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REGULAR MEETING JANUARY 10, 2011 <br /> and timely manner. He noted that there are provisions for limited exceptions to address <br /> potential hardship situations for individuals who have been issued a valid mobility <br /> handicapped parking permit by the Board of Public Works. In limited situations, the <br /> ordinance would enable the Board of Public Works to coordinate with the Community <br /> Campus Advisory Coalition (CCAC) for the development and implementation of a <br /> volunteer student program who may assist in removing snow and/or ice for such <br /> individuals experiencing a hardship and having such a permit. <br /> This being the time heretofore set for the Public Hearing on the above bill, proponents <br /> and opponents were given an opportunity to be heard. <br /> Councilmember Oliver Davis questioned when the 24 hour notices begins and how many <br /> inches of snow fall before citations are issued. <br /> Kathy Cekanski-Farrand advised that the 24 hour period begins after the cessation of the <br /> snow itself. So, when it has stopped both the individual property owner residential and <br /> commercial would have 24 hours to remove the snow so that the sidewalk is passable. <br /> Councilmember Puzzello advised it is hard to pass an ordinance that would name a <br /> specific number of inches of snowfall. But at least as a start and until they can get the bill <br /> in place and begin to work things out common sense might work pretty well. She noted <br /> that you can walk through two (2) inches of snow, so it's not a vital issue the number of <br /> inches and don't want to ticket people for snow that is not a problem but it six (6) inches <br /> of snow have fallen then it becomes a problem trying to walk. So she hoped that they <br /> could use common sense as to how much is too much. <br /> Councilmember Oliver Davis stated that the only reason that his is bringing up this issue <br /> if for consistency sake. He stated that this past weekend is a prime example because <br /> there was such a variation of snow fall between areas of the City. The Westside of South <br /> Bend received several more inches that the Eastside. <br /> Kathy Cekanski Farrand stated that Councilmember Oliver Davis' reasoning is the prime <br /> example of why the five communities that were outlined in the committee meeting this <br /> afternoon have done away with a specific amount of inch requirement because <br /> differences in amounts of snowfall that was received within the same city. For example <br /> this weekend the airport located on the northwest side of South Bend received so much <br /> more snowfall than other parts of the city. She noted that any amount of snowfall could <br /> create a hazard and in Boston, Massachusetts, Boulder Colorado, and Madison, <br /> Wisconsin all in particular have looked at this purely from a public safety aspect that <br /> whether it is an inch of snow or six inches of snow they are looking at it for safety <br /> purposes. She stated that as Councilmember Puzzello stated and as Catherine Toppel, <br /> Director of Code Enforcement will hopefully be stating in a few moments that it is a <br /> matter of priorities. She stated that the City already uses a priority system as far as those <br /> areas that are heavily trafficked areas or heavy pedestrian areas and those areas that are <br /> public buildings such as the County-City Building, as opposed to residential areas. She <br /> stated that if this bill goes forward tonight and is passed it will need to be published in it's <br /> entirety along with a series of public service announcements as well as what <br /> Councilmember Varner suggested that when the Mayor declares a snow emergency and <br /> snow routes are declared that a reminder would go out stating this ordinance and noting <br /> that snow must be removed from the sidewalk within 24 hours. She stated that she <br /> remembers back in the 1970's when the Council thought that an inch requirement should <br /> be put into the ordinance, that there were many residents in these Council Chambers <br /> bringing in their rulers and debates took place whether is was really a three inch snowfall <br /> or a six inch snowfall and whether blowing and drifting snow made a difference. So by <br /> learning from prior experience and that of other communities that it is much better to <br /> look at it from a public safety aspect rather than the number of inches of snowfall. <br /> Councilmember Dieter questioned whether the bill states how big of a path must be <br /> shoveled? <br /> 5 <br />