Councillor seeks fair enforcement of City Snow removal policies

A photo from early 2021 following a snowfall in the city
the topic of snow removal made for a short theme at the 
Monday Council session

Our recent blast of winter had one Prince Rupert City Councillor calling for fairness for all downtown property owners, with Barry Cunningham raising the issue at Monday's City Council session.

Speaking at the end of the short Monday night gathering, the Councillor made note of the recent accumulation of snow and ice around the city and called on the city to remind property owners of their responsibilities.

"I've noticed now with the snow, that again we're running into problems where there's large tracts of lots down in the downtown area. That absentee owners, they live out of town aren't clearing the snow. 

Although, we're telling our businesses that they're going to be fined if they don't clear the snow. 

So I'd like it to be a level playing field, that if they're not going to clear their snow the city clears it and charges them or they hire a contractor to do it, like they have in the past a couple of times."

The Bylaw in place for such situations and the penalties for not following it, can be reviewed here. 

Mayor Brain observed at the Monday session that he had someone in mind towards enforcement. 

Which seems to suggest that Corporate Administrator Rosa Miller will be sending off some correspondences in short order to serve as a reminder for property owners.

For the moment, Mother Nature appears to be solving the issue, with rain expected over the next week to help wash away what did accumulate, though there is always the prospect of more to come with a slight change of the temperature or winds to steer the oncoming weather systems.

 

The short overview of the situation as of Monday evening can be reviewed from the Council Video the discussion starts just after the twelve minute mark.

More notes on Monday's council session can be explored here.

A wider overview of past Council discussion themes is available here.

Cross posted from the North Coast Review.