Minneapolis' sidewalk shoveling push was light lift
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Illustration: Maura Losch/Axios
Minneapolis spent a lot less than budgeted on a handful of experiments to clear snow and ice from sidewalks last year, according to a new city report.
Why it matters: Some Minneapolis City Council members want the city to play a larger role in keeping paths clear in the winter, but finding a way for municipal staff to help at a manageable cost has been a challenge.
- By city ordinance, homeowners must shovel within 24 hours of the last flake.
What they did: Last winter, four city-employed "snow ambassadors" patrolled 66 miles of "pedestrian priority" sidewalks in South Minneapolis, shoveling, sanding or salting uncleared paths.
- The city also partnered with four neighborhood groups to pay high school students to clear senior residents' sidewalks.
- Programs allowing residents to call 3-1-1 to request a spot-clearing, and for conducting outreach to repeat violators, were tested as well.
What they found: These pilot programs cost the city around $230,000 — less than half of the budgeted $595,000.
- That's far below the estimated $40 million per year it would cost for the city to clear all 1,910 miles of sidewalks in Minneapolis.
The intrigue: Last winter was dry, but city staff say the program would've only cost slightly more (about $285,000) in a year with typical snowfall.
Reality check: Scaling these programs citywide would still likely cost a lot more than currently budgeted.
- The city has nearly 600 miles of "pedestrian priority" paths. One snow ambassador team can cover 15 miles of sidewalk per day, pilot program manager Ethan Van Offelen told a council committee on June 12.
- Some neighborhood groups also received more requests for shoveling help than they could handle, Van Offelen said.
What they're saying: The city already budgets around $13 million annually to plow streets, so Council Member Katie Cashman argued spending on sidewalks represented a "marginal cost."
- "With so many people who actually use the sidewalks to get around, it could be worth making the investment," she said.