HomeMy WebLinkAboutCSD-2021-15 - Additional Staff for Proactive Sidewalk EnforcementREPORT TO:Community and Infrastructure Services Committee
DATE OF MEETING:October 4, 2021
SUBMITTED BY: Gloria MacNeil, Director of By-law Enforcement, 519-741-2200ext. 7952
PREPARED BY: Gloria MacNeil, Director of By-law Enforcement, 519-741-2200ext. 7952
WARD(S) INVOLVED:All
DATE OF REPORT:September 21, 2021
REPORT NO.:CSD-2021-15
SUBJECT:Additional Staff for Proactive Sidewalk Enforcement
RECOMMENDATION:
That Council refer the expansion of the proactive sidewalk enforcement program to
the 2022 budget process.
REPORT HIGHLIGHTS:
During the 2021 budget process, Council directed staff to report back with related
impacts of hiring additional proactive bylawinspectors for the 2021-2022 winter season.
Adding additional officers to the proactive snow and ice program would allow for greater
coverage in more areas of the city.
The additional operating costs of adding four additional staff to support an increase to
the proactive bylaw inspection program is approximately $163,191.30
BACKGROUND:
During the 2021 budget process, Council directed staff to report back with related impacts
of hiring additional proactive bylaw inspectors for the 2021-2022 winter season, and to make
any additional recommendations for improving our sidewalk snow clearing strategies.
REPORT:
Council approved a pilot program for four proactive snow and ice officers in the 2018-19
winter season. The program ran successfully for two full seasons at which time Council
approved the implementation of a permanent program in 2020.
Proactive Program:
The permanentproactiveprogram began in November 2020 and operates annually from
th
November 15 until April 15. Each year staff have preselected areas of the city where there
is generally a higher volume of pedestrian use, includingareas of the city where there are
schoolsandretirementhomes.
*** This information is available in accessible formats upon request. ***
Please call 519-741-2345 or TTY 1-866-969-9994 for assistance.
Each year, staff hire four full time temporary employees who are responsible for conducting
proactive, daily inspections (unless it is actively snowing or the 24 hours has not lapsed
since the last snow fall).These staff will walk up and down the sidewalks within a preselected
neighbourhood and inspect each sidewalk to determine if the sidewalk has been adequately
cleared of all snow and ice to ensure safe passage for all pedestrians including those who
may have difficulty with mobility or require a mobility device such as wheelchair, walker,
cane, stroller, etc.
If a sidewalk is not adequately cleared or if there is ice present on the sidewalk, staff will
leave a notice for the occupants of the residence. The notice advises that staff were on site,
it provides an overview of the bylaw requirements and advises the occupants they have 24
hours to clear the sidewalk of snow and ice. Staff also provide a pamphlet that explains the
importance of clearing your sidewalk and being a good neighbour. The notice provides the
officers name and contact information should the homeowner/occupant want to discuss the
notice or if they require further information.
The challenge with the proactive program is that it often generates more complaints and
creates frustration amongstresidents who may bemaking an effort to cleartheir sidewalk
however the end result is not adequate/sufficient or does not complywith the requirements
of the bylaw.
Reactive Program:
The City has had a reactive snow and ice program in place for over 25 years. This program
solely relies on complaints being received by members of the public in which an officer will
respond out and conduct an inspection of the sidewalk thatwas complained about and in
addition,will also inspect eight properties on either side of the complaint address,therefore
one complaint will result in a minimum of 17 inspections.
The same processes is followed and applied in both the proactive and reactive snow and
ice programs. Once staff have determined the sidewalk is not in compliance with the snow
and ice bylaw, staff will leave the same notice and pamphlet at the address advising of the
bylaw, the expectations and the 24 hour time frame to bring the sidewalk into compliance.
The reactive program generally results in less complaints from residents as these
complaints for the most part tend to be more severe in nature and often tend to be properties
where little to no effort has been made.
Both programs allow for one snow and ice notice to be left at each residence in the city each
season, the notice is meant to serve as education and a reminder that residents are required
to clear their sidewalk within 24 hours of the cessation of a snow fall and it must be cleared
of all snowand ice.
The charts below show the total number of violations recorded for both the proactive and
reactive programs as well as the total number of violations that were sent to the contractor
for clearing over the past three winter seasons.
Reactive Complaints
Total Total sent to
YearViolations Contractorfor
Inspected Clearing
2020-211881324
2019-202055219
2018-192842182
Proactive Complaints
YearProactive Total sent to
Violations Contractor for
FoundClearing
2020-211419193
2019-20174391
2018-19254857
Adding additional officers to the proactive snow and ice program would allow for greater
coverage in more areas of the city. This would ensure better coverage throughout the city
rather than focusing ondesignated/specific areasfor an entire season. The goal of the
program would be to have staff proactively work through every ward and ultimately every
street within each neighbourhood.The end result would be to encourage ongoing
compliance amongst all residents as residents would not be aware of when the team would
be in their neighbourhood.
Additional staffing would also provide Bylaw Enforcement with the resources to focus on
problem areas and provide targeted enforcement on locations with high volumes of
complaints and non-compliance. Currently, we do have a program in place for chronic
repeat offenders where a history of non-compliance has been established. Once an address
has been deemed to be chronically in non-compliance they are placed on a list with our
contractor and the sidewalk is automatically inspected and cleared if required by the
contractor after each snow fall. We previously had five addresses on this list however
several of the properties have sold and we currently only have one.
Staff would continue to respond to complaintsreactivelyand apply our enforcement process
aswe always have.
Contractor:
In 2015, staff contracted out snow clearing of sidewalks associated with the Snow and Ice
Bylaw. The agreement currently in place with thecontractor, requiresthat theyrespond the
following business dayto clear any sidewalks that wereinspected and forwarded by staff
for non-compliance.The contractor is committed to this response time and have resourced
their staffing levels to ensure they areable to maintain response times withinour 24 hour
commitment.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT:
This report supports the delivery of core services.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
Expanding the program would have a directimpact on the Operating Budget. The cost of
four additional officers for the proactive program is approximately $163,191.30.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:
This report has been posted to the City’s website with the agenda in advance of the
Committee/Council meeting.
ACKNOWLEDGED BY: Michael May, General Manager Community Services Department
& DCAO