North College Hill council weighs options after heavy snow; discusses restoring sidewalk ordinance and contracting

Council members discussed sidewalk safety and snow removal at length on Feb. 2 after days of severe winter weather left sidewalks and business corridors uncleared.

Mayor Nichols told colleagues she is concerned about children walking to school and noted sidewalks were in poor condition in parts of the business district. Council members said they had searched past ordinances and that a sidewalk/snow-removal requirement (which reportedly required property owners to clear sidewalks within 24 hours) appears to have been repealed in 2015 (repeal referenced as OD2-2015). That finding led members to consider whether the city should restore an ordinance or pursue alternative responses.

Debate centered on three operational approaches: (1) restoring a code or ordinance that places the clearing obligation on property owners, (2) hiring third-party contractors for targeted clearing after major storms, or (3) investing in multipurpose utility equipment (described in discussion as a "gator") that could be used year-round for parks/maintenance and fitted with a plow in winter. Several councilmembers suggested inviting public works staff to a council or committee meeting so the department can lay out equipment needs, labor capacity and cost estimates.

Council members noted the city administrator has administrative procurement authority up to an emergency threshold (members cited $75,000 as a relevant administrative threshold) and that emergency purchasing provisions exist for urgent situations. Several members recommended the administration assess whether the city can contract quickly in advance of forecast storms and to present options for committee review (Rules/Public Policy, Budget & Finance or Public Safety were discussed as possible referral points).

Councilmember Miss Zorb offered a practical suggestion during debate: a small utility vehicle ("gator") could be fitted with a blade and used for summer maintenance as well as winter clearing; she volunteered to operate such equipment if the city purchased it.

On code enforcement, members asked administration for a clearer fiscal and procedural report: how many notices of violation were issued in the business district; whether abatement costs are charged to owners or tenants; how third-party abatement is procured and billed; and whether the city is recovering costs when it hires contractors to abate violations. Administration was asked to return with details about abatement contracts, typical fees and return-on-investment for enforcement activity.

Outcome: No ordinance was adopted at the meeting. Council referred the sidewalk/snow-removal and procurement questions to the relevant committees and directed the administration to consult with public works and return with options and cost estimates.

Quotations: "I think we should hire a company or hire someone to remove it," Mayor Nichols said when describing the city’s heavy public-works burden after the storm. "Our public works are so max taxed out."

"Maybe we can buy some kind of gator" to be used year-round, Miss Zorb suggested; she added, "I would volunteer to drive that."

Follow-up: Administration and public works were asked to provide cost estimates and procurement options for council committee review; council also asked for clarification of past ordinance language and for staff to confirm whether OD2-2015 formally repealed the prior snow-removal requirement.