Members of the Portage Common Council said Thursday that they will consider instituting an alternative side parking ordinance during winter months.

The parking policy, used in other cities such as Madison, requires vehicles parked on the street during certain hours to be on the even-numbered side of the street on even-numbered days and the odd-numbered side of the street on odd-numbered days.

Proponents have said the policy could make snow removal more efficient and help save the city money by decreasing overtime plowing.

"Given the state of our budget, if there is something that we can be doing that can help in some way, shape or form that isn't counterproductive, then I think it would be something we should look at," said Council member Carol Heisz, chairwoman of the Legislative and Regulatory Committee.

This year the city has dealt with one of its toughest budgets in recent memory. Throughout the fall, city officials have been considering furloughs and layoffs as ways to save money. On Tuesday, the Council is expected to pass a 2010 budget that provides for no increase in employee wages.

As part of the budget process, the Finance and Administration Committee chairman, Council member Daniel Brunt, decided to examine the city's snowplowing policies and look for ways to cut overtime.

Common Council member Rick Dodd said the parking policy might be able to do that.

"The thought is that you can run the plow down the street during normal times and then be done. Then you come back the next day during normal times and do the other side," Dodd said.

Few details were discussed at a meeting of the city's main rule-making body, the Legislative and Regulatory Committee, on Thursday. Committee members, however, agreed that further investigation was warranted.

"I have had people ask me about this for years," said Council member Addie Tamboli.

Fellow committee member Michael Oszman seemed less than excited about the proposition of instituting a new policy. Oszman said he is skeptical because it could be frustrating and would require a lot of public education on a yearly basis.

City Attorney W. Andrew Voigt said Thursday that the committee should also consider that the change would mean more citations and more work for city employees to handle them.

"A change like this does not just automatically save money," he said.

Heisz said that it was unlikely that the policy could be implemented before the first snow of the year but suggested that it might have a shot at becoming effective Jan. 1.