Complaints pile up for snowy sidewalk to Edmonton 311 after first snow
“As winter city dwellers, we need to consider the impact of snowy and icy sidewalks on our neighbors and citizens.”
Article content
People in Edmont called 311 to complain about the condition of sidewalks in their neighborhood after the first snow of the season.
advertising 2
Article content
Within 40 hours of Wednesday’s first white snow, the city’s 311 service received 34 snowfall complaints, according to figures from Edmonton’s Open Data Portal.
Article content
The Secord and Westmount areas had the most reports of the city’s 391 neighborhoods, with five complaints each.
On Wednesday, more than 350 clashes were reported in the city’s streets after 15 centimeters of snow fell in parts of the city.
More snow fell on Friday and Saturday, but as of Sunday the city’s data had not been updated to include complaints for those days.
Last winter, the city’s Route 311 received more than 7,900 complaints about snow during walks between November and April. This represents an increase of more than 80% from his 4,300 recorded in all previous unseasonably warm winters.
advertising 3
Article content
The Post Media’s analysis of these complaints last winter found that the Chapelle area of southwest Edmonton had the highest number of reports, with 295.
Click here to open the map in a new page
The City of Edmonton says it will allow walking around city buildings, including public schools, bus stops and recreation centers.
However, property owners are responsible for removing most of the sidewalks, and the city “does not have the council-approved resources to remove sidewalks in most residential or commercial areas,” he said.
City Ordinance 14600 — Community Standards Ordinance — does not specify an exact timeframe for clearing sidewalks.
“People must keep footpaths adjacent to land owned or occupied by them free of snow and ice.”
Advertising 4
Article content
“Snow and ice should be removed from sidewalks as soon as possible,” the city website said.
“As a winter city resident,” the city’s website says, “you should consider the impact of snow-covered or icy sidewalks on your neighbors and citizens.”
Enforcement may follow a citizen’s complaint or be initiated by an ordinance officer.
Sand, gravel, or melting ice can be used as a temporary measure, but it is expected that the sidewalks will be cleared to cement or asphalt during the winter months.
Free sand is also available at local sandpits and outside the city’s four road maintenance yards.
Failure to clean the sidewalks can result in a $100 fine as well as the cost of an independent contractor to remove the snow.
Pushing snow from a sidewalk into an alley or road is also punishable with a $250 fine.
The City will evaluate complaints within four business days and prioritize responses according to severity and weather conditions.
mblack@postmedia.com
Complaints pile up for snowy sidewalk to Edmonton 311 after first snow
Source link Complaints pile up for snowy sidewalk to Edmonton 311 after first snow
