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Home My WebLink About2020-11-25 Info Packet City Council I nformation Packet November 25, 2020 IP1.Council Tentative Meeting S chedule December 1 Work Session IP2.Work Session Agenda IP3.B L M & S ystemic Racism Detailed S tatus Report IP4.Pending City Council Work S ession Topics Miscellaneous IP5.Memo from S enior Planner: P lanning and Zoning Commission's Recommendations on the Good Neighbor Program IP6.Mayor's Third Order R E: Effective Date of Water Rate I ncrease IP7.Email from Council Member J ohn Thomas: S idewalk Snow Clearing Guide IP8.Mediacom L etter: New Rates Draft Minutes IP9.Park & Recreation Commission: November 19 November 25, 2020 City of Iowa City Page 1 Item Number: 1. November 25, 2020 Council Ten tative Meeting Sched u l e AT TAC HM E NT S : Description Council Tentative Meeting S chedule City Council Tentative Meeting Schedule Subject to change November 25, 2020 Date Time Meeting Location Tuesday, December 1, 2020 5:00 PM Special Formal - Executive Session Zoom Meeting Platform Work Session (following Special Formal) 7:00 PM Formal Meeting Tuesday, December 15, 2020 5:00 PM Work Session Zoom Meeting Platform 7:00 PM Formal Meeting Tuesday, January 5, 2021 3:00 PM Budget Work Session (CIP)Zoom Meeting Platform 7:00 PM Formal Meeting Saturday, January 9, 2021 8:00 AM Budget Work Session Zoom Meeting Platform Tuesday, January 19, 2021 5:00 PM Work Session Zoom Meeting Platform 7:00 PM Formal Meeting Monday, January 25, 2021 4:30 PM Joint Entities Meeting Zoom Meeting Platform Hosted by the City of Coralville Tuesday, February 2, 2021 5:00 PM Work Session Zoom Meeting Platform 7:00 PM Formal Meeting Tuesday, February 16, 2021 5:00 PM Work Session Zoom Meeting Platform 7:00 PM Formal Meeting Tuesday, March 2, 2021 5:00 PM Work Session Zoom Meeting Platform 7:00 PM Formal Meeting Tuesday, March 16, 2021 5:00 PM Work Session Zoom Meeting Platform 7:00 PM Formal Meeting Tuesday, April 6, 2021 5:00 PM Work Session Zoom Meeting Platform 7:00 PM Formal Meeting Tuesday, April 20, 2021 5:00 PM Work Session Zoom Meeting Platform 7:00 PM Formal Meeting Item Number: 2. November 25, 2020 Work Session Agen d a AT TAC HM E NT S : Description Work Session Agenda Item Number: 3. November 25, 2020 B L M & Systemic Racism Detailed Status Report AT TAC HM E NT S : Description B L M & S ystemic Racism Detailed S tatus Report 1 City of Iowa City COMMITMENT TO ADDRESSING BLACK LIVES MATTER & SYSTEMIC RACISM Resolution No. 20-159 Status Report November 25, 2020 2 SUMMARY OF COMMITMENTS The City of Iowa City is committed to embracing the Black Lives Matter Movement and addressing Systemic Racism. The City Council unanimously passed Resolution No. 20-159 on Tuesday, June 16, 2020 which outlined seventeen initial actions. A copy of that signed resolution, along with other related resources, is available at www.icgov.org/BLM. The seventeen actions have been identified in this initial commitment and are summarized below. Click on an action to be taken to the status report page for that item: Policing & the Future of Public Safety • Develop a preliminary plan to restructure Iowa City Police Department (ICPD) towards community policing. • Receive a report of ICPD involvement in use of gas and flash-bang devices during a June 2020 Black Lives Matter protest in Iowa City. • Increase accountability and oversight authority of CPRB, where legally possible. • Improve transparency and accessibility of detailed ICPD budget expenditures. • Review inventory of military grade equipment in ICPD, evaluate federal contracts with the ICPD and express support for divestment of the Johnson County Sherriff’s Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle. • Enact ICPD General Order to expressly ban the use of chokeholds & any maneuver that cuts off oxygen or blood flow. • Continue ICPD policy and practice to be consistent with IA H.F. 2647, ensuring police officers in Iowa have not committed serious misconduct. • Investigate compliance and evaluate disciplinary action related to proper use of body cameras and vehicle recording devices. • Ensure the duty to intervene and stop excessive force, in both ICPD General Order and an MOU with area law enforcement agencies. • Prohibit use of tear gas, rubber bullets, and flash bangs against peaceful protestors. • Adopt 2021 state legislative priorities related to criminal justice reform, enhanced authority of the Community Police Review Board (CPRB), and decriminalization of small amounts of marijuana. Truth & Reconciliation • Create an ad hoc Truth & Reconciliation Commission to carry out restorative justice. Diversity, Equity & Inclusion • Commit $1,000,000 to local efforts promoting racial equity + social justice, including development of a new Affordable Housing Plan. • Increase opportunities for artistic expression by communities of color. • Establish Juneteenth as an official city holiday beginning in 2021. • Increase diversity of City employees, expand equitable recruitment efforts, and elevate organizational equity training, policies, and procedures. • Continue use of a racial equity toolkit use in all city departments, expand training to the City Council, and educate and train the local business community 3 PROGRESS SUMMARY Policing & the Future of Public Safety Truth & Reconciliation Diversity, Equity & Inclusion *Note: Actions showing multiple icons have some council directives accomplished and others underway; details are provided on each action’s page. $1m. committed to SJRE efforts + Affordable Housing Plan Equitable recruitment, hiring, staff training 2021 legislative priorities supporting racial/social justice Develop Truth & Reconciliation Commission Plan to restructure ICPD towards community policing Report on gas/flash bang use on protestors Increased oversight authority for CPRB Transparent and accessible ICPD budget details Military-grade equipment inventory review, MRAP Letter ICPD G.O.: Chokeholds and airway restricting maneuvers ICPD G.O.: Police misconduct related to IA H.F. 2647 ICPD G.O.: Body camera + car recorder compliance ICPD G.O.: Duty to Intervene & stop excessive use of force ICPD G.O.: Tear gas, rubber bullets, flash bangs in protests Racial & Equity Toolkit expansion of use + education Increase art + celebrations of communities of color Establish Juneteenth as official City holiday Awaiting City Council action Planning or action currently underway Some or all actions accomplished Action(s) completed Action(s) in progress Awaiting City Council action Last Updated: November 25, 2020 4 Resolution “By December 15, 2020, develop a preliminary plan to restructure the Iowa City Police Department (ICPD) towards community policing, including, but not limited to, reduction of the public’s reliance on police in non- violent situations through use of unarmed professionals, and consideration of community policing initiatives in other cities, including, but not limited to, Minneapolis, MN, Camden, NJ, Los Angeles, CA and San Francisco, CA.” (Res. 20-159, p. 1, #1) Status Summary City Council directed staff to prepare a preliminary plan, which will be delivered to City Council on or before December 15, 2020. This will be coordinated by the City Manager’s Office and staff will continue to provide recommendations to City Council for changes and improvements which could be implemented in the interim, while the plan is being developed. At the November 17, 2020 meeting, City Council will conducted the first reading of an unbiased policing ordinance which was developed in collaboration with the NAACP. Upon presentation of the preliminary plan and deliberation by City Council, there will be additional opportunities for the public to provide feedback before a final plan is adopted. Next Steps Target Date Milestone Action Group(s) Dec. 15, 2020 Deadline for staff to deliver preliminary plan to City Council Staff, Council, Public Accomplishments • September 1, 2020: City Council approved the replacement of a vacant, full-time police officer position with a civilian Victim Support Specialist position. More information is available here. • Sept 16 – Oct. 8, 2020: Six separate Listening Posts held on community policing with focus areas including homelessness, crisis intervention/mental health/substance abuse, victims of abuse, youth engagement, the special needs population, and UI students. • Aug. 25 – Oct. 15, 2020: Comments welcomed through an online public input form. • Oct. 15, 2020: Staff delivered a report to City Council which summarized the comments received via the listening posts and online form during the initial public input phase. • October 29, 2020: ICPD issued a special order related to no longer initiate stops based solely on regulatory secondary traffic violations (i.e. defective equipment) or minor pedestrian infractions (i.e. jaywalking that does not pose an immediate public safety threat). Public safety data concerning this guideline will be reviewed after 60 days ACTION 1: PRELIMINARY PLAN TO RESTRUCTURE ICPD TOWARDS COMMUNITY POLICING 5 Resolution “Allocate City funds in the amount of $1,000,000 during Fiscal Year starting July 1, 2020 for efforts to promote racial equity and social justice, including expansion of the Special Populations Involvement (SPI) program, creation of a new robust affordable housing plan, including, but not limited to, housing in the downtown and core neighborhoods, support of the to be determined efforts of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and hold a Council work session on or before August 1, 2020 to address specific allocations.” (Res. 20-159, p. 1, #2) Status Summary Allocation plans for these funds are pending further City Council discussion. Next Steps Target Date Milestone Action Group(s) TBD Hold City Council work session to address specific allocations City Council Accomplishments • August 18, 2020: City Council agreed to contribute $25,000 in funding to assist the Iowa City BIPOC and Immigrant-Owned Businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, in collaboration with ThinkIowaCity and Project Better Together’s Holding Our Own program. This funding is separate from the $1 million commitment. View a list of funding recipients. ACTION 2: COMMIT $1,000,000 TO LOCAL EFFORTS PROMOTING RACIAL EQUITY + SOCIAL JUSTICE 6 Resolution “Elevate the City’s commitment to racial equity and social justice, including expanding efforts to increase the number of minorities employed by the City including eliminating barriers to applications, increase resources devoted to those efforts as needed to better train all city employees and coordinate and report on the use of funds dedicated for racial equity and social justice.” (Res. 20-159, p. 2, #3) Status Summary Staff have implemented several improvements for more equitable hiring and recruitment and continue to actively explore additional opportunities, such as those ideas outlined in the staff report. The 2020 Social Justice and Racial Equity 3rd Quarter Update includes additional information on training various departments have participated in from July through September 2020. Next Steps Target Date Milestone Action Group(s) Ongoing, Monthly Staff Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee meetings and efforts Staff Ongoing Diversity and equity improvements to hiring and recruitment policy and practices. All Accomplishments • July 29, 2020: Approximately 60 City and County staff participated in a virtual Cultural Proficiency pilot training. • August 2020: New staff DEI Committee was formed, with a mission to discuss opportunities and plan for improving workplace culture related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. This committee will continue to meet monthly and seek progress in these areas. • August 20, 2020: Staff completed a report on Iowa City employee demographics, recruitment efforts, and staff diversity, equity, and inclusion trainings. • October 2020: A new employment opportunities flyer (available in English, Spanish, French (Africa), Arabic, and Swahili) was created and distributed to approximately 300 community organizations and local contacts who reach diverse populations. • Human Resources has been working with hiring to staff to implement changes since this report was published, including: o Requiring all interviews to include at least one question on diversity, equity, and inclusion. o More consistent data collection on how candidates learn about positions. o Providing hiring managers with current employee demographics at the beginning of the hiring process as well as post-hire recruitment analysis reports. o Providing candidates with interview prep time prior to the start of an interview. o Providing candidates with “Interview Tips for Success” when scheduling interviews. ACTION 3: INCREASE DIVERSITY OF EMPLOYEES, EQUITABLE RECRUITMENT EFFORTS, AND ORGANIZATIONAL EQUITY TRAINING 7 Resolution “By August 1, 2020, receive a report from the City Manager on the ICPD’s involvement in the use of gas and flash-bang devices during the protest in Iowa City on June 3, 2020.” (Res. 20-159, p. 2, #4) Status Summary OIR Group (based in Playa del Ray, CA) is currently conducting an independent investigation of the June 3, 2020 BLM protest incident that took place near the Interstate 80 interchange and Dubuque Street. Next Steps Target Date Milestone Action Group(s) TBD Deliver report from OIR Group to City Council Third Party Accomplishments • September 1, 2020: Councilors approved a contract with OIR Group (based in Playa del Ray, CA) to conduct an independent investigation of the June 3, 2020 BLM protest incident that took place near the Interstate 80 interchange and Dubuque Street. • September 3, 2020: Per City Council direction, the City released a statement and video footage related to the June 3, 2020 BLM protest incident. ACTION 4: RECEIVE REPORT ON ICPD INVOLVEMENT IN USE OF GAS AND FLASH BANGS DURING JUNE 2020 BLM 8 Resolution “By October 1, 2020, create an ad hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission to bear witness to the truth of racial injustice in Iowa City and to carry out restorative justice, through the collection of testimony and public hearings, with such work to include a recommendation to the Council of a plan for dedicating and/or renaming public spaces and/or rights of way in honor of the Black Lives Matter movement.” (Res. 20-159, p. 2, #5) Status Summary Following an application and review process, City Council announced their appointment of nine board members to serve two-year terms at the November 17, 2020 council meeting. The terms begin immediately, and the following members have been selected: Amel Ali, Anthony Currin, Raneem Hamad, T’Shaliyn Harrington, Eric Harris, Layana Navarre-Jackson, Royceann Porter, Kevin John Rivera, and Mohamed Traore. Staff are assisting with scheduling an initial meeting for the purposes of introductions, review of scope, and orientation to serving on a public commission. Learn more about the Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission and stay up-to-date on meeting schedules and agendas here. Next Steps Target Date Milestone Action Group(s) Nov. 17, 2020 City Council may begin making appointments to the TRC City Council Accomplishments • July – September 2020: Continued collaborative efforts to collect ideas and input from members of the public, including councilor meetings and sustained communication with members of the Iowa Freedom Riders (IFR), input from other community groups, and individual input collected via e-mail, phone, and in-person at City Council meetings. • July 21, 2020 – Public input opportunity at the regular, formal City Council meeting. • August 18, 2020: Councilors Bergus and Weiner introduced a draft resolution. • September 1, 2020: Councilors received public input and made plans to discuss further at the next City Council meeting. • September 15, 2020: City Council adopted a resolution forming a Truth & Reconciliation Commission. ACTION 5: CREATE AD HOC TRUTH & RECONCILIATION COMMISSION TO CARRY OUT RESTORATIVE JUSTICE 9 Resolution “Make it a 2021 City Council legislative priority to advocate for and support our state delegation in enacting criminal justice reform, eliminating the war on drugs and making changes to state law that enable the City’s plan to restructure the police department, enhance the authority of the Community Police Review Board (CPRB) and reduce disproportionate minority contact, including support of state legislation decriminalizing small amounts of marijuana.” (Res. 20-159, p. 2, #6) Status Summary At the November 17, 2020 City Council meeting, councilors passed a resolution adopting state legislative priorities for the 2021 State of Iowa Legislative Session. The resolution included support for reform measures to reduce racial disparity in the criminal justice system and address systemic racism, including: • Uniform minimum implicit bias and cultural competency training requirements for law enforcement • Decriminalization of small amounts of marijuana • Policy changes recommended by the Governor’s FOCUS Committee on Criminal Justice Reform: which include (1) requiring and automating data collection on race/ethnicity from traffic stops; (2) analyzing this data to identify trends and needed policy changes; and (3) adopting a statutory ban on disparate treatment in law enforcement activities. • Statewide review of community police review boards and corresponding policies to ensure these bodies have adequate oversight powers. • Amendment to the state hate crimes law to include harassment as an enhanceable offense Additionally, the priorities include support for crisis intervention efforts, a civil mental health court, and investment in mental health inpatient and outpatient services. Next Steps Target Date Milestone Action Group(s) 2021 State of Iowa Legislative Session Staff will work with state legislators, and City’s contracted lobbyists on these issues during the 2021 session. Staff, state legislative delegation, contracted lobbyists Accomplishments • June 19, 2020: Participated in joint work session between the NAACP and local, state and federal law enforcement agencies. • November 17, 2020: City Council adopted 2021 state legislative priorities. • November 23, 2020: City Council held la special work session to discuss the adopted priorities with the legislators and contracted lobbyists. ACTION 6: ADOPT STATE LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES RELATED TO CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM, CPRB AUTHORITY & DECRIMINALIZATION OF SMALL AMOUNTS OF MARIJUANA 10 Resolution “Continue use of the racial equity toolkit by city departments and expand such training to the City Council, and work with our local business partners to educate and train the business community on use of a racial equity toolkit.” (Res. 20-159, p. 2, #7) Status Summary City staff will continue to expand knowledge and use of the toolkit and update City Council as appropriate. Additional racial equity toolkit training will be prepared for both City Council and the business community. An implicit bias training will be provided to City board and commission members on December 2, 2020 at 5:30 p.m. via Zoom. Several other trainings and education and engagement events are scheduled to be hosted or sponsored by the City of Iowa City in the coming months. For a list of upcoming events, please visit www.icgov.org/blm and check under the “Upcoming Education + Engagement Events” section. To stay up-to-date on City events, follow @CityofIowaCity on social media, and sign-up for e-mail or SMS/text message notifications (visit www.icgov.org/e-subscriptions, enter your preferred method of contact, and select “Equity and Human Rights” under “News and Events”). Accomplishments • July 22, 2020: Culturally Responsive Communication training delivered to 100+ members of the local business community. • July 23, 2020: Staff presented a memo on the City’s use of the racial equity toolkit to Council. • July 29, 2020: Approximately 60 City and County staff participated in a virtual Cultural Proficiency pilot training. • August 2020: New staff DEI Committee was formed, with a mission to discuss opportunities and plan for improving workplace culture related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. This committee will continue to meet monthly and seek progress in these areas. • August 26, 2020: Staff, in collaboration with the ACLU, conducted a Know Your Rights presentation with area youth through the Neighborhood Centers of Johnson County. • September 9, 2020: Culturally Responsive Communication training delivered to area property managers and businesses. Approximately 45 individuals participated. • October 13, 2020: The Office of Equity and Human Rights released an online fair housing training, available on-demand at www.icgov.org/FairHousingTraining. • October 22, 2020: Culturally Responsive Communication training delivered to area property managers and businesses. Approximately 50 individuals participated. ACTION 7: CONTINUE USE OF RACIAL EQUITY TOOLKIT USE AND EXPAND TRAINING TO CITY COUNCIL AND LOCAL BUSINESSES 11 Resolution “Request and receive, by January 1, 2021, a report and recommendation from the CPRB, in consultation with an attorney of its choice, regarding changes to the CPRB ordinance that enhance its ability to provide effective civilian oversight of the ICPD, including but not limited to those that address compelling the testimony of officers, with the report to include a summary of measures considered and rejected by the CPRB, whether it be for policy or legal reasons.” (Res. 20-159, p. 2, #8) Status Summary This action is being directly coordinated by the City Council’s Community Police Review Board (CPRB). Board members are engaging in ongoing conversation about measures or changes to be considered and/or recommended. Next Steps Target Date Milestone Action Group(s) December 31, 2020 CPRB to deliver report and recommendation to the City Council CPRB *CPRB meeting dates subject to a quorum of members Accomplishments • September 2020: Complaints can be now be filed with the CPRB using a new, online web form. The option to submit a hard copy form remains. • September 21, 2020: Virtual Community Forum held by the CPRB to collect public input on the Board’s role and ICPD policies, practices, and procedures. • October 9, 2020: An informational report summarizing the 27-year history of the CPRB ordinance and a history of complaints filed with the Board was included in the CPRB agenda packet. ACTION 8: INCREASE ACCOUNTABILITY AND OVERSIGHT AUTHORITY OF CPRB, WHERE LEGALLY POSSIBLE 12 Resolution “Direct staff to provide a detailed expenditure summary of the police budget on the City’s website.” (Res. 20-159, p. 2, #9) Status Summary Additional budget information was added to the Iowa City Police Department webpage in June of 2020. That information is available on the Police Budget webpage. Staff will continue to increase transparency about the Police Department operations through revised web content. Additional budget information will be added with the release of staff’s proposed fiscal year 2022 budget. In September 2020, additional information on ICPD calls for service and crime statistics were added to the Police Department’s website. This data supplements existing statistics available on the Police Department’s website and in the ICPD Annual Report. Next Steps Target Date Milestone Action Group(s) Dec. 15, 2020 Additional budget and operational details will be presented in the preliminary plan to restructure the ICPD. Staff Accomplishments • View additional fiscal year 2021 police department budget information (published June 2020). • View additional fiscal year 2015 – 2019 Calls for Service + Crime Information ACTION 9: IMPROVE TRANSPARENCY + ACCESSIBILITY OF DETAILED ICPD BUDGET EXPENDITURES 13 Resolution “Send the letter attached as Exhibit “A” to the Johnson County Sheriff supporting divestment of the MRAP (Mine Resistant Ambush Protected) vehicle and obtain a report from city staff on the military grade equipment in the ICPD’s inventory and the federal contracts that provide support to the police department.” (Res. 20-159, p. 2, #10) Accomplishments • June 17, 2020: Mayor Teague submitted a letter to the Johnson County Sheriff supporting divestment of the MRAP vehicle. A copy of the letter can be viewed here. • August 20, 2020: City staff prepared a memo outlining federal contracts from 2017 to the present, that provide support to the Iowa City Police Department. • Staff delivered a memo on ICPD military grade equipment to City Council on September 10, 2020. ACTION 10: REVIEW ICPD INVENTORY OF MILITARY-GRADE EQUIPMENT + SUPPORT COUNTY DIVESTMENT OF MRAP 14 Resolution “Direct the City Manager to expressly ban, in the ICPD’s general orders, any use of chokeholds or any other maneuver that cuts off oxygen or blood flow.” (Res. 20-159, p. 2, #11) Accomplishments • CPRB last reviewed the Iowa City Police Department’s General Order on Use of Force at their October 8, 2019 meeting. The board recommended changes and those were incorporated by the Iowa City Police Department. The General Order was re-issued by the Police Department on October 23, 2019. • The Community Police Review Board approved an updated Use of Force General Order (G.O.) at their August 19, 2020 meeting. The G.O. was re-issued by the ICPD on August 20, 2020. ACTION 11: ADOPT ICPD GENERAL ORDER (G.O.) TO EXPRESSLY BAN CHOKEHOLDS & ANY MANEUVER THAT CUTS OFF OXYGEN OR BLOODFLOW 15 Resolution “Direct the City Manager to ensure the ICPD’s policy and practices regarding employment of officers is consistent with the goals of recently enacted Iowa House File 2647 to ensure that officers working in Iowa have not committed serious misconduct, as defined therein.” (Res. 20-159, p. 2, #12) Status Summary The Iowa City Police Department recruitment process already contains a robust background check process that includes a review of past employment history. Candidates with a history of serious misconduct are not considered for employment with the Iowa City Police Department. As the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy develops rules for the implementation of House File 2647, staff will adjust policies accordingly to ensure complete compliance with the new law. Next Steps Target Date Milestone Action Group(s) TBD – Dependent upon when the State of Iowa releases rules Update Human Resource policies as needed to ensure compliance with HF 2647 Staff Accomplishments ACTION 12: CONTINUE ICPD POLICY + PRACTICES REFLECT IA H.F. 2647, ENSURING OFFICERS HAVE NOT COMMITTED SERIOUS MISCONDUCT 16 Resolution “Direct the City Manager to review the systems and reporting mechanisms in place at the ICPD for evaluating compliance with the ICPD’s Body Worn Cameras and In-Car Recorders general order, ensure that such systems result in consistent compliance with the general order, revise as necessary to achieve that goal, include real consequences for non-compliance, and report back to the Council upon completion of the review.” (Res. 20-159, p. 3, #13) Accomplishments • The Community Police Review Board reviewed and approved the General Order on Body Cameras and In-Car Recorders at their February 11, 2020 meeting. • The Community Police Review Board reviewed and approved an updated General Order on Body Cameras and In-Car Recorders at their September 8, 2020 meeting. • Staff delivered a report on the revised General Order related to body worn cameras and in-car recorders, to City Council on September 10, 2020. • Staff updated monthly Use of Force reports provided to the CPRB to indicate body camera and in-car recording compliance on all Use of Force incidents. ACTION 13: EVALUATE COMPLIANCE + DISCIPLINARY ACTION RELATED TO PROPER USE OF BODY CAMS AND CAR RECORDERS 17 Resolution “Direct the City Manager to revise the ICPD’s general orders to require officers to intervene and stop excessive force used by other officers and report the incident directly to a supervisor, and enter into a memorandum of understanding with other law enforcement agencies regarding such intervention when the excessive force is being used by an officer of another agency such as that currently being discussed and circulated among area law enforcement attached as Exhibit “B”” (Res. 20-159, p. 3, #14) Accomplishments • June 19, 2020: ICPD staff participated in joint work session between the NAACP and local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. At the joint work session, Iowa City joined five area law enforcement agencies in signing a Duty to Intercede MOU. • On July 14, 2020, the Community Police Review Board (CPRB) approved, with no changes, the new Duty to Intervene and Report General Order provided by staff. An executed copy of that General Order can be viewed online and has been issued to ICPD staff/officers. ACTION 14: ENSURE DUTY TO INTERVENE & STOP EXCESSIVE FORCE, BOTH IN ICPD AND MOU WITH AREA LAW ENFORCEMENT 18 Resolution “Request and receive a report and recommendation from the City’s Public Art Advisory Committee, after input from and consultation with local Black artists, on measures Council should consider to provide opportunities for artistic expression by the Black Lives Matter movement and communities of color, including but not limited to visual arts as well as a public festival dedicated to the celebration of Black culture.” (Res. 20-159, p. 3, #15) Status Summary At the August 18, 2020 regular meeting, City Council considered a recommendation from the Public Art Advisory Commission (PAAC) to proceed with a proposal for a mural honoring the Black Lives Matter Movement. The recommendation included a presentation from the Center for Afrofuturist Studies on the process of the project, which includes plans for public input and participation. City Council approved a resolution to proceed with the project. Additionally, City Council discussed the naming of a park after James Alan McPherson, a former resident of Iowa City who was the first African-American writer to win the Pulitzer Prize for fiction and an influential former professor emeritus at the Iowa Writer’s Workshop. Council members invited the Parks & Recreation Commission to develop and introduce a formal recommendation. The Truth & Reconciliation Commission will also prepare recommendations for City Council related to public art and/or public festivals dedicated to the celebration of Black culture. Next Steps Target Date Milestone Action Group(s) TBD City Council to consider a recommendation to name a city park after James Alan McPherson. City Council, Parks and Recreation Commission TBD Community involvement in the public art project; details forthcoming from the sponsoring groups. PAAC, public, Public Space One, Center for Afrofuturist Studies Spring 2021 Creation of the public art project, with expected completion by the Spring of 2021. PAAC, Sponsoring Groups, Artists ACTION 15: INCREASE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ARTISTIC EXPRESSION BY COMMUNITIES OF COLOR The mural is proposed to be located on the stair towers of the Capitol Street Parking Ramp along Burlington Street. 19 Resolution “Prohibit the use of tear gas, rubber bullets, and flashbangs against peaceful protestors.” (Res. 20-159, p. 3, #16) Status Summary Immediate direction has been provided to the Iowa City Police Department. Any policy update on this item is on hold until the completion of the investigation in action item #4 of this resolution. Staff will use the report of the June 3, 2020 events and City Council’s related discussion of these reports, to inform their review of all policies and ensure any relevant updates to policies are completed. Next Steps Target Date Milestone Action Group(s) TBD Receive and discuss report on June 3, 2020 protest response City Council Accomplishments ACTION 16: PROHIBIT THE USE OF TEAR GAS, RUBBER BULLETS, AND FLASHBANGS AGAINST PEACEFUL PROTESTORS 20 Resolution “Beginning in calendar year 2021, Juneteenth, June 19, shall be a city holiday and shall replace an existing city holiday.” (Res. 20-159, p. 3, #17) Accomplishments Holidays are negotiated in the collective bargaining agreements with the City’s labor unions. The City reached an agreement with the Police and AFSCME unions to officially replace President’s Day (or Washington’s Birthday) with the Juneteenth holiday. The City will also make the change for supervisory and other non-bargaining unit staff. The City will observe Juneteenth on June 19th annually as a City holiday. If June 19th falls on a weekend, the City will observe it on the Friday preceding or the Monday following the June 19th date. The first official recognition of Juneteenth as a formal City holiday will be Friday, June 18, 2021. View the memo on the Juneteenth City Holiday here. ACTION 17: ESTABLISH JUNETEENTH AS AN OFFICIAL CITY HOLIDAY BEGINNING IN 2021 Item Number: 4. November 25, 2020 Pen d ing City Cou n cil Work Session Topics AT TAC HM E NT S : Description Pending City Council Work S ession Topics Item Number: 5. November 25, 2020 Memo from Sen ior Pl anner: Plan n ing and Z onin g Commission's Recommendations on the G ood Neig h b or Prog ram AT TAC HM E NT S : Description Memo from S enior Planner: P lanning and Zoning Commission's Recommendations on the Good Neighbor P rogram Item Number: 6. November 25, 2020 Mayor's Third O rder R E: Effective Date of Water Rate In crease AT TAC HM E NT S : Description Mayor's Third Order R E: Effective Date of Water Rate I ncrease Item Number: 7. November 25, 2020 Email from Cou n cil Member John Thomas: Sidewal k Sn ow Clearin g G uid e AT TAC HM E NT S : Description Email from Council Member J ohn Thomas: S idewalk Snow Clearing Guide A component of Minnesota Walks | May 2018 SIDEWALK SNOW CLEARING GUIDE MINNESOTA WALKS Sidewalk Snow Clearing GuideFigure 1: A well cleared sidewalk along Main Street in the City of Hutchinson, Minnesota. 1 Introduction In Minnesota, snow and ice on sidewalks and crosswalks can make walking challenging and hazardous during the winter months. Through Minnesota Walks, a collaborative vision for improving walking in Minnesota, residents from around the state reported that sidewalks covered in snow and ice is one of their biggest obstacles to walking in the winter. One of the six major themes identified in Minnesota Walks was “Minnesota winter and year-round upkeep,” which included a goal to “maintain year-round walking infrastructure by ensuring necessary repairs and clearing snow and ice in a timely fashion.” In some Minnesota communities, sidewalks are uncommon in residential areas and only present in shopping or downtown areas. In others, sidewalks are prevalent in most commercial and residential areas and people rely on them for various uses, including to get to school, work, or for general exercise. This guide describes various options for keeping sidewalks and crosswalks clear year-round, along with case studies on how cities around Minnesota and beyond have turned these options into public policy. Importance of Sidewalk Snow Clearing Clearing snow and ice from all walking infrastructure —not just along sidewalks, but also at crosswalks, curb ramps, and bus stops—is an essential part of making walking practical, safe, and comfortable in the winter. It promotes and encourages year-round walking and can reduce the risk of injuries from slips and falls. Approximately one-third of the U.S. population does not drive. This group includes children, people with certain disabilities, seniors, those who cannot afford a personal vehicle, and those who simply choose not to drive. Sidewalks and crosswalks are necessary infrastructure for ensuring that people can walk or use a mobility device to access destinations or public transit. Additionally, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Title II Regulation §35.133 requires maintaining ADA-compliant access to walkways year- round, which includes snow and ice clearing. MINNESOTA WALKS Sidewalk Snow Clearing Guide2 Common Challenges Policies & Responsibilities Sidewalk snow clearing is not required by the State of Minnesota There is no Minnesota state statute that requires municipalities to establish or enforce a sidewalk snow clearing policy. Municipalities without sidewalk snow clearing policies may experience more unshoveled sidewalks and hazardous winter walking conditions. Municipalities typically require individual property owners to clear snow Most municipalities in Minnesota have an ordinance that requires property owners to clear snow and ice from sidewalks abutting their properties. The challenge with property owner sidewalk snow clearing policies is that many municipalities do not enforce them, allowing sidewalks to go unshoveled without consequence. Lack of enforcement means there is no accountability for clearing sidewalks. Bus stop snow clearing The responsibility of clearing snow from bus stops is often unclear, as it can fall on the municipality, the transit agency, or property owners. One of the biggest challenges is clearing passageways through snowbanks along bus stops to allow passengers to access buses. Vacant property snow clearing Sidewalks abutting vacant properties are often left uncleared, and contacting property owners is a challenge. These may be unoccupied rental properties or foreclosed properties owned by a financial institution. Keeping our public walkways and crosswalks clear of snow and ice can be a difficult task in Minnesota cities and towns. Practices Snow windrows left at street corners Street corners are challenging to maintain in the winter because of snow windrows—piles of snow left behind by snow plows—that form at intersections near corner curb ramps. Clear intersection corners and curb ramps are especially important for people who use wheelchairs or other mobility devices. Plows pushing snow onto sidewalks It can be difficult for snowplows to control exactly where they deposit piles of snow. This may result in snowplows pushing snow onto sidewalks or street corners, sometimes after a sidewalk has already been cleared. This challenge is especially common when sidewalks are placed directly adjacent to the street curb and do not have a buffer or boulevard space for snow storage. Ability Many people are unable to clear sidewalks It can be difficult or impossible for some people to remove snow and ice from sidewalks adjacent to their property within the timeframe required by local ordinances. The responsibility can be challenging for seniors, people with disabilities, pregnant women, single parents, and people who work multiple jobs to support their families. Other barriers to clearing snow from sidewalks include illness or travelling for work or vacation. Climate Fluctuating weather patterns create thaw-freeze cycles and icy sidewalks When temperatures rise above freezing, the snow on or along sidewalks melts and flows onto the sidewalk, only to later freeze when temperatures drop below freezing. These temperature fluctuations can result in icy and treacherous sidewalk conditions. MINNESOTA WALKS Sidewalk Snow Clearing Guide3 Sidewalk Treatment When sidewalks become icy and hazardous, property owners are often inclined or encouraged to use salt to melt ice and reduce slipperiness. Rock salt (sodium chloride) is commonly used because it is an effective anti-icing and deicing agent. However, rock salt may eventually trickle into lakes, rivers, and other water bodies and cause environmental damage. It can also cause other issues such as accelerating concrete deterioration and harming plants, trees, wildlife, and pets. For those reasons, communities may want to discourage property owners from using too much salt on their sidewalks, or encourage a mixture of salt and sand. Sand is an alternative to salt, but it does not provide the melting effect that salt does. Using too much sand can cause drains to clog and may create dust, especially in the spring when snow has melted. In Wisconsin, the City of Madison, along with other county, state, and university partners, are making a concerted effort to reduce salt usage to protect groundwater and local water bodies. The Wisconsin Salt Wise Partnership aims to educate homeowners, municipal agencies, motorists, and other others who might apply salt on the environmental effects of high salt usage, and to instruct the public on ways to reduce salt usage. Homeowners are encouraged to use sand and salt sparingly and to instead use hand spreaders, pre-treat sidewalks in front of their homes with brine, and remove snow regularly to prevent ice buildup on sidewalks. Sidewalk Snow Clearing Responsibilities The responsibility of sidewalk snow clearing generally falls into three categories of policies: Property Owner Responsibility Property owners are responsible for clearing snow and ice from sidewalks adjacent to their property within a defined timeframe. Partially Municipality-Led The municipality clears snow and ice from priority sidewalks while property owners are responsible for clearing sidewalks in the rest of the municipality. Municipality-Led The municipality takes responsibility for clearing snow and ice from all sidewalks using municipal staff and/ or hiring contractors to perform the work. More detailed descriptions of each sidewalk snow clearing policy are provided on the following pages. MINNESOTA WALKS Sidewalk Snow Clearing Guide4 Property Owner Snow Clearing Policies In most municipalities in Minnesota, municipal code requires property owners to keep sidewalks adjacent to their property safe for public travel, which includes clearing snow and ice that has accumulated on the walkway. There are many variations on the timeframe property owners are given to clear snow and ice, the level of enforcement of the policy, and the sidewalk conditions that are expected. Policies should give property owners a fair amount of time to clear sidewalks, but should also ensure snow removal is completed in a timely manner for equitable travel by those who walk. Municipal code should balance the needs of the property owner with the needs of people traveling on foot. The timeframe established for clearing sidewalks is generally between 24 and 48 hours after a snowfall has stopped. Enforcement of these policies varies widely. Some municipalities issue warnings for non- compliance, followed by an inspection from municipal staff. If sidewalks are still uncleared, citations may be given to property owners who do not clear sidewalks after a defined time frame following the warning. If sidewalks are still not clear of snow and ice after the warning period, municipalities will either clear the snow themselves or order a contractor to clear the snow, and the resident will be billed for the service. If bills are left unpaid, they are added to the property owner’s tax bill at the end of the year. Other municipalities do not provide warnings for non-compliance, and will issue a citation immediately to property owners. Ideas for Getting Started »If a sidewalk snow clearing policy doesn’t exist, begin discussing one with community members, municipal staff, council members, and other stakeholders. Policies should clearly define the responsibilities and timeframe for snow clearing. »Develop a public reporting system to allow residents to report uncleared sidewalks. Many communities use software such as See-Click-Fix, or similar. »Create an enforcement policy for sidewalk snow clearing non- compliance. Active enforcement from municipal staff may help increase sidewalk snow clearing compliance. »Determine if your community should issue citations to non-compliant property owners, and what the appropriate fine for citations might be. Consider developing an equitable, sliding scale fine for citations based on property owner income level or property values. »Develop a plan to increase public awareness regarding sidewalk snow clearing responsibilities and requirements, which could include social media outreach, flyers (See Figure 3), or a dedicated webpage to sidewalk snow clearing. »Pair new sidewalk clearing policies with a sidewalk snow clearing assistance program (see page 13). Snow event occurs. Property owners required to clear snow and ice from sidewalks adjacent to property within a defined time period. Property owner fails to clear snow/ice from sidewalks within allotted period of time. Non-compliance is reported. Staff inspect sidewalk to verify non-compliance. Municipality issues a warning to property owner (optional step). Property owner still does not clear snow/ice from sidewalk; City confirms non-compliance and issues citation to property owner. Municipal crews or hired contractors clear snow/ice from sidewalk. Costs passed onto property owners. Unpaid bills are typically added to property owner tax bill. Figure 2: The typical process for sidewalk snow clearing enforcement in municipalities that enforce their policy that requires property owners to clear snow from sidewalks abutting their properties. MINNESOTA WALKS Sidewalk Snow Clearing Guide5 Case Study: Madison, WI population: 252,551 A Madison ordinance requires property owners to clear the entire width of the sidewalk, from edge to edge, by noon on the day after a snow event has stopped. Madison’s policy is unique in that it does not issue warnings for non-compliance. If property owners do not clear snow and ice from sidewalks by noon on the day following a snowfall, they can be immediately issued a citation and fine. First time offenders are fined $124, and repeat offenders are fined $187. After the citation is given, the property owner has until about 7 am the next morning to remove snow and ice from the sidewalks, and if they are still uncleared, the City will order crews to clear the snow. The cost for the City to remove snow and ice is added to the fine, and unpaid bills are added to the owner’s property tax bill. The City’s no-warning policy has been in place for over 30 years. Figure 3: A cleared sidewalk in Madison. Credit: City of Madison MINNESOTA WALKS Sidewalk Snow Clearing Guide6 Minnesota Community Spotlight: Red Wingpopulation 16,526 Like many municipalities in Minnesota, the City of Red Wing has an ordinance stating that property owners must remove snow and ice from sidewalks within 24 hours after the snow/ice has stopped accumulating. What makes Red Wing’s policy unique is how the City consistently enforces its ordinance. After the 24 hour window following a snow or ice event, a door hanger is posted on residences and businesses that have not cleared the sidewalks abutting their property. The door hangers are a one-time courtesy reminder for residents out of compliance, and they include information about the additional 24 hours the resident has to bring their sidewalk into compliance with the City’s ordinance. After the additional 24 hours, City crews remove the snow/ice and take a photo of the work completed, and a $120 fee is charged to the property owner. The City then posts another door hanger with a Notice of Work completed, and the invoice is mailed to the property. Unpaid invoices are added to the property owner’s annual tax assessments. More information on the City of Red Wing’s sidewalk snow clearing policy can be found here. Red Wing Figure 4: The City of Red Wing created a flyer to remind property owners of their responsibility to clear sidewalks abutting their properties. Credit: City of Red Wing MINNESOTA WALKS Sidewalk Snow Clearing GuidePartial Municipality-Led Sidewalk Snow Clearing Policies Partial municipality-led sidewalk snow clearing policies typically require property owners to clear sidewalks abutting their property, while municipal staff take responsibility for clearing snow on a select number of priority sidewalk routes. Municipalities with this type of policy develop sidewalk priority routes to determine which sidewalks staff will clear. Most municipalities with partial municipality-led snow clearing policies use their own staff and equipment to perform the work. Staff may be from the municipal public works department, parks department, or a combination. The percentage of the overall sidewalk network that is categorized as priority routes varies, but priorities typically include routes around schools and routes with intensive land uses or high volumes of people walking. Ideas for Getting Started »Research the cost and feasibility of a partial municipality-led sidewalk snow clearing policy. Refer to the League of Minnesota Cities model policy for Trail and Sidewalk Removal of Snow and Ice. »Develop a sidewalk priority network, divide the network into individual routes, and create a map of the routes. Communities typically divide routes into segments between 10 and 25 miles long. »Assign a snow plow unit to each defined sidewalk snow clearing route. »Define a snowfall depth threshold to clear sidewalks. »Clearly identify sidewalk snow and ice clearing responsibility. »Develop a public outreach campaign to notify property owners of any change in policy. The City of Cloquet has developed a priority network of sidewalks that it clears in the winter. The priority routes include about 13 of the City’s 40 miles of sidewalks. Parks department staff perform the work using tractors that are converted from grass mowers in the summer months to snow clearing tractors with 5’ wide broom attachments. This helped the City launch its sidewalk clearing program with a very small initial investment and no need for additional staff. The first priority routes are sidewalks around schools, and the second priority routes are the heavily travelled pedestrian routes, which are typically the arterial streets. While staff are out clearing sidewalks, they also stop at parks along the routes and clear snow off the local ice skating rinks. The sidewalk crews start snow clearing around 3 am to avoid traffic, and for a snowfall up to four inches they are typically done by around 10 am. Clearing sidewalks after snowfalls greater than four inches takes longer to perform because staff first clear sidewalks with a tractor with a plow attachment (Figure 6), then with a tractor with a broom attachment. Cloquet Figure 6: A tractor with a plow attachment clears a sidewalk in Cloquet. Credit: City of Cloquet Minnesota Community Spotlight: Cloquet population 12,111 “The first thing we think about is the safety of the kids. Walking to and from school safely is a top priority.” - Les Peterson, Parks Supervisor, City of Cloquet 7 MINNESOTA WALKS Sidewalk Snow Clearing GuideIn the City of Duluth, City staff clear snow from approximately 80 miles of select sidewalk routes while the remaining sidewalks (approximately 370 miles) are the responsibility of abutting property owners. City staff from the parks and recreation department clear snow from routes that are designated on the City’s sidewalk priority route map. The City began by only clearing sidewalks around the perimeter of park facilities, but eventually assembled a small task force to determine sidewalk priority routes that are also cleared by parks and maintenance staff. The priority routes, which are intended to be reevaluated on an ongoing basis, are designated in the following order: »Safe Routes to School sidewalks »High pedestrian traffic areas »Sidewalks along public transit routes »Mid-level pedestrian traffic area »Park facilities “High” and “mid-level” pedestrian traffic areas are based on pedestrian counts collected by the Duluth-Superior Metropolitan Interstate Council (MIC). The City of Duluth has a core group of six employees in the parks and maintenance departments that are tasked with clearing sidewalks when it snows, and they are deployed to begin clearing after snowfalls have reached a depth of 2-3 inches. Sidewalk snowplow crews always follow the street plows to reduce pushing snow back-and-forth between the sidewalks and streets. It takes them about 3-4 days to clear the 80 miles of priority sidewalks following a snowfall. Sidewalk plowing is performed with Trackless tractors with 48” wide plow attachments, and each tractor costs about $150,000. Duluth’s priority sidewalk clearing program is funded through tax dollars from the City’s general fund. Duluth Figure 7: A City of Duluth employee clears a sidewalk with a Bobcat tractor. Sidewalk snow clearing crews follow street plows to reduce snow that is pushed back and forth between facilities. Credit: Duluth News Tribune Minnesota Community Spotlight: Duluth population 86,293 8 MINNESOTA WALKS Sidewalk Snow Clearing GuideThe City of Rochester has a partial municipality-led sidewalk and trail snow clearing policy in which the City’s priority sidewalks and trails are cleared by municipal staff, and all other sidewalks are the responsibility of abutting property owners. The City’s pedestrian path winter snow removal map shows which sidewalks and trails that are cleared by City staff, and which are the responsibility of property owners. After a snow event, City staff plow sidewalks concurrently with City streets. Then, after 1-2 days staff will return with plowing equipment to ensure sidewalk routes remain clear of snow after Public Works staff have finished plowing streets. Staff will also clear sidewalks if snow has drifted or blown onto them, regardless of a new snow event. City staff use a variety of equipment to clear sidewalks, including Trackless machines (Figure 8), Bobcat Toolcat tractors, Gators, and/or pickup trucks with plows. Rochester City Ordinance 72.02 requires owners of properties adjacent to a public sidewalk to remove snow and ice within 24-hours after a snowfall. Sidewalks in business districts are inspected daily after snowstorms, and businesses that have not cleared their sidewalk will get a warning. If a business already received a public complaint against them, they will not receive a warning and will be ticketed immediately. Areas outside of business districts are only inspected if a complaint is received. After a complaint is received, the Public Works Department will send an inspector to the property to confirm the sidewalk is not cleared, and then order a private contractor to clear the sidewalk. Rochester Figure 8: A City of Rochester employee clears a sidewalk with a Trackless tractor (left). Credit: City of Rochester Minnesota Community Spotlight: Rochester population 114,011 9 MINNESOTA WALKS Sidewalk Snow Clearing GuideMunicipality-Led Sidewalk Snow Clearing Policies Municipality-led sidewalk snow and ice clearing policies use municipal staff or hired contractors to clear the entire public sidewalk network. Municipality-led sidewalk snow and ice clearing policies are less common, primarily due to the cost of implementation (labor and equipment), the mileage of sidewalks within municipal boundaries, and the perception that municipality-led efforts are less timely than property owner led efforts. These policies usually go into effect after a snowfall reaches a certain depth threshold. Municipality-led sidewalk clearing practices can be effective in clearing snow from sidewalks in a consistent manner, though it does not always happen as quickly as it does with policies that put the responsibility on property owners. These practices are beneficial to property owners who cannot physically clear sidewalks due to age or disability. Cities or towns with these policies generally fund the service through property taxes or additional fees. Most smaller municipalities with municipality- led policies use their own staff and equipment to perform the work. Staff may be from the municipal public works department, parks department, or a combination. There are some municipalities that hire private contractors to clear defined routes. Hiring contractors to perform the work is more common in larger cities where it would be inefficient or impossible for City staff to clear all sidewalks in a timely manner. In these cases, the contract will define the terms, responsibilities, compensation, and duration of services. Ideas for Getting Started »Research the cost and feasibility of a municipality-led sidewalk snow clearing policy and program. »If determined to be feasible, analyze whether the sidewalk snow clearing should be performed by municipal staff or private contractors. »Develop a map of the entire sidewalk network in the community and divide the entire sidewalk network into individual routes. Communities typically divide routes into segments between 10 and 25 miles long. »Assign a snow plow unit to each defined sidewalk snow clearing route. »Define a snowfall depth threshold to clear sidewalks. »Clearly identify sidewalk snow and ice clearing responsibilities. »Develop a public outreach campaign to notify property owners of any change in policy. »Communicate with County staff about whether the County is involved in clearing snow from some roadways. Coordinate snow clearing to reduce the amount of snow that is pushed back and forth between the street and sidewalk networks. 10 MINNESOTA WALKS Sidewalk Snow Clearing GuideThe City of Bloomington takes responsibility for clearing all 250 miles of its municipality-owned sidewalks. Bloomington Park Maintenance staff have five sidewalk snow removal units that clear 11 designated routes, each route about 20-25 miles in length. The crews use a variety of equipment depending on the facility, including Trackless tractors, Bobcat “Toolcats,” Maclean MV tractors, and pickup trucks with plow attachments. Sidewalk snow clearing crews typically begin clearing about two hours after crews begin clearing streets to reduce pushing snow back and forth between facilities. Park Maintenance staff will clear sidewalks after any snowfall, even if it is a small depth of snow. Sidewalk snow clearing following a snowfall of 3-5 inches takes approximately four days to complete, but it can take less time for smaller snowfalls. Sidewalk snow removal is prioritized as follows: »First priority: School walking areas, areas heavily used by people with assisted mobility devices, and high use areas by main roads. »Second priority: Sidewalks expanding out from schools and along major roads. »Third priority: Residential and industrial areas. If snow falls over a long time period, the City may return to priority one areas before clearing lesser used areas. Residents are asked to be patient in such situations. Crews will complete the job, but it may take two to three weeks, depending on weather conditions. More information on Bloomington’s sidewalk snow clearing program can be found here. Bloomington Figure 5: A sidewalk snowplow operator in the City of Bloomington. Credit: Richard Sennott, Star Tribune Minnesota Community Spotlight: Bloomington population 85,319 11 MINNESOTA WALKS Sidewalk Snow Clearing GuideBus Stop Snow Clearing Responsibility All bus passengers are pedestrians before they board and after they alight a bus, so clearing snow at bus stops is critical for ensuring safe access to public transportation. Snow accumulation at and around bus stops can make them difficult or impossible to reach safely, and can cause riders to wait for the bus in dangerous areas such as the street. The responsibility for bus stop snow removal can be confusing and complicated. In many communities, bus stop snow clearing responsibilities are the same as for the sidewalks where bus stops are located. That generally means that property owners are responsible for clearing snow around bus stops, but community members may be unaware of this and may not maintain the bus stop appropriately. In other communities, either the municipality or the local transit agency takes responsibility. Some municipalities will organize volunteer-led programs where people can “adopt” a bus stop and commit to clearing snow and ice around the stop throughout the winter. Snow clearing responsibility can also vary depending on what type of bus stop it is – a bus shelter (Figure 8) or a bus stop indicated by a sign. Regardless of policy, it is important for bus stops and ADA boarding pads to be cleared of snow and ice routinely and regularly. Case Study: Traverse City, MI population: 15,479 The Bay Area Transportation Authority (BATA) in Traverse City, Michigan collaborates with businesses near bus stops to clear snow and maintain the stops to ensure bus facilities are accessible all winter. BATA is working to get bus stop maintenance agreements from local businesses and is documenting bus stop sponsorship for individual stops on their website. This program helps transit riders know who is responsible for clearing the snow and ice from each stop. BATA is using its website to post photographs and accessibility information about each bus stop so customers can plan their routes and know ahead of time whether a stop is accessible. Figure 9: Clearing snow around bus stops and shelters ensures adequate access for bus passengers. Case Study: Portland, ME population: 66,937 There are over 600 bus stops in greater Portland, Maine, and fewer than 100 receive snow clearing services from municipal public works departments or bus operators. Snow drifts and icy conditions hinder access to bus stops in the winter, which is especially challenging for seniors, people with physical disabilities, and families using strollers. It costs too much for the City to clear all bus stops, so it developed a program called Adopt-a-Stop that organizes volunteers to commit to clearing snow at an “adopted” bus stop throughout the winter. When a stop is adopted, signs at the stop highlight that it is part of the Adopt-A-Stop program. The program’s goal at each selected stop is to: »Use City staff, bus company employees, and volunteers to clear snow and ice from stops during the winter and remove debris on a year-round basis. »Provide safe access to primary bus stops within 12 hours of completion of municipal snow plowing. »Guarantee a safe place for at least two bus patrons to stand while waiting for a bus. The program website also includes an online interactive bus stop map that shows adopted stops and unadopted stops, a list of bus stops in the area, and advice for volunteers who clear bus stops. 12 MINNESOTA WALKS Sidewalk Snow Clearing GuideSidewalk Snow Clearing Assistance Programs Some municipalities will organize and develop volunteer programs that assist people with shoveling their sidewalks. These programs are typically limited to assisting seniors and homeowners with physically disabilities, but could be expanded to assist pregnant women, single parents, or others with barriers to clearing their sidewalks. These programs, sometimes called “snow angels” or “snow buddies”, mobilize volunteers to help shovel snow and scrape ice, which helps keep people safe from falls on snow or ice during the winter. Volunteer-led programs may be organized by the municipality or by neighborhood groups, non-profits, or other organizations. Ideas for Getting Started »Designate a staff person to develop and promote a sidewalk snow clearing assistance program. »Find people in need of assistance and solicit volunteers by advertising the program through social media, flyers, or public service announcements. »Create a public outreach campaign to notify seniors or homeowners with physical disabilities of the program. »Pair a sidewalk snow clearing assistance program with new sidewalk clearing policies. "It is a way to not only help out your neighbors sidewalk but help the greater community, in terms of allowing students a safer route to get to school." - Chad Olson, Mayor of Dilworth Minnesota Community Spotlight: Dilworthpopulation 4,397 In 2015, the City of Dilworth, Minnesota GreenCorps, and PartnerSHIP 4 Health began a campaign called “Shovel Dilworth”, which encourages shoveling sidewalks, being physically active in the wintertime, and Good Samaritan behavior. The program urges volunteers in Dilworth to shovel neighbor’s sidewalks, sidewalks used by youth to get to school, around local bus stops, around fire hydrants, or any sidewalk that has been neglected from snow shoveling. The campaign rewards volunteers by giving them a chance to enter a drawing to win a $25 gift card courtesy of the local Lions Club and Park Board. Dilworth 13 MINNESOTA WALKS Sidewalk Snow Clearing GuideCrosswalk and Street Corner Snow Clearing One of the most challenging issues facing people walking in the winter is crossing streets at intersections, whether they are marked with crosswalks or not. Crosswalks are usually maintained to the same level of service as the roads they are on because snowplows pass through crosswalks as they are plowing the streets. The issue is snow windrows—the piles of snow that are left behind by snowplows—found at the corner of intersections where people walking need to traverse to cross the street. Snow windrows are especially troubling for people with disabilities, seniors, guardians with baby strollers, or pregnant women, as walking or rolling over piles of snow can be extremely difficult or impossible. Some municipalities make their best effort to clear snow windrows at corners as part of their regular plowing operations. Plow drivers push snow through an intersection, past the intersection corner, and then leave it in an area away from the crosswalk. Other communities have programs dedicated to corner snow clearing, where municipal crews go back and clear corners after snowplows have cleared the streets. Ideas for Getting Started »Create a public outreach campaign to encourage property owners to clear their sidewalks up to the corner where the sidewalk intersects with the street. »Created a dedicated corner snow clearing program where municipal crews go back and clear corners after snowplows have gone through and cleared the streets. »Encourage municipal staff to avoid leaving snow windrows at intersection corners by depositing it at locations past the intersection. City of Minneapolis staff clear all corners citywide, and begin by prioritizing corners that are on the City’s Pedestrian Street Lighting Corridors. After the priority routes are cleared, staff continue clearing the remaining corners citywide. The City started its corner clearing program in 1995, and the budget at the time provided some funding to cover expenses. In 2015, Public Works was granted increased funding of $200,000 per year to enhance the corner clearing program. Corner clearing activities are initiated when snow accumulation reaches over 4 inches or the City declares a Snow Emergency. Corner clearing begins when the Snow Emergency is over, allowing the City to remove the windrows left in place after street plowing is completed. If another Snow Emergency is declared before all the corners are cleared, the City pauses corner clearing activities and resumes corner clearing at the end of the new Snow Emergency. Minneapolis Minnesota Community Spotlight: Minneapolis population 413,651 14 MINNESOTA WALKS Sidewalk Snow Clearing GuideMore Information »Federal Highway Administration, A Guide for Maintaining Pedestrian Facilities for Enhanced Safety, October 2013 https://safety.fhwa.dot. gov/ped_bike/tools_solve/ fhwasa13037/fhwasa13037.pdf »Scott, Marcia and Rudd, Brandon. Winter Maintenance of Pedestrian Facilities in Delaware: A Guide for Local Governments” University of Delaware, February 2012 http://www.ipa.udel.edu/ publications/SnowRemoval.pdf »National Aging and Disability Transportation Center, Effective Snow Removal for Pathways and Transit Stops, March 2016 http://www.nadtc.org/wp-content/ uploads/NADTC-Effective-Snow-Removal- for-Pathways-Transit-Stops.pdf »Chicago Department of Transportation Sidewalk Snow Removal Guidance for Chicago Residents and Businesses https://www.cityofchicago.org/content/ dam/city/depts/cdot/pedestrian/ sidewalksnowremoval/Sidewalk_ Snow_Removal_Guidance.pdf Acknowledgements Special thanks to staff from communities across Minnesota who shared insight and information about sidewalk snow clearing policies and practices in their home communities, including: »Les Peterson, City of Cloquet »Jennifer Moses, City of Duluth »John Kelley, City of Duluth »Dale Sellner, City of Duluth »Dave Hanson, City of Bloomington »Dan Plizga, City of Rochester »Lynn Nardinger, City of Red Wing Consultant: 15 Minnesota Walks is a collaborative effort between the Minnesota Department of Health and the Minnesota Department of Transportation. Item Number: 8. November 25, 2020 Mediacom Letter: New Rates AT TAC HM E NT S : Description Mediacom L etter: New Rates Item Number: 9. November 25, 2020 Park & Recreation Commission: November 19 AT TAC HM E NT S : Description Park & Recreation Commission: November 19