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The city of Minneapolis is now analyzing a snow and ice clearing proposal, following a rise in sidewalk complaints this winter.
On February 16, the City Council approved the analysis of a sidewalk clearing proposal, which would move the responsibility of sidewalk clearing from homeowners to city workers.
Many University of Minnesota students live in the Como neighborhood, not far from campus.
In the winter months, some people have resorted to walking on streets or even in bike lanes, rather than on the sometimes-uncleared sidewalks.
The treacherous sidewalks have a lot of people upset.
“If they just made sure they were doing the fines like they said they would then I feel like people would be more inclined to do it…” said University of Minnesota student, Henry Mueller, who lives in Como.
In Minneapolis, you can get fined if you haven’t cleared your home’s sidewalks 24 hours after it has stopped snowing.
“I clear it off as much as I can cause I think it’s really annoying when I have to walk through the snow,” said Mueller.
Some advocacy groups claim fines are not enough, and that city crews should clear sidewalks to make them more accessible.
“I walk to school everyday…the sidewalks particularly are really really slippery, really icy, especially here on the corner of Rollins. Uh the corners need to be salted. I personally have slipped twice, um so I do tend to try to walk in the middle of the streets, earlier in the day when traffic isn’t too bad,” said student from Como, Charlie Nesbitt.
“Some people don’t do the best job of clearing off the sidewalks. My main problems have just been on campus. I thought I had everything right. I was walking like a penguin, I had my grippiest shoes on but I still fell,” said student Kate Nelson.
Not everybody agrees that the city should do the work.
“If that wouldn’t be seen in the rent I think that’s a great idea, however, I think people are very capable of taking care of the sidewalks themselves. I feel like it would be a really good idea for the elderly population or those who have disabilities. I think it’s accessibility wise, I think it’s a great idea but I don’t think everyone’s gonna love it,” said Nelson
“I think the sidewalk clearing program would be beneficial um just based on how slippery the conditions can get,” said Nesbitt.
According to Minnpost, this program could cost average homeowners about an extra $129 year in property taxes.
Minneapolis Mayor told MPR news he thinks the price of having the city clear the sidewalks would be too much of a burden for homeowners.
The proposal is currently under review by the Mayor until June. If it’s approved, the program would not be fully implemented for at least three years.
