Let’s get alternate-side parking rules right this time

Let’s hope this time they get it right. The city of La Crosse is again considering changes to its alternate side parking rules. At a meeting tonight, a city council committee will begin discussion about making changes about when we have to move our cars during the winter months. Under current law, residents who park on the street have to move their cars to the odd or even side of the street based on the calendar from November 15 to March 15. Outgoing Mayor Tim Kabat wisely issued a pause in enforcement of the law earlier this winter during a stretch of unusually warm weather. Now the city will consider essentially making that change permanent. The plan would allow residents to park on either side of the street, no matter the date, until the city gets two inches of measurable snow. That is a good idea. There is no reason for people to have to move their cars when there is no chance the snow plows will be called out, other than to raise revenue for the city. Under the proposal, once La Crosse gets two inches of snow, the alternate-side parking rules would remain in effect through March 15. The city should go farther, and insist that alternate-side parking enforcement be put on hold whenever there is no chance of the streets needing to be plowed. If the rules really are about keeping streets clear for plowing, then there is no reason to make people move their cars if the plows are staying in the garage.