New Mpls. system to crack down on those who don't shovel

The city of Minneapolis is launching a new system to clear unshoveled sidewalks, which officials say will get sidewalks cleared more quickly and result in more fines for property owners who shirk shoveling.

The city is shifting responsibility for doing the actual work of clearing the sidewalks from city public works employees to a private contractor. The contract for this winter is worth almost $500,000.

City code requires residents to clear sidewalks around residences of snow and ice within 24 hours of a snowfall. If sidewalks aren't shoveled following a warning letter, the city can clear the snow and bill the costs to the property owner.

As MPR News documented in November, Minneapolis' old system often included a substantial delay between the initial complaint and the clearing of the sidewalk because city work crews were too busy with other duties.

Heidi Hamilton, deputy director of Minneapolis Public Works, said she expects that the new system will result in more sidewalks being cleared and more fines for property owners who don't shovel.

The changes grew out of a pilot project started in 2011 in corners of the city that worked so well that city staff recommended it be expanded, Hamilton said.

"Keeping the sidewalks clear in the winter is really important to pedestrian accessibility, absolutely this city is making it a priority to try to make it easier for pedestrians to get around," Hamilton said. "Clearer sidewalks are important to everyone in that regard, but to people who are in wheelchairs, it's especially important."

The cost for paying contractors in the past has been about the same as the cost to use city staff to shovel sidewalks. The $495,875 low bid for this winter was received from the Sullivan Riehm Company, which is based in Roseville. The next lowest bid for the work was just under $1 million.

Under the contract, the company will be paid $185 to shovel the sidewalk of a typical mid-block residential house and $395 to clear snow and ice on the sidewalk of a traditional mid-block commercial property. Contractors will have 72 hours to perform the work after the work order is issued by city inspectors.

Hamilton said the city has the option to increase the amount of the contract by 100 percent without having to renegotiate.

The new system could also help close the gap between Minneapolis and St. Paul in how they enforce their sidewalk ordinances. Last winter, the city of St. Paul had 1,079 incidents where city crews cleared snow on private sidewalks compared to 741 in Minneapolis. St. Paul also billed scofflaws at higher rates and for more overall costs.

Minneapolis is also prioritizing the clearing of snow off a number of corners along major streets this winter. Possibly using contractors, the city is pledging to clear snow and ice off those corners within three working days after a snow emergency or snowfall of at least four inches.

Minneapolis residents can report unshoveled properties by contacting the city's 311 service. St. Paul residents can call the city information hotline at 651-266-8989.

Property owners or residents who have trouble shoveling their sidewalk can find help by calling the Minnesota Board on Aging's Senior LinkAge line at 1-800-333-2433 or the state's Disability Linkage Line at 1-866-333-2466.