Snow clearing enforcement among number of items at transport meeting

SASKATOON – Saskatoon property owners could face tickets and fines this winter if they do not clear their sidewalks, according to a new snow clearing enforcement process proposed Monday. The sidewalk snow clearing enforcement process was presented to the city’s standing policy committee on transportation, along with a number of other proposals and recommendations.

Under the snow clearing process, a property owner would have 48 hours to clear their sidewalk after a snowfall. If a complaint is received by the city about the sidewalk, the property owner would be notified and have another 48 hours to clear the walk. If action is still not taken, a ticket could be issued by the city.

READ MORE: Saskatoon to start fining property owners who don’t clear sidewalks

“We had feedback in previous years that the process we had in place by not issuing tickets or not being as forceful with the bylaw as we possible could was leading to some issues with mobility and ultimately that’s what the sidewalks are for,” said Andrew Hildebrandt, the city’s director of community standards.

The program is intended to target “repeat offenders,” according to Hildebrandt, as ticketing would escalate with each offence.

“If there are subsequent offenders who are chronic and are trying to abuse the bylaw itself … we can issue tickets and hopefully get that compliance,” said Hildebrandt.

A number of committee members said they hoped the city would also be able to be in compliance of the bylaw and lead by example.

“The goal is to create safe and clear sidewalks and if we’re going to ask residents to do that then we need to make sure we’re doing it with ours,” said Ward 6 City Coun. Charlie Clark, who is the committee’s chair.

“We would still, as a bylaw enforcement unit, approach it the same way,” added Hildebrandt.

“We would not deal with the city properties any differently as far as notifying the city that they’re in non-compliance.”

Clark and his colleagues passed a number of other recommendations at Monday’s meeting, including a change to the traffic review process after Nutana-area residents clashed over a street closure.

READ MORE: Road re-opening draws mixed reviews in Saskatoon neighbourhood

Now, any implementations made from neighbourhood traffic meetings will be temporary if passed by council and will be reviewed before becoming permanent.

“That just gives you more flexibility to respond if you find a safety problem popping up somewhere else as a result of the change that was made or some negative implications,” said Clark.

The committee also heard plans to have increased bus service on 8th Street East in the near future. An early-stage proposal could have city buses running every five to 10 minutes along the street. Current buses would be re-routed to make this possible.

Officials say no residential routes would be lost, but the frequency would change.

“I think it’s moving from a smaller town transit system to a bigger city transit system. More direct routes, it does require you to change a bus more often,” said Clark.