Fiscal Note
The proposed ordinance amendment limits the use of salt and melting agents on sidewalks. The amendment does not change the existing structure of forfeitures for violations of the ordinance. The potential increase in revenue from forfeitures depends on the number of violations, which cannot be determined at this time. No appropriation is required with the approval of this ordinance amendment.
Title
Amending Section 10.28(1) of the Madison General Ordinances to Limit the Use of Salt and Melting Agents on Sidewalks.
Body
DRAFTER’S ANALYSIS: This ordinance amends the existing snow and ice removal ordinance by limiting the use of salt or other melting agents to that amount necessary to treat the ice so that it can be removed. Under the amendment, excess salt and chemical melting agents may not accumulate on the sidewalk and must be removed following ice or snow melt. Excess use of salt and chemical melting agents not only creates its own hazard or impediment on the sidewalk, particularly for disabled persons, but the excess chemicals will eventually migrate into the City’s storm and surface waters, contributing to the salinization of the City’s lakes and groundwater, which itself presents a current and future public health concern. The purpose of this ordinance is to give the City the ability to limit the overuse of salt and chemical melting agents, and enforcement will be couple with an educational component designed to instruct the public on how to responsibly use such melting agents.
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The Common Council of the City of Madison do hereby ordain as follows:
1. Subsection (1) of Section 10.28 entitled “Snow and Ice to be Removed from Sidewalks” of the Madison General Ordinances is amended as follows:
“(1) The owner of each lot or part of lot shall remove all snow and ice upon the sidewalk abutting the premises which he or she owns not later than 12:00 noon of the day after the snow or ice has accumulated on the sidewalk, regardless of the source of accumulation. The owner of property abutting sidewalks on two intersecting streets shall remove all snow and ice from the sidewalks of both streets, including that portion of the sidewalks bordering the crosswalk, including the curb ramp, if any, regardless of the source of the snow accumulation.
Provided that when ice has so formed upon any sidewalk that it cannot be removed, then the owner shall keep the same effectively sprinkled with sand or other suitable substance in such manner as to prevent the ice from being dangerous, until such time as it the ice can be removed, and then it the ice shall be promptly removed. Reasonable quantities of salt and other lawful chemical melting agents may be used when ice is present or imminently likely to form, but only to the extent necessary to treat the ice so that the ice can be removed. Salt and other chemical melting agents shall not unreasonably accumulate on the sidewalk following ice melt or snow removal. Excess salt and other lawful chemical melting agents shall be removed following ice melt or snow removal.
Any person violating any of the provisions of this section shall be subject to a forfeiture of not less than twenty dollars ($20) nor more than fifty dollars ($50) for a first offense and not less than thirty dollars ($30) nor more than one hundred dollars ($100) for any subsequent offense. Each day any violation of this ordinance continues shall constitute a separate offense.”