Winter is coming and so is snow removal.
Again this winter, Cambridge residents will have 36 hours to get out and clear their sidewalks if they want to avoid receiving a ticket, though city staff wanted to see that timeframe dropped down to 24 hours, as recommended in a corridor management bylaw report.
That idea did not sit well with some councillors.
"I think 24 hours is unreasonable to be quite honest with you," said Coun. Mike Devine. "I think 48 would be more accurate. We have a bylaw on the books right now that curb-face sidewalks are the responsibility of the city to clean. If we expect the residents to have sidewalks cleared in 24 hours, then I would expect the city should have the curb-face sidewalks cleaned in 24 hours. That doesn't happen and we know it's not going to happen."
He proposed council consider an increase to 48 hours instead.
Coun. Pam Wolf supported that move.
"Twenty-four hours for many homeowners is very difficult," she said. "We need more than 24 hours to give people time.
"In some cities, the municipality does it --- we don't. We rely on our citizens to do it. And I think we have to make our demands reasonable," Wolf added.
Kevin De Leebeeck, director of engineering, had a word of caution around that move.
"If our bylaw is amended to 48 hours, there's concern about freeze/thaws by leaving the snow on the sidewalks for a period of time," he said, "and the slip and fall claims that may rise because of the extended timeframe for that as well as compliance with legislation."
Currently, provincial regulation is 48 hours, De Leebeeck said, adding it's very difficult for the city to be everywhere at the same time with its snow removal equipment.
"But if everybody chips in a little bit, we're able to improve that level of service," he said.
Mayor Kathryn McGarry was against the extension because she said it adds to accessibility issues.
"We have so many complaints from people that are struggling with mobility aids, whether they're on walkers or wheelchairs," she said. "They're unable to get to work. They're unable to get out to the pharmacy or their medical appointments or the bus. They struggle to even get to pickup spots."
McGarry said she was in support of staff's recommendation.
"I believe it's a challenge we can give our community in the spirit of kindness to try and help clear some of the sidewalks that are near them they're able to do," she said. "We live in an area and a country where Mother Nature continues to bring snow and ice upon us. We have to learn how to live with our elements and to be prepared with a contract if you're not able to clear your own sidewalks. A slip or fall may seem like nothing to some, but it's a life-changing and sometimes a life-threatening event after that."
Coun. Donna Reid agreed and said most people are able to manage snow removal within 24 hours after snowfall or a snow storm.
"When you own a home, you have a responsibility," she said. "I can't shovel my own driveway so I hire people to do it. They come out immediately and it's done right away."
Coun. Jan Liggett said most of the complaints she received were for roadways that weren't the residents' responsibility.
"I think we should be looking at ourselves and clearing the sidewalks we're responsible for, like the curb rollover ones, as well as the ones on Hespeler Road or the ones that don't have a boulevard," she said. "We're not even doing what we should be doing as a municipality and now we want to pile it onto the residents and reduce their timeframe when we're not keeping up with our own."
Yogesh Shah, deputy city manager, admitted that the city's snow removal sometimes goes beyond 24 hours but remains well within the provincial minimum standards.
"We can't hold the public to a higher standard than we hold ourselves," said Wolf, moving to amend the duration from 48 hours to 36 hours.
"I can go to 36 hours, but 24 is too little," she said. "You're talking about giving a ticket to those people who can't do it."
This isn't about educating people, Wolf said responding to a comment by Reid about making people aware of their responsibility.
"You're fining people after 24 hours," said Wolf. "I don't think that's right. You're not asking them why they didn't shovel, you're fining them."
