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<br />Case #2: <br /> <br />Review Sidewalk Ordinance <br /> <br />The City adopted the sidewalk ordinance in 2000. The ordinance established standards for <br />sidewalk placement in residential developments. Staff may be reviewing the issue of adding <br />commercial and industrial developments to the ordinance in the future and it would be good to <br />include all changes in the revision. <br /> <br />Commissioner aIds stated one thing he noticed is it says in the ordinance in reference to cul-de- <br />sacs "Sidewalks may be required in cul-de-sacs", if it is a short one, it may not be required but in <br />longer ones, it may need review to see if it would be required. <br /> <br />ParkslUtilities Supervisor Riverblood stated that with regard to cuI de sacs, this ordinance was <br />enacted to show how important it was to connect neighborhoods especially on busy roads. <br /> <br />Chairperson Johns wondered who maintains the sidewalk. She wondered if it was the <br />homeowners as well as the businesses responsibility. <br /> <br />ParkslUtilities Supervisor Riverblood stated the City is performing snow removal in the school <br />walking zones, and others on a secondary basis. In the Town Center they make one pass on the <br />sidewalk and then it is the business owner's responsibility to get the rest of the snow off the <br />sidewalk and onto the street for the City to take care of, <br /> <br />Chairperson Johns noted this ordinance is geared toward residential and not commercial. <br /> <br />Commissioner aIds wondered if this should be addressed to say if there is a sidewalk in front of <br />a residence, it needs to be maintained by the homeowner. <br /> <br />ParklUtilities Supervisor Riverblood stated they do not have a way to require this, and this <br />ordinance deals with the construction requirements. <br /> <br />Commissioner Shryock wondered whose responsibility it was if a section of sidewalk was not <br />cleared and someone was injured, who would be liable. She thought if they start producing more <br />sidewalks, this may become an issue and she thought they may need to become clearer in the <br />wording and understanding. <br /> <br />ParkslUtilities Supervisor Riverblood thought everyone understood that it was safer to have <br />people on sidewalks rather than on the roadway. He did not know of any liability issues of <br />public sidewalks in Ramsey. <br /> <br />Commissioner LaMere thought at this time they did not have a lot places that connect but down <br />the road they may need to review this for better clarification when they have more connections <br />with sidewalks. <br /> <br />Commissioner Shryock stated she would be in favor of adding commercial and industrial to this. <br />This would encourage walking in the City. <br /> <br />Park and Recreation Commission/January 11, 2007 <br />Page 4 of 5 <br />