In the days since Oct. 16’s snowfall, City of Whitehorse bylaw officers issued 42 tickets to downtown properties for non-compliance with snow removal. That number is higher than the total tickets issued all of last winter, according to a Facebook post from the city.
The city requires businesses to remove snow and ice from sidewalks and lane crossings by 11 a.m. the morning after a snowfall. If businesses also have accessible parking spaces, they must be cleared at 11 a.m. the morning after a snowfall as well.
Residential properties have to have snow and ice removed from sidewalks within 48 hours of a snowfall, or immediately upon request of a bylaw constable, according to the city’s maintenance policy.
Fines for non-compliance start at $250 and rise from there for repeat offenders, according to the city’s press release.
Bylaw constable Colin LaForme told the News the goal is to make downtown safe and accessible. He said there have been over 80 violations identified, 71 in the weekend after the snowfall.
When city council approved the budget for additional ice and snow patrol officers, it allowed for bylaw services to be more effective this winter, said LaForme. Two new officers have been brought on, according to the press release.
LaForme said since the weekend campaign, he’s seen a “dramatic uptick” in compliance.
“On the initial weekend, we identified 71 violations. And, you know, just doing a drive by this morning, of those 70, I think almost all of them were in compliance already with the snowfall from last night,” said LaForme on Oct. 24, 2024.
Clear sidewalks mean better foot traffic, and better engagement for the city and businesses, said LaForme.
LaForme said bylaw services will be focusing on accessibility throughout the city, meaning they will be addressing residential areas in the coming days after the Oct. 24 snowfall.
LaForme said they’ll also be enforcing rules on stored vehicles on residential roads which interfere with snow removal. He said bylaw will be identifying areas which have vehicles stored on the road, and addressing those vehicles so that snow plows can provide a more effective and efficient service.
According to an Oct. 24 press release by the city, Whitehorse now has more equipment and staff “than ever” for snow and ice control, thanks to an increase in funding in the 2023-2024 operating budget. The city now has two new graders, two new loaders, two new dump trucks, two new skid steers, two new small dump trucks, one new tractor and one new end-dump trailer.
Budget increases have also enabled for twelve new hires for snow removal. The city has also established agreements with contractors to “receive help quickly in response to major snow events.”
The release said the city maintains more than 600 kilometres of roadway across the city.
Contact Talar Stockton at talar.stockton@yukon-news.com
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