Come winter, local businesses could face higher fines if they don't shovel snow from their sidewalks in a timely manner.
Carmel, Ind., city council will consider an ordinance Monday that would enforce snow removal by implementing higher fines.
A council committee suggested a few amendments to the ordinance and will present it to the full council Monday with a positive recommendation.
Businesses are required to remove snow from their sidewalks by noon on any day the business is open. But the penalty for violating the ordinance is only $10, said committee member John Accetturo.
"We need something more than $10," he said. "It's a little antiquated to have a $10 fine."
The new ordinance would raise the consequences to a written warning for the first violation and $150 for the second violation, he said.
The proposed ordinance states the third violation should warrant a $1,000 fine, but committee members are recommending that the council drop it to $500.
"We think that is plenty enough to make our point," Accetturo said.
Businesses would have to remove snow by noon that accumulated within the previous 24 hours. The committee is also recommending that the ordinance include the removal of ice.
Council member Luci Snyder sponsored the ordinance with council member Eric Seidensticker after resident Fern Merkin approached her about having problems walking downtown during the winter season because of snow and ice on the sidewalks.
"It was a citizen-driven revision to an ordinance," Snyder said.
This ordinance mostly affects businesses that have their own buildings.
"In a strip mall, (vendors) pay a common area maintenance charge on top of their rent," Snyder said. "The landlord pays for common expenses like outside lighting, landscaping and snow removal."
Other large companies hire private snow removal services.
In the Arts & Design District, the city provides sidewalk snow removal service to businesses along Main Street, and just north on Range Line Road and south on Range Line until the Design Center, Snyder said.
Snyder said it is important for businesses to take this seriously because several parts of the city, especially shopping areas, are walking districts.