Snowy sidewalk complaints tumble

Unusually warm winter helps keep public walkways clear

An April snowstorm is never out of the question in Edmonton, but this season's unusually warm winter has so far prompted a more than 50 per cent drop in complaints about uncleared sidewalks, city data shows.

Figures from the city's open data portal show its 311 service received 3,369 snow-on-walks complaints this past winter. It's the lowest number in at least four years, and a decrease from the 7,781 complaints last winter, a 56 per cent decline.

The southeast neighbourhood of Holyrood led all communities with 96 complaints this winter, followed by the northeast area of Kirkness, with 91 complaints. The two were the only neighbourhoods with more than 90 complaints.

Here are the top 10 neighbourhoods by number of snow on walk complaints this winter, according to the city's data: Holyrood: 96

Kirkness: 91

Chappelle: 80

McCauley: 72

Beverly Heights: 65

Westbrook Estates: 57

Forest Heights: 51

Alberta Avenue: 50

Keswick Area: 50

Belvedere: 47 The Holyrood, Chappelle, and Alberta Avenue communities all ranked among the top 10 for complaints over last winter.

Chappelle had also led city neighbourhoods in complaints for the prior two winters.

Because some complaints are deemed not to have met the violation standard or are duplicates, as well as the reactive nature of the 311 reporting system, the number of complaints is not necessarily indicative of the state of sidewalks at a given time.

Generally, owning property in Edmonton comes with a legal obligation to keep its sidewalks clear in an effort to ensure safety and accessibility.

Community standards bylaw #14600 states: “a person shall maintain any sidewalk adjacent to the land they own or occupy clear of all snow and ice.”

It does not specify an exact time frame to clear a sidewalk, only stating snow and ice should be removed as quickly as possible.

It does, however, require sidewalks to be cleaned down to the cement or asphalt — though sand, gravel or ice melt can be used as temporary measures.

Failing to do so can result in a $100 fine on top of having to cover the cost of an independent contractor to clear away the snow.

Pushing snow from sidewalks into alleys or onto roads is also punishable by a $250 fine.

The numbers show, however, that things rarely go that far.

Citizens complied with a request to clean their walk a full three-quarters of the time, this winter's figures show.

Warnings were issued in 95 instances and enforcement action was required in 53 cases.

The 56 per cent drop in complaints this winter comes a year after a more modest 1.5 per cent seasonal decline last year.

And the volume of complaints this winter falls far below the 4,279 complaints in winter 2020/21, which was also considered to be unseasonably warm.

Relatively warm temperatures into December meant the city didn't receive its first snow-onwalk complaint until the morning of Dec. 2.

Just over 158 complaints remained open citywide as of Saturday.

While Environment Canada's forecast for the week calls for a summer-like 24C high on Tuesday, the city may yet get a few more snow-on-walk complaints, with flurries potentially back in the picture amid dipping temperatures at the end of the week.

NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS BY WINTER:

2020/21: 4,279 2021/22: 7,901 2022/23: 7,781 2023/24: 3,369