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As temperatures vaulted into the 70s with the start of May, and on the heels of a rather cool April, Ely’s city council made the unofficial determination that winter is over and spring has sprung.
They’ve ended the city’s calendar parking requirement.
That decision came Tuesday, but doesn’t take effect until May 17, to give city crews a few extra days to complete street sweeping.
“We’re not quite done sweeping streets, and that is a very important priority,” said mayor Heidi Omerza.
City officials usually wait on two items before lifting the calendar parking rules - a convincing end to winter and the completion of street sweeping in calendar parking areas Last year the requirement was lifted April 30 while in 2023, when there were a series of April snowstorms, the calendar parking regulations lasted until May 16.
Council member Al Forsman noted this week’s warm weather but said that street sweeping remains important.
“It is about getting the streets cleaned,” said Forsman. “I know they’ve been working hard but there’s a lot of streets to cover here.”
In place during the winter season to aid in snow removal and plowing, the calendar parking law requires motorists to park their vehicles on opposite sides of the street on alternating nights.
The law kicks in on Nov. 1 and continues through winter.
