Kalamazoo to crack down on snowy sidewalks this winter

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (WOOD) — The city of Kalamazoo pledges to take sidewalks more seriously this winter.

The City Commission unanimously approved changes to the city’s snow-clearing ordinance on Monday, starting with the next snowfall.

The city ordinance will now require all property owners to clear the sidewalks outside of their properties of snow and ice within 48 hours. It also clarifies that “snow and ice” must be removed for the “full width” of the sidewalk down to the bare pavement.

In her presentation last week , city planner Christina Anderson said a change was needed because too many people were ignoring the old ordinance and the city was not consistent in enforcing it.

“These sidewalks are vital connectors for our community. We can all think of the kids that walk to school but think through those that this is their primary form of transportation, whether it is by choice or by necessity. The streets that they take must be clear for them,” Anderson said. “We need to keep property owners accountable.”

Under the old ordinance , the city used a longer, more drawn-out process. The city would notify property owners after the 48-hour mark via a letter requesting the sidewalk to be cleared by a given date. If it isn’t completed, a $50 civil infraction fine was issued and possible court action.

Anderson also noted that if the city did take a resident to court, they could not take any additional enforcement on that property while the legal process plays out.

“This is not making the sidewalks clear of snow. All we are doing is taking a punitive step … but we’re not meeting the end-goal of the ordinance, which is to have clear sidewalks,” she said last week.

Under the new ordinance, the city will skip the requests. They will review any complaints after the 48-hour period, and if sidewalks need clearing, they will be cleared by city employees or contractors. The costs will be billed to the property owner and, if the debt is not paid, it will become a lien against the owner’s property and assessed as a property tax.

The new ordinance says sidewalks are a property owner’s responsibility. Property owners can delegate that responsibility to a tenant, but that must be clearly stated in any rental contract.

The new ordinance also dictates that any person caught depositing snow or ice on a public street will face a $100 fine and potential court-imposed costs.

To help alleviate issues, the city will launch a pilot program this winter to clear more sidewalks along key corridors. Currently, the city is responsible for 19 miles of sidewalks. With the pilot program, which is funded by the Foundation for Excellence , that number will increase to 33.55 miles, including more high-transit paths like Westnedge Avenue and Park Street.

“Staff will monitor the results and are considering expanding the areas in the coming years based on feedback and availability of resources,” Anderson’s presentation reads.

The city is also working with several local organizations to provide help for people with physical limitations. They plan to promote programs that already exist, including 211 and neighborhood associations, and discuss ways to make more efforts available.

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