Temporary "No Parking" signs have started to appear on city streets in Minneapolis and St. Paul as both municipalities this week send out sweepers to pick up gravel, leaves and debris as well as sand and dirt.
The translation: Residents and visitors need to be extra vigilant where they park or their vehicle may not be there when they return.
Neither city is being secretive about the operation, which starts Monday in St. Paul and Tuesday in Minneapolis. Both will post notices about parking restrictions a minimum of 24 hours in advance with multiple signs on blocks to be swept and cleaned. The signs, however, are small so they easily could be missed, so check nightly.
St. Paul spokesman Joe Ellickson said residents can check an interactive map posted on the city's web site to find out when Elgin Pelican (that's the name of the sweeper) will roll down their block.
In Minneapolis, the city will augment sign posting with notices on its Facebook page and Twitter. It also will send about 3,000 automated phone calls each night to residents potentially affected by the next day's sweeping and post a schedule online.
Naturally the begging question is why are they cleaning up before all the pretty leaves fall? Well, it's a huge job for one. Minneapolis has 1,100 miles of city streets (double that when you factor in both curbs) and St. Paul has 870 miles to tackle. It's a job that takes about four weeks, and we all know what the landscape could look line by mid-November.
"The maples and oaks don't always align with our schedule," Ellickson said, explaining why clean up begins before all the leaves drop. "And we have to do it before the first freeze."
As crews sweep the streets, residents are being asked to adopt a drain and keep them clean this fall and winter. "That will help the streets drain better at a wetter time of year, and help keep neighborhoods clean, Ellickson said.
Now, here are the rules to avoid a hefty ticket and tow: Signs posted will specify the day and hours parking is prohibited. Once a street is cleaned and the "No Parking" signs have been removed, motorists can resume parking again.
Now another word of wisdom: Don't push your leaves into the street thinking the city will take them away. That's illegal, so bag them up and take them to a compost site.
