The Centennial City Council recently passed a rule that requires the occupants, owners, or tenants of commercial properties to clean off snow and ice that accumulates on sidewalks in front of the property, or alongside it, if the accumulation is four inches or more.
According to the new law, the ice and snow will have to be removed within 24 hours after the snow falls, and it will apply to properties that lie next to the city's ‘arterial roadways’.
Currently, Centennial plows its main arterial streets, and also clears some snow from sidewalks along them, if they are next to residential neighborhoods. However, until now, the city had no requirement that businesses clean off the sidewalks near their properties, though it has always encouraged businesses and residents very strongly to clear their own sidewalks.
Centennial spokeswoman Allison Wittern said she is not aware of any resistance from the business community to the new regulation, possibly because most are already clearing the snow to make sure their customers are safe.
Fines will be levied for those who fail to comply with the new law. The fines range from $50 to $500, depending on when the offense was committed, and whether or not it is the first time the business has failed to abide by the requirement. The law goes into effect January 1, 2018.
Measures like this impact many people, so officials could work with a postcard printing company to create and mail a card to residents, spreading the word.
