NEW ULM – Though snow removal will not be an issue for at least a few more months, the New Ulm City Council is getting a jump on clearing up regulations on snow clearing.

The first reading of an ordinance amending New Ulm’s city code regarding ice and snow removal was reviewed during the Tuesday, June 16, council meeting.

The new ordinance expands and specifies snow removal for sidewalks adjacent to private property.

Currently, New Ulm ordinance requires snow to be removed from sidewalks abutting private property. The new ordinance adds language specifying that snow must be removed from the entire width (edge to edge) of a sidewalk. Additionally, snow must be removed from the extensions of the sidewalk to the street or from areas that facilitate pedestrian street crossings. This includes sidewalk ramps.

City Manager Chris Dalton said this is a minor change to the ordinance, but it would allow wheelchair and crutch users to access sidewalks without trudging through snow.

Dalton said the language change was inspired by staff seeing individuals using electric wheelchairs on the street instead of the sidewalk because the ramps were not clear.

“This is spelling out what needs to be clear,” Dalton said.

Council President Andrea Boettger supported the update, but asked if the council wanted to consider changing the time allowed to clear snow. Currently, the ordinance states snow must be cleared from sidewalks within 12 hours after snowfall has stopped. If snow has not be removed, after 24 hours, the city has the authority to go onto the property, remove the snow and assess the cost onto the property.

Boettger questioned if this timeframe should be increased to 24 hours to be in line with other policies.

Dalton said the policy could be increased to 24 hours, but normally the city only takes action on snow removal based on complaints. These complaints are usually received 24 or 48 hours after snowfall has stopped.

Councilor David Christian said he would not support increasing the snow removal timeframe to 24 hours. He believed that if the timeframe was increased, it would cause greater delay in snow removal.

“We’ve always given the citizens of New Ulm the benefit of the doubt,” he said “[but] if you give them 24 hours, they will take 48 hours.”

Christian added that often, by the time city contractors receive a list of non-compliant properties, 24 to 48 hours have already gone by, at which point the property might already have been cleared of snow.

Councilor Tom Schmitz said he agreed with Christian.

“I feel very strongly that it is urgent for the adjacent landowner to remove snow and ice,” he said. “I like the 12-hour timeframe.”

Council agreed by consensus to keep the snow removal requirement at 12 hours.

Councilor Schmitz made the motion to conduct the first consideration of the ordinance change, with a second from Councilor Christian. The motion was unanimously passed.

A second consideration of the ordinance is required before it is adopted.