Public hearing set for parking ordinance change

Patrick Fisher, Staff Writer

The New Prague City Council has approved the first reading of an amendment to the city's snowbird ordinance. The council set a public hearing for Tuesday, Sept. 8, to discuss the amendment.

New Prague Police Chief Mark Vosejpka explained the proposed amendment deals with several issues that have come up over the past two winters. The ordinance currently prohibits parking on a street, city-owned parking lot or alley between 2 and 5 a.m. between November 1 and April 1, or at any other time when the forecast calls for two or more inches of snow until the street or alley has been plowed curb to curb.

The changes in the ordinance include allowing officers authority to grant permission to residents who have requested to park on the street for events such as holiday gatherings or out-of-town visitors. Another change allows the chief to decide cases of undue hardship for parking. In the past, Vosejpka would gather the information and present it to the city administrator to make the decision. In addition, city vehicles and vehicles being used by on-duty city employees will be exempt from the ordinance.

Councilmember Kristin Guerrette asked if a person has to make their request for undue hardship each year. Vosejpka said yes, adding the police department had 11 to 15 requests last year.

2007 street project

The council unanimously approved the final payment for the 2007 street and utility reconstruction project to the contractor. The project included Lexington Avenue North from Second Street NE to Bruzek Lane, Gooseberry Lane and Liberty Lane.

Public Works Director Dennis Seurer explained this project included a change order that added the portion of Lexington Avenue North from Seventh Street NE to Bruzek Lane.

Seurer added there were also concrete popout issues, which resulted in some deductions negotiated with the contractor. The deducts included $10,800 for assessment refunds to property owners, $432 for some concrete repair work done recently and $6,778 for extra engineering expenses related to the popout work.

Applying the deductions and previous payments made against the final value of the construction work resulted in a final payment of approximately $7,190 due to the company.