Clearing Sidewalks & Crosswalks
Sidewalks
The City of Brantford Municipal Code Article 8, Sections 614.8.1 and 614.8.3, require that sidewalks be cleared of snow and ice by the owner within 24 hours of every snowfall, with the penalty for failure to do so being up to a maximum of a $5,000.00 fine (Municipal Code Article 24, 614.24.7). This bylaw has been updated to better reflect the issues.
Presently the system of sidewalk clearing enforcement can be significantly improved by ensuring that all City departments and public agencies responsible for their sidewalks adhere to the City’s snow clearing code. The City will continue to respond on a "complaint only" basis.
Presently, the City only enforces the Code when there is a flagrant disregard to safety and when necessary, undertakes the work and charges back the costs to the owner (Municipal Code, 614.8.8 or 614.8.9).
Operational Services presently owns five (5) trackless plows which are used to clear sidewalks fronting City property (includes bridges, approaches to bridges and residential lots owned by the City), property under the jurisdiction of other departments and leases one (1) trackless plows for the Downtown core and bridges and overpasses, etc.
All these walks are plowed and sanded when and where necessary. The sidewalk equipment operates 250 to 350 hours per year. The clearing of sidewalks is initiated as soon as possible after the arrival of a storm and work is usually completed in 24 hours.
Crosswalks
Presently the system for crosswalks involves the clearing of the downtown area immediately after plowing operations. Hand shovelling and sidewalk machines carry this out where applicable.