood by neighbourhood, the same as we do for street sweeping, you put the little sign up that says get your car off the street because your street is going to be cleared in the next couple of days," said Ophus.

"Good luck trying to figure out how that is going to work."