MILWAUKEE — Mayor Tom Barrett is calling the Milwaukee Common Council to resume parking enforcement overnight, after enforcement was suspended last Spring in an effort to help residents who are spending more time at home because of the pandemic.
In a statement from the mayor's office on Monday, it appears one of the chief concerns regarding parking enforcement is the annual leaf pick-up, followed by efforts to clear snow and ice this coming winter.
Barrett explains that because of a lack of alternate side parking, because nighttime regulations are not being enforced, crews are having trouble accessing piles of leaves left on the rims of streets by residents.
Barrett urged the Common Council to consider allowing crews to resume enforcement at their Tuesday meeting.
When nighttime enforcement was in effect, drivers were required to have a permit to park from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m. Parking regulations also required drivers to abide by alternate-side parking, which the mayor argues allows the city to carry out leaf collections, as well as snow removal and street sweeping.
Both of those regulations, however, are not currently being enforced. While Barrett acknowledges that the suspension of overnight parking rules was necessary thus far, "The City’s plan has always been for parking enforcement to resume and now is the time."
"With fall here, and winter following, we must ensure our streets are clear so our DPW crews can perform these important municipal services," Barrett said in the statement, referring to the City of Milwaukee's Department of Public Works, which is in charge of leaf pick-up and snow removal.
When enforcement does resume: Night parking permits cost $55 a year, or $20 for four months. Permits can be purchased at milwaukee.gov/parking or at any police district station.
The Department of Public Works reinstated metered parking enforcement in the city on June 15.
