§ 38-83. Snow and ice removal required; debris.

(a)

Snow and ice removal.

(1)

The owner and/or occupant of any premises or lot, or the owner of any unoccupied premises or lot, is required to keep the sidewalks in front of or adjacent to such premises cleared from snow and ice to prevent a nuisance and facilitate pedestrian use. Whenever any snow or ice has fallen or naturally accumulated, it shall be cleared so as to make the sidewalk safe for pedestrian passage within 24 hours after it has fallen or naturally accumulated.

(2)

If any occupant or owner shall neglect or fail to clear ice or snow from the sidewalk adjoining their premises, within 24 hours after it has fallen or naturally accumulated, so as to make the sidewalk safe for pedestrian travel, they shall be guilty of a violation of this section and, in addition, the city or its contractor will leave written notice at the property in violation stating that if the sidewalk is not cleared of snow or ice within 24 hours so as to make the sidewalk safe for pedestrian passage, the city or its contractor will do so and assess the cost and an administrative fee as set forth in the fee schedule to the property owner or occupant which shall become a debt to the city and shall be collected as any other debt to the city, including, but not limited to a lien upon the premises. Written notice may be in the form of a sticker to be placed on or near the front door, or other written notice affixed to the property on or near the front door. Notices to commercial businesses shall be placed in an envelope placed at or near the front door.

(3)

In the event the owner or occupant has not removed the snow or ice from the sidewalk in front of or adjacent to such premises within 24 hours after the issuance of the notice detailed in subsection (2) above, the city or its contractor may remove the snow and ice, and assess the cost and administrative fee to the owner or occupant. Upon the city or its contractor abating the nuisance, it shall provide notice to the owner or occupant in the same manner detailed in subsection (2) above, that the city has abated the nuisance and that the cost and assessment for said abatement will be billed to the owner or occupant and shall become a lien upon the premises.

(4)

No person shall deposit or place snow or ice from private property onto any sidewalk, street, neighboring property or right-of-way, nor shall any person deposit or place snow or ice from a sidewalk or driveway approach onto a street, neighboring property or right-of-way.

(5)

The city shall give public notice in October and November that snow and ice not removed by the homeowner or occupant within 24 hours after it has fallen or naturally accumulated so as to make the sidewalk safe for pedestrian passage may be removed by the city and the cost charged to the landowner.

(b)

Debris.

(1)

The owner and/or occupant of any premises or lot, or the owner of any unoccupied premises or lot, is required to keep the sidewalks in the front of or adjacent to such premises cleared from debris to facilitate pedestrian use. Whenever any debris has accumulated, it shall be cleared within 24 hours after it has accumulated.

(2)

If any occupant or owner shall neglect or fail to clear debris from the sidewalk adjoining the premises within the time limit or shall otherwise permit debris to accumulate on such sidewalk, they shall be guilty of a violation of this section and, in addition, the city may cause the same to be cleared and the expense of removal and an administrative fee as set forth in the fee schedule shall become a debt to the city and shall be collected as any other debt to the city including, but not limited to a lien upon the premises.

(Code 1973, §§ 4.99, 4.100; Code 1989, § 1022.29; Ord. No. 1008, § 1022.29, 2-17-2009; Ord. No. 1054, 11-1-2011; Ord. No. 1112, 10-21-2014)