Downtown snow removal starts tonight; sidewalk shovelers get reprieve

City crews will begin removing snow windrows from downtown streets Thursday night.

The crews will be working from 11 p.m. Thursday to 7 a.m. Friday, city officials said.

The snow plows are over 50,000 pounds and spread salt and sand, officials said. Maintain a safe distance back from snow plows by at least 50 feet.  As road speeds increase, the distance should also increase.  Drivers need to give room to the plows for safe operations.

Also, city officials said today that Cedar Rapids residents will have until at least Saturday, and perhaps longer, to clear snow from their sidewalks and remain in compliance with the city's sidewalk snow removal ordinance.

Enforcement of the ordinance will not start until 48 hours after the expiration of the current wind chill advisory, which follows this week's heavy snowfall and blizzard conditions. Wind chill factors are expected to exceed -20 degrees today. Based on city code, this is considered a severe weather condition.

Enforcement is expected to start on Saturday or Sunday, depending on the warming trend, city officials said.

Here's the city's sidewalk snow removal ordinance:

9.11: Cleaning Snow From Sidewalks(a)  The owner of property abutting a public sidewalk shall remove snow and ice from the sidewalk within a reasonable time, but in no case longer than 48 hours, after the snow has fallen or ice has formed, except in cases of severe weather, when it is not reasonably practicable to remove the snow and ice from the sidewalk, the owner of the abutting property shall spread some suitable material upon the sidewalk to prevent the surface from being slippery.  The failure of the owner of abutting property to remove snow or ice from the sidewalk shall not make the City liable to any person for damages, arising out of damages caused by the failure to the abutting property owner to remove snow or ice from the sidewalk.(b)  If the abutting property owner fails to comply with this section, the City shall give the owner notice of such failure by placement of a door hanger on a building located on such property, residence, or verbally, or both.  In addition, a letter shall be sent by ordinary mail to the property owner notifying of this violation.  At any time after notice has been given as provided herein, the City may at once proceed with whatever actions are required to bring the sidewalk into compliance with this section.  The City may assess the cost and expense thereof as provided by law against the abutting property each lot, lots or fraction thereof abutting such sidewalk.  The costs shall be reported to the Council and the same shall be levied and assessed in accordance with the Iowa Code.(c)  Snow and ice removed from sidewalks, private driveways, parking lots and other private property may be placed on City right-of-way parking areas only if such placement does not create a hazardous situation, block a sidewalk or right-of-way or create any situation that could cause damage to the public property.  No snow or ice may be placed upon the traveled portion of any sidewalk, street, alley or way.  Except as may be permitted by the Cedar Rapids Director of Public Works, only the abutting property owner may place snow and ice on such public property.  The area bounded by First Avenue West and Third Avenue Southwest and 6th Street Southwest and First Street Southwest, and the area bounded by A Avenue Northeast and 8th Avenue Southeast, and First Street and Tenth Street, Northeast and Southeast are excluded and exempted from the requirements of the subsection.(d) All fees for the removal of snow and/or ice from sidewalks shall be established by resolution of the City Council.  All such fees shall be paid in accordance with the terms of such resolution, or as the same be amended from time to time by the City Council (21-06).(e)  The owner of property abutting a multi-use public walkway which also serves as a public sidewalk bordering a public street shall only be required to remove snow or ice for a width of four (4) feet upon the public sidewalk.  The owner of property used for commercial or industrial uses bordering a public street shall be required to remove snow or ice for a width of five (5) feet upon the public sidewalk.(f)  The City Council may temporarily close a public sidewalk by resolution as a result of construction, development, natural disaster or as may be otherwise directed by the City Council.  The owner of property abutting a public sidewalk temporarily closed by City Council resolution shall not required by this section to remove snow and ice.  However, the owner may nevertheless still have responsibility for snow and ice removal pursuant to the Code of Iowa.

(a)  The owner of property abutting a public sidewalk shall remove snow and ice from the sidewalk within a reasonable time, but in no case longer than 48 hours, after the snow has fallen or ice has formed, except in cases of severe weather, when it is not reasonably practicable to remove the snow and ice from the sidewalk, the owner of the abutting property shall spread some suitable material upon the sidewalk to prevent the surface from being slippery.  The failure of the owner of abutting property to remove snow or ice from the sidewalk shall not make the City liable to any person for damages, arising out of damages caused by the failure to the abutting property owner to remove snow or ice from the sidewalk.

(b)  If the abutting property owner fails to comply with this section, the City shall give the owner notice of such failure by placement of a door hanger on a building located on such property, residence, or verbally, or both.  In addition, a letter shall be sent by ordinary mail to the property owner notifying of this violation.  At any time after notice has been given as provided herein, the City may at once proceed with whatever actions are required to bring the sidewalk into compliance with this section.  The City may assess the cost and expense thereof as provided by law against the abutting property each lot, lots or fraction thereof abutting such sidewalk.  The costs shall be reported to the Council and the same shall be levied and assessed in accordance with the Iowa Code.

(c)  Snow and ice removed from sidewalks, private driveways, parking lots and other private property may be placed on City right-of-way parking areas only if such placement does not create a hazardous situation, block a sidewalk or right-of-way or create any situation that could cause damage to the public property.  No snow or ice may be placed upon the traveled portion of any sidewalk, street, alley or way.  Except as may be permitted by the Cedar Rapids Director of Public Works, only the abutting property owner may place snow and ice on such public property.  The area bounded by First Avenue West and Third Avenue Southwest and 6th Street Southwest and First Street Southwest, and the area bounded by A Avenue Northeast and 8th Avenue Southeast, and First Street and Tenth Street, Northeast and Southeast are excluded and exempted from the requirements of the subsection.

(d) All fees for the removal of snow and/or ice from sidewalks shall be established by resolution of the City Council.  All such fees shall be paid in accordance with the terms of such resolution, or as the same be amended from time to time by the City Council (21-06).

(e)  The owner of property abutting a multi-use public walkway which also serves as a public sidewalk bordering a public street shall only be required to remove snow or ice for a width of four (4) feet upon the public sidewalk.  The owner of property used for commercial or industrial uses bordering a public street shall be required to remove snow or ice for a width of five (5) feet upon the public sidewalk.

(f)  The City Council may temporarily close a public sidewalk by resolution as a result of construction, development, natural disaster or as may be otherwise directed by the City Council.  The owner of property abutting a public sidewalk temporarily closed by City Council resolution shall not required by this section to remove snow and ice.  However, the owner may nevertheless still have responsibility for snow and ice removal pursuant to the Code of Iowa.

(g)  For purposes of this section "owner" means the record holder of legal title, or contract purchaser if there is one of record.