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HomeMy WebLinkAbout6.r. Ordinance Relating to Snow Removal; Amending City Code, Section 4-4-1AGENDA ITEM: Ordinance Relating to Snow Removal; AGENDA SECTION: Amending City Code, Section 4 -4 -1 Consent PREPAFI:ED BY: Kim Lindquist, Community Development Director AGENDA NO. (i'. r ATTACHMENTS: Draft Ordinance APPROVED BY: Otd RECOM 'VENDED ACTION: Motion to Approve Ordinance Relating to Snow Remova Amending City Code Section 4 -4 -1 ROSEMOUNT CITY COUNCIL City Cour IciI Meeting Date: April 20, 2010 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ISSUE Due to heavy snowfalls this year, there has been a lot of conversation and complaints about snow removal in the community. There have been concerns expressed that the City and individual residents have not complied with the ordinance which currently requires removal of snow from sidewalks within 24 hours after snow or ice has accumulated. DISCUSSION At the December work session the Council discussed sidewalk snow removal and enforcement of the ordinance. Based upon the discussion a number of changes to the ordinance are being recommended. The first is that sidewalk cleanup now be required within 48 hours of a snow event; increasing the time period for residents to shovel their sidewalks before a potential enforcement action would occur. The ordinance also references the City's Snowplowing Policy as it relates to plowing along the trails and sidewalks that the City is responsible for. The policy lists a hierarchy for cleanup which is consistent with the priorities for the City as previously discussed with Council. The final change is the ordinance gives the City Council the ability to "suspend the obligation of property owners or occupants to remove snow and ice in all, or any part, of the City". The effect of the resolution would be to cease any enforcement action associated with snow removal on private property. The Council spent some time discussing whether there should be recognition of "exceptional events" which would warrant suspending the snow removal requirement. Setting a minimum snowfall event is difficult. The total amount of the snowfall event, the amount of snow currently on the property, the time period of the snowfall, and the water content of the snow all impact the ability to remove snow. Staff believes the current recommendation found in the ordinance, to allow the Council to suspend the property owner obligation, allows the Council to determine when an extraordinary event has occurred and the Council can weigh the differing circumstances. Another item discussed at the work session was enforcement for snow removal. The approach is similar to the tall grass ordinance, which allows the inspector to notify the property owner and then within a prescribed period of time, the City or its designee can remove the snow and then bill the property owner. This action is already allowed by ordinance and city staff will begin that enforcement approach unless a resolution suspending the property owners' snow removal obligations is adopted. RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends that the City Council approve the Ordinance Relating to Snow Removal; Amending City Code, Section 4 -4 -1. 2 ATTEST: Amy Domeier, City Clerk 379880v1 CLL RS215 -1 CITY OF ROSEMOUNT COUNTY OF DAKOTA STATE OF MINNESOTA ORDINANCE NO. ORDINANCE RELATING TO SNOW REMOVAL; AMENDING CITY CODE, SECTION 4 -4 -1 THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROSEMOUNT, MINNESOTA, ORDAINS as follows: Section 1. Rosemount City Code, Section 4 -4 -1 is amended as follows: 4 -4 -1: SNOW REMOVAL: Removal of snow and ice from trails and sidewalks in the city shall be the responsibility of the abutting property owners or occupants. maintained by the City. Snow and ice shall be removed within twenty -four (24)forty-eight (48) hours after the snow or ice has accumulated. In unusual circumstances and when determined by the Council to be in the best interest of the public, the Council may, by resolution, suspend the obligation of property owners or occupants to remove snow and ice in all, or any part, of the City. On trails and sidewalks specified in the City's Snowplowing Policy and on trails and sidewalks where the City is the abutting property owner, snow and ice shall be removed in accordance with the City's Snowplowing Policy. Section 2. This ordinance shall be in effect following its passage and publication. Adopted this day of January, 2011, by the City Council of the City of Rosemount, Minnesota. William H. Droste, Mayor Published in the Rosemount Town Pages the day of 2011.