Government

LETTER: The Origins of the Latest Assault on the Watertown Winter Parking Ban

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By Linda ScottWatertown Resident

This will be a short one. About 10 months ago, this appeared on Reddit:

Watertown Winter Parking Ban update

TLDR: Watertown Councilor Tony Palomba is working to petition and amend the winter parking ban. Email him at councilorpalomba@gmail.com to sign the petition, share your feedback, and learn more. “Hi Folks, I am sending this email to those of you who have contacted me regarding the Winter Parking Ban (Ban) at some point in the last year and a half. My apologies of the long delay in coming up with a way to get this important issue in front of the City Council for a public hearing and vote.

Government

City Council to Discuss Winter Parking Ban at Special Meeting

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Watertown City Hall

The City Council will discuss whether to continue the Winter Parking Ban after receiving a petition signed by more than 800 residents. The public an provide input at the special meeting scheduled later this month. The City sent out the following information:

A Special City Council Meeting to discuss the Winter Parking Ban has been scheduled for January 21, 2025 at 6 p.m. This is a Public Hearing that has been scheduled following the City Council receiving a petition asking for the Winter Parking Ban be lifted. The Hearing will be held in the City Council Chamber in Watertown City Hall at 149 Main Street. The Hearing’s agenda will be posted soon.

Around Town

Watertown’s Winter Parking Ban to be Temporarily Lifted

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Watertown’s overnight winter parking ban will be temporarily lifted starting the week of Christmas. See more information in the announcement from the City of Watertown, below. Effective December 23, 2024 enforcement of the All Night Parking Ban will be temporarily suspended – barring any snowfall that would require plowing or sanding. Should there be a snow event please refer to the City’s website for available off-street parking locations. All homeowners are encouraged to continue using available off-street parking during the overnight hours.

Around Town

See the Dates of the Watertown Winter Parking Ban for 2024-25

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The City of Watertown announced the dates for the 2024-25 Winter Parking Ban. See information below. For the 2024 – 2025 parking ban, enforcement will start on December 2, 2024. The regulation reads in part; “No vehicle may remain on any public way for more than one hour between the hours of 1 a.m. and 6 a.m. all days of the week.”

For residents who lack sufficient off-street parking, the City allows for temporary parking at any municipal parking lot and other locations. Read more information.

Around Town

LETTER: Group Seeks to End the Winter Parking Ban

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Currently, Watertown enforces an overnight parking ban by prohibiting parking longer than one hour between 1:00 AM and 6:00 AM from approximately December through March. The primary rationale for this measure, which is enforced through the issuance of parking tickets, is to allow for better snow removal. The downside to such a ban is that many residents and their guests find themselves unable to store their vehicles anywhere near their homes overnight.  

The Watertown winter parking ban unfairly penalizes those with fewer means who do not have access to off-street parking. During the cold, dark winter months, parents with young children, the elderly, the disabled and many others are asked to walk a mile or two in the dark to go park their car in a remote lot, which then fills up.  

We understand that Watertown officials charged with the responsibility of making our streets safe are calling this a public safety issue, namely that emergency vehicles need to get through and if people park in the street during winter, at night, they cannot.

Around Town

Watertown Winter Parking Ban Ending Early

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Watertown’s winter overnight parking ban has ended early! The Watertown Police Department sent out the following announcement:

The Winter Parking Ban has ended effective immediately, today, Tuesday, March 5, 2024. 

If there is a snowstorm in the next few weeks, it will go back into effect.

Around Town

Watertown Winter Parking Ban Dates Announced

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Watertown Chief of Police Thomas F. Rocca has announced the 2023-2024 Winter Parking Ban dates. Effective Monday, November 27, 2023 and continuing to Monday, April 1, 2024 the Winter Parking Ban will be in effect and strictly enforced. The regulation reads in part; “No vehicle may remain on any public way for more than one hour between the hours of 1AM and 6AM all days of the week”. For residents who lack sufficient off-street parking, the City allows for temporary parking at any municipal parking lot and other locations noted:

Municipal parking lot Behind CVS at 27 Main Street – Use metered spaces only. Municipal parking lot Behind the Public Library – 123 Main Street

Municipal parking lot Behind CVS at 655 Mt.

Around Town

Watertown’s Winter Parking Ban Will End Early

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The City of Watertown sent out the following announcement:

Winter Parking Ban ends effective Wednesday, March 15, 2023 at 12:00 pm. The City of Watertown will lift enforcement of the all night parking ban effective Wednesday March 15, 2023 at 12:00 pm subject to weather and future emergency conditions. The Department of Public Works, Police Department and Fire Department would like to remind motorists that keeping the streets clear allows for road repairs, street cleaning and easy access for public safety vehicles. To that end, all Departments encourage residents to make full use of off-street parking when it is available.