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| A photo from early 2021 following a snowfall in the city the topic of snow removal made for a short theme at the Monday Council session |
Our recent blast of winter had one Prince Rupert City Councillor calling for fairness for all downtown property owners, with Barry Cunningham raising the issue at Monday's City Council session.
Speaking at the end of the short Monday night gathering, the Councillor made note of the recent accumulation of snow and ice around the city and called on the city to remind property owners of their responsibilities.
"I've noticed now with the snow, that again we're running into problems where there's large tracts of lots down in the downtown area. That absentee owners, they live out of town aren't clearing the snow.
Although, we're telling our businesses that they're going to be fined if they don't clear the snow.
So I'd like it to be a level playing field, that if they're not going to clear their snow the city clears it and charges them or they hire a contractor to do it, like they have in the past a couple of times."
The Bylaw in place for such situations and the penalties for not following it, can be reviewed here.
Mayor Brain observed at the Monday session that he had someone in mind towards enforcement.
Which seems to suggest that Corporate Administrator Rosa Miller will be sending off some correspondences in short order to serve as a reminder for property owners.
For the moment, Mother Nature appears to be solving the issue, with rain expected over the next week to help wash away what did accumulate, though there is always the prospect of more to come with a slight change of the temperature or winds to steer the oncoming weather systems.
The short overview of the situation as of Monday evening can be reviewed from the Council Video the discussion starts just after the twelve minute mark.
More notes on Monday's council session can be explored here.
A wider overview of past Council discussion themes is available here.
While sending off some correspondences in short order sounds good, other than sending a letter there is little action or consequence. As we have seen with the graffiti follow up.
ReplyDeleteIn order to level the playing field, perhaps council and the administration should clearly outline a snow removal strategy and put in clear concise language.
Example
- Remove snow and ice – down to bare surface – from public sidewalks bordering their private property within 24 hours of a snowfall ending. Owners of rental properties are responsible for arranging for snow and ice removal when they reside elsewhere.
- Remove a minimum width of 1.5 meters of snow and ice – down to bare surface – from a public pathway bordering their property, also within 24 hours of a snowfall ending. Applicable pathways are those that run parallel and adjacent to a street, with or without separation between the pathway and street (e.g. a grass boulevard).
- Pile snow from their private driveway or walkway on their own property (e.g. front lawn). Snow from a public sidewalk or pathway may be shoveled onto another public property, such as a road.
- An invoice to the property owner from The City for clearing the sidewalk on their behalf. The cost is a minimum flat rate of $150 plus GST and an administration fee. The amount will be added to the owner's annual property tax if not paid by the invoice due date.
- A fine of $250 to the property occupant for a first offence. Repeat offenders may be fined $500 for a second offence and $750 for a third offence and each offence thereafter within a 12-month period. Tickets issued to repeat offenders may require a court appearance. Unpaid fines will be collected by the City of Prince Rupert at the time of license or registration renewal.
The city is working it's way to an event like we had a few years ago. Snow falls not cleared, then then rain then freezing weather again. The sidewalks in many areas were unpassable. Aboout ten days in the city started talking tough.
ReplyDeleteIt would be nice if the city expanded their thinking to the fact slippery conditions cause falls which result in hospital visits. Our health care system doesn't need the extra work.