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Council approves first reading of downtown snow-removal ordinance, establishes cost-recovery up to $0.20 per sq. ft.
Summary
Council adopted the first reading of an ordinance creating a downtown snow-removal district, establishing cost recovery billed to businesses on a square-footage basis with a maximum charge of $0.20 per square foot and a 10% late-payment penalty.
The City Council approved the first reading on June 23 of an ordinance to create a downtown snow-removal district and recover the city’s snow-removal costs from downtown businesses.
City staff described the ordinance as an update to reflect current operations and to recover “actual cost” of downtown snow removal. Under the ordinance as presented, businesses in the downtown district would be billed separately (not as part of the annual business-license fee) based on building square footage. The ordinance sets a maximum collection rate of $0.20 per square foot; staff said the council may adjust that maximum by resolution. Staff also added a 10% penalty for late payment.
Staff said final bills would be issued by June 30 to account for costs from the prior winter and noted that the city would absorb costs if actual snow-removal expenses exceed the per-square-foot cap in a given year. A council member asked about precedent high-cost seasons; staff said a particularly heavy winter had once pushed costs to roughly $0.27 per square foot, indicating it would take an unusually large snow year to exceed the cap.
A motion to approve the first reading of the ordinance passed on a council vote. The ordinance will return for a second reading and final adoption later.
Ending: Staff said billing procedures will be refined and annual bills will apply beginning with the upcoming snow season; the city will finalize the ordinance at a subsequent meeting.
