NEWS YOU NEED TO KNOW
Keep Sidewalks Clear of Snow and Ice
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emoving snow and ice from sidewalks is another way you may help keep our community safe and accessible to neighbors, children walking to school, and visitors. Recent
changes to Municipal Code Chapter 9.11 — Clearing Snow and Ice from Sidewalks — may affect Cedar Rapids residents and property owners. A summary of adopted changes is below: Reduced
timeframe for snow clearance
The new timeframe to clear sidewalks of snow and ice following a winter storm is 24 hours. The timeframe is down from 48 hours previously. New
civil citation and formal appeal process
If the City receives a report of sidewalks with lingering snow and ice, an inspector may arrive as soon as 48 hours after a snow or ice storm. This is down from 96 hours. If the sidewalk is out of compliance, a new $35 civil citation will be assessed. Previously, there was no citation fee during the inspection process. A formal process is available for residents to appeal the citation.
The
Additional clarity for sidewalk clearance New language specifies property owners must clear the entire width of abutting public sidewalks and pedestrian curb ramps.
abatement fee is unchanged
If a sidewalk is out of compliance upon inspection, a citation notice will be affixed to the front door of the property. A snow-removal crew will arrive the next day to clear the sidewalk. If the sidewalk remains out of compliance and the City needs to remove snow and/or ice, the initial fee remains $313, subject to the scope of work performed. Learn how a new Snow Buddies program is pairing snow-removal volunteer assistance with residents in need: CityofCR.com/SnowBuddies
DROP OFF SITES FOR REAL, UNFLOCKED CHRISTMAS TREES Collection runs through mid-January
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he Parks and Recreation Department will set up two sites for disposal of real, unflocked Christmas trees. Trees will be accepted beginning December 26 at the Sac & Fox trail
parking lot, Bertram Road and Wilder Drive SE, and Prairie Park Fishery, 2125 Otis Road SE. All tinsel, ornaments, decorations, stands, watering packets, tree wrap and netting must be removed from trees prior to disposal. Flocked trees, wreaths, and garlands cannot be recycled. Both sites will be open from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. through January 16. Signs indicating drop off areas will be posted at each location. Trees disposed of at the Sac & Fox lot will be chipped and used by the Indian Creek Nature Center on hiking trails. Trees dropped off at Prairie Park Fishery will be placed on the ice to use as fish habitat as the ice melts in the spring.
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