(A) Responsibilities and penalties.
(1) All snow, ice, dirt and rubbish remaining on a public sidewalk more than 24 hours after its deposit thereon is a public nuisance. The owner and the occupant of any property adjacent to a public sidewalk is responsible to keep such walk safe for pedestrians. No such owner or occupant shall allow snow, ice, dirt or rubbish to remain on the walk longer than 24 hours after its deposit thereon.
(2) Any person violating this section shall be issued an administrative citation under see § 10.99 General Penalty, Fees and Charges.
(3) The administrative civil fine provided in this section is in addition to cost recovery provisions described in division (C).
(B) Removal by City Street Department. The City Street Department may remove from all public sidewalks all snow, ice, dirt, and rubbish beginning 24 hours after any such matter has been deposited thereon or after the snow has ceased to fall. The City Street Department shall keep a record showing the cost of such removal adjacent to each separate lot and parcel and shall deliver such information to the City Clerk/Administrator.
(C) Assessment or certification for cost. On or before October 1 of each year the City Clerk/Administrator shall list the total unpaid charges for clearing of sidewalks against each separate lot or parcel to which they are attributable under this chapter. The Council may then spread the charges against property benefited as a special assessment under M.S. § 429.101 or certify unpaid charges to the County Auditor for collection within the following year along with current taxes as otherwise provided for by state law or the charter. When unpaid charges are certified to the Auditor for collection with taxes, the Council may use the notice, hearing and appeal provisions provided by M.S. Ch. 429. In any appeal of unpaid charges certified to the Auditor for collection with taxes, the sole issue to be determined by the court is the reasonableness of the charges.
(Ord. 2016-01, passed 4-25-2016)