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Council advances first reading of snow-and-ice sidewalk rule after debate over 12- vs. 24-hour enforcement
Summary
New Ulm city council conducted first consideration of an amendment requiring edge-to-edge sidewalk clearing to improve accessibility; councilors debated aligning the code’s 12-hour removal obligation with the city’s 24-hour enforcement window and asked staff to return with any timing changes before final adoption.
The New Ulm City Council on June 16 advanced the first reading of an amendment to chapter 6 of the city code that would require property owners to clear snow and ice from sidewalks edge to edge, rather than only a shoveled-width path, to improve access for wheelchairs, walkers and other mobility devices.
Councilors said the change is intended to reduce hazards at pedestrian crossings and ramps. The proposed ordinance also clarifies which parties—owners, occupants or persons having care, custody and control of the property—are responsible for clearing sidewalks.
A key point of debate was a timing discrepancy in current practice: the draft language keeps a 12-hour removal obligation for property owners after snowfall ends, while the city’s ability to enter a property and clear snow (and assess the cost back to the owner) does not begin until 24 hours have passed. City staff and the city attorney explained that the 12-hour obligation exists in the code but that, in practice, enforcement and city-contracted clearing often occur after a 24-hour window.
“As drafted … every property owner subject to this ordinance has the obligation to remove snow from their sidewalk within 12 hours after the snowfall has ceased,” said Robert, who spoke during the ordinance discussion. He added that the city’s authority to clear and assess costs begins after 24 hours and that aligning the two periods is a simple change staff can bring back for the council’s second reading.
Some councilors favored keeping the 12-hour removal requirement to stress residents’ responsibility for accessible sidewalks; others said aligning the ordinance to a 24-hour enforcement trigger would match operational practice and remove ambiguity for the public. Council members did not adopt a timing change at first reading but directed staff to prepare any adjustments for the next meeting.
The item was taken as a first consideration; the council may revise the timing and language before a second reading and final vote.
