Columbia snow-covered sidewalk violations surpass previous years

Columbia ordinances require property owners or residents to clear their sidewalk, but city officials say few did during January’s excessive snowfall.

The city received numerous complaints about snow-covered sidewalks after more than 15 inches of snow fell on Jan. 11-12, according to a Community Development Department memo to the Columbia City Council. Those complaints resulted in 203 violation cases.

The number of complaints in the first month of 2019 exceeded the number of violations the department received from 2014 to 2018 combined.

However, there are no records of property owners or residents being penalized for snowy sidewalks.

ABC 17 News requested the list of addresses that were given violations in January. About 80 of the 203 violations were given to addresses on Broadway or Derby Ridge Drive.

According to city ordinance, the penalty for not removing snow, or any obstruction, from sidewalks could be either a misdemeanor or possibly a $500 fine per day.

Community Development staff plan to work with stakeholder groups such as the Bicycle and Pedestrian Commission and the Disabilities Commission to help improve sidewalk snow removal issues.

Officials said those efforts might include revising city ordinances to include a time frame for compliance and clarifying responsibility between owners and residents; finding ways to successfully prosecute repeat violators; providing resources to property owners who need assistance; and better educating residents on the importance of sidewalk snow removal.

ABC 17 News talked with some of the residents who received violations on Broadway. They said they were either out of town or weren’t physically able to remove the snow.

Leigh Kottwitz, Neighborhood Services manager with the city’s Community Development Department, said residents who are physically unable to remove the snow could reach out to Services for Independent Living help.

Kottwitz said she hopes neighbors would also be willing to offer help for those out of town or physically unable to remove the snow themselves.

The council is set to receive a report about the city’s sidewalk snow removal at its Monday night meeting.