Ordinance #1
Streets
Snow and Ice Removal - Sun Prairie

Snow and Ice Removal

(a) Removal from Sidewalks. The owner, occupant, or person in charge of any parcel or lot which fronts upon or adjoins any sidewalk shall keep said sidewalk clear of all snow and ice. In the event of snow accumulating on said sidewalk due to natural means and/or by any other means said sidewalks shall be cleared of all accumulated snow and/or ice within twenty-4 (24) hours from the time the snow ceases to accumulate on said sidewalk. Sidewalks are to be kept clear of snow and ice to a minimum of 4 (4) feet in width. In the event that ice has formed on any sidewalk in such a manner that it cannot be removed, the owner, occupant, or person in charge of the parcel or lot which fronts upon or adjoins said sidewalk shall keep the sidewalk sprinkled with sand and/or salt to permit safe travel by pedestrians.

(b) Notice and removal of snow from sidewalks. If the owner, occupant, or person in charge of any parcel or lot which fronts upon or adjoins any sidewalk shall fail to keep said sidewalk clear of snow and ice as set forth in subsection (a), the Director of Public Works shall take the following actions:

(1) Hazardous Conditions. If the Director of Public Works determines that the failure to remove the snow and ice from the sidewalk creates an immediate danger to the public health and/or safety, the Director of Public Works shall cause the issuance of a written notice to the owner, occupant, or person in charge of any parcel or lot directing that the snow and/or ice be removed within 2 (2) hours from the delivery of the notice. In the event the property owner, occupant or person in charge of said parcel or lot is unavailable to receive a written notice, the Director of Public Works shall immediately cause the removal of the snow and/or ice. The Director of Public Works shall send a written notice of the last known address of the property owner notifying him that a hazardous condition existed which required immediate abatement.

(2) Non-Hazardous Conditions. If the owner, occupant, or person in charge of the subject parcel or lot fails to remove the snow within the time period established in Subsection (a) , the Director of Public Works shall cause the issuance of a written notice to said owner, occupant, or person in charge of the subject parcel or lot directing the responsible person (as defined) to remove said snow and ice no later than 12 Noon of the day following the issuance of said notice. The written notice shall be hand delivered when possible or mailed of the last know address of the owner of the subject property as identified on the records in the City Clerk's office.

(3) Snow and Ice Not to Encroach. No person shall push, shove or in any way deposit any snow or ice onto any public streets, alley, sidewalk or public lands dedicated to public use except for parcel or lots located in B-4 Central Business District where existing buildings are constructed within 5 (5) feet of the street right-of-way and the sidewalks exist from the City right-of-way to the curb line. In such instances, the owners, occupants, and/or employees of parcels or lots located in B-4 Central Business District shall be permitted to deposit snow and ice from their sidewalks onto the public streets.

(C) Enforcement. The Director of Public Works, his designee, and all sworn Police Officers are hereby authorized and directed to enforce the provisions of this Section.

(D) Continued Violations. Each twenty-4 (24) hour period where a violation occurs shall constitute a separate offense under this section for enforcement purposes. Repeated Violations or subsequent additional accumulations of snow and/or ice shall not nullify any pending notice issued under this Section.

(E) Abatement after notice. Failure of the owner, occupant, or person in charge of any parcel or lot to cause the removal of snow and/or ice within the time established under subsection (b)(1) and (2) after receiving a written notice shall result in the Director of Public Works causing the removal of said snow and/or ice.

(F) Expense. An account of the expenses incurred by the City to abate the snow and/or ice hazard shall be kept and such expenses shall be charged to and paid by the parcel or lot owner. Notice of the bill for the removal of snow and/or ice shall be mailed to the last know address of the owner of the parcel or lot and shall be payable within 10 (10) calendar days from the receipt thereof. Within sixty (60) days after such costs and expenses are incurred and remain unpaid, the City Clerk shall enter those charges onto the tax roll as a special tax as provided by Section 66.615(5), Wisconsin Statutes.

(G) Penalty. In addition to the provisions set forth in this Section, an person, firm, or corporation which violates the provisions of this Section shall be subject to a penalty as provided in Section 1-1-7 of this Code of Ordinances.

Sample Letter 1

Date
Owner/Occupant:
Address

Notice to Remove Snow and Ice From Public Streets and Lands (Hazardous)

Dear Owner/Occupant:

City Ordinance 6-2- 7 provides that no person shall push, shove or in any way deposit snow or ice onto nay public streets, alley, sidewalk, or other publicly used lands.

This letter is to serve notice that a complaint has been made against property creating a hazardous condition within the City limits of Sun Prairie, Dane County, Wisconsin. Said property being located at: Street address or description of sidewalk location:

If the snow and/or ice on the above described public land is not removed within 2 hours of receipt of this notice, the City shall remove or cause the removal of said snow and/or ice and the cost thereof shall be assessed to the owner of the property abutting or adjoining the sidewalk from which the snow and/or ice was removed. If these costs are not paid, they shall be place on the tax rolls s a special tax against such property as per Wisconsin Statutes 66.15(5) and 66.60(16).

In addition, the owner, occupant, or person violating any of the provisions of this ordinance shall be subject to a penalty of not less than $31 for the first violation and up to $115 for subsequent violations.

If you have questions regarding this notice, Please contact the Public Works Department at xxx-xxxx. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.

Inspected by:
Department of Public Works
Date

Sample Letter 2

Date
Owner/Occupant:
Address

Notice to Remove Snow and Ice From Sidewalk (Potentially Hazardous Conditions)

Dear Owner/Occupant:

City Ordinance 6-2- 7 provides that no person shall push, shove or in any way deposit snow or ice onto any public streets, alley, sidewalk, or other publicly used lands. Snow and/or ice shall be cleared within 24 hours of the time snow ceases to accumulate on the sidewalk. Sidewalks are to be kept clear to a minimum of 4 feet in width and if the snow and/or ice cannot be removed, the sidewalk shall be sprinkled with sand (or similar substance) to permit safe travel by pedestrians.

This letter is to serve notice that a complaint has been made against property creating a hazardous condition within the City limits of Sun Prairie, Dane County, Wisconsin. Said property being located at: Street address or description of sidewalk location:

If the snow and/or ice on the above described sidewalk is not removed, or the sidewalk made safe for pedestrian travel by 12 noon of the day following the date of this notice, the City shall remove or cause the removal of said snow and/or ice and the cost thereof shall be assessed to the owner of the property abutting or adjoining the sidewalk from which the snow and/or ice was removed. If these costs are not paid, they shall be placed on the tax roll as a special tax against such property as per Wisconsin Statutes 66.615(5) and 66.60(16).

In addition, the owner, occupant, or person violating any of the provisions of this ordinance shall be subject to a penalty of not less than $31 for the first violation and up to $115 for subsequent violations.

If you have questions regarding this notice, Please contact the Public Works Department at xxx-xxxx. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.

Inspected by:
Department of Public Works
Date

Sample Letter 3

Date
Owner/Occupant:
Address

Notice to Remove Snow and Ice From Sidewalk (Highly Traveled Locations and/or Hazardous Conditions)

Dear Owner/Occupant:

City Ordinance 6-2- 7 provides that no person shall push, shove or in any way deposit snow or ice onto any public streets, alley, sidewalk, or other publicly used lands. Snow and/or ice shall be cleared within 24 hours of the time snow ceases to accumulate on the sidewalk. Sidewalks are to be kept clear to a minimum of 4 feet in width and if the snow and/or ice cannot be removed, the sidewalk shall be sprinkled with sand (or similar substance) to permit safe travel by pedestrians.

This letter is to serve notice that a complaint has been made against property creating a hazardous condition within the City limits of Sun Prairie, Dane County, Wisconsin. Said property being located at: Street address or description of sidewalk location:

If the snow and/or ice on the above described sidewalk is not removed, or the sidewalk made safe for pedestrian travel within 2 (2) hours of receipt of this notice, the City shall remove or cause the removal of said snow and/or ice and the cost thereof shall be assessed to the owner of the property abutting or adjoining the sidewalk from which the snow and/or ice was removed. If these costs are not paid, they shall be placed on the tax roll as a special tax against such property as per Wisconsin Statutes 66.615(5) and 66.60(16).

In addition, the owner, occupant, or person violating any of the provisions of this ordinance shall be subject to a penalty of not less than $31 for the first violation and up to $115 for subsequent violations.

If you have questions regarding this notice, Please contact the Public Works Department at xxx-xxxx. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.

Inspected by:
Department of Public Works
Date

Sample Letter 4

Date
Owner/Occupant:
Address

Notice to Remove Snow and Ice From Sidewalk (Highly Traveled Location and/or Hazardous Conditions)

Dear Owner/Occupant:

City Ordinance 6-2- 7 provides that no person shall push, shove or in any way deposit snow or ice onto any public streets, alley, sidewalk, or other publicly used lands. Snow and/or ice shall be cleared within 24 hours of the time snow ceases to accumulate on the sidewalk. Sidewalks are to be kept clear to a minimum of 4 feet in width and if the snow and/or ice cannot be removed, the sidewalk shall be sprinkled with sand (or similar substance) to permit safe travel by pedestrians.

This letter is to serve notice that a complaint has been made against property creating a hazardous condition within the City limits of Sun Prairie, Dane County, Wisconsin. Said property being located at: Street address or description of sidewalk location:

If the snow and/or ice on the above described public land is not removed within 2 hours of receipt of this notice, the City shall remove or cause the removal of said snow and/or ice and the cost thereof shall be assessed to the owner of the property abutting or adjoining the sidewalk from which the snow and/or ice was removed. If these costs are not paid, they shall be place on the tax rolls s a special tax against such property as per Wisconsin Statutes 66.15(5) and 66.60(16).

In addition, the owner, occupant, or person violating any of the provisions of this ordinance shall be subject to a penalty of not less than $31 for the first violation and up to $115 for subsequent violations.

If you have questions regarding this notice, Please contact the Public Works Department at xxx-xxxx. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.

Inspected by:
Department of Public Works
Date