Chicago City Council December 14, 2022
Referred to Joint Committee on Economic, Capital, and Technology Development, and Transportation and Public Way
RESOLUTION CALLING FOR PLOW THE SIDEWALKS TOWN HALL
WHEREAS, The City of Chicago (City) is home to approximately 2.8 million people that regularly interact or are impacted by mobility and transportation access; and
WHEREAS, It is estimated that the City has more than 4,000 miles of streets, in addition to, hundreds of miles of public sidewalks, crosswalks, and other walkways (sidewalks); and
WHEREAS, Contrary to the relatively pleasant climate during most seasons, Chicago has developed an infamous reputation for it challenging Winters that bring frigid temperatures, heavy snow, ice accumulation, and often result in perilous conditions for all, but especially, disproportionately impacts low-income and marginalized communities; and
WHEREAS, The City's Department of Streets and Sanitation (DSS) has a dedicated team known as "Snow Command" that monitors and strategically deploys equipment to clear streets for vehicular use, such needed resources do not exist for those who similarly need pedestrian prioritization access; and
WHEREAS, To encourage sidewalk clearance, the City fines property owners who fail to comply—a response that does not create or further accessible solutions for pedestrians ultimately impacted, while also, imposing an undue financial burden dismissive of the issue itself; and
WHEREAS, Currently, the City has a patchwork approach to clearing sidewalks leaving many impacted by such in inconsistent clearance to experience physical or emotional harm as a result of such disparate treatment; and
WHEREAS, Other American cities, like Wilmette, IL, and Rochester, NY, and larger Canadian cities like Montreal and Toronto, have delivered on accessible sidewalks year-round through their municipal sidewalk snow removal practices, demonstrating solutions are possible; and
WHEREAS, The City has an opportunity to make sidewalk clearance a municipal service reesulting in positive impact to the economy, public safety, and the environment, and thus, should work collectively to address this issue; and
WHEREAS, The City has local examples, such as 30 of 57 local tax districts in the City, known as Special Service Areas (SSAs), that already allocate some degree of funds or service towards sidewalk clearance in some form; and
WHEREAS, Relatedly, Pilot programs provide the City with an opportunity assess community needs and tailor intentional practices that meet the needs of those Chicagoans most uniquely impacted; and, now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, that we the Members of the City Council, call on the City of Chicago Committee on Transportation and Public Way to hold a town hall with public stakeholders, impacted City Departments, and other municipalities to learn about the possibility of a municipal sidewalk snow and ice removal pilot program to improve accessibility, opportunities for connection, and provide all Chicagoans, regardless ofthe season with a decent quality of life.
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