Discussions

Just wondering if their is a legal responsibility for Brandon Buisness to clear sidewalks in front and around their property.  
 
You would think that regardless of any legal responsibility, a good Buisness would clear their walks, just to be a good corporate citizen, no different than how most people clear the sidewalks walks in front of their houses to be a good neighbor.  
 
As an avid runner in the city, it's amazing how inconsistent snow clearing is in front of Buisnesses, some of the largest businesses in brandon simply neglect the walks, while some of the smaller guys do meticulous snow clearing.  
 
It really gives some perspective on how much a company cares about the needs of their customer base.

Section 10.7 says that businesses are to clear their sidewalks by 10am in the morning following a snowfall. (Couldn't get the link to copy and paste.)

the city of inconsistencies, where the "laws" don't apply and are rarely enforced.

Especially the wheelchair ramp leading into Thunderbird Bowl/Pizza Place. They lost our business tonight because Dad couldn't possibly get through the snow.

One would think if they want customers, out of common sense and courtesy they'd have their areas cleaned out/off/up. Apparently customers don't matter to some of the places here.

Clear a path and they will come. Leave it blocked and they may go elsewhere.

If businesses downtown are required to have their sidewalks cleared by 10 am the morning after a snowfall : why are the rest of the city merchants exempt ? Are apartment blocks and revenue properties not a business ? Do we not employ any bylaw officers ?

There is a by-law as stated above. If you want a business to clear their sidewalk then complain to the company, or the by-law office.  
 
Our by-law enforcement team(s) only "investigate" when they get a complaint.

So: are you saying: if we have a bylaw that is being broken (ie. dumpsters , snow on sidewalks in front of businesses , walking an animal without a leash , etc ) unless someone complains the officer has to just drive on by and let the infraction happen with no consequence?

kraken said "So: are you saying: if we have a bylaw that is being broken (ie. dumpsters , snow on sidewalks in front of businesses , walking an animal without a leash , etc ) unless someone complains the officer has to just drive on by and let the infraction happen with no consequence? "

The City of Brandon has a complaint-driven system which they think is successful. We disagree with that but we can't all agree on everything. It's not that bylaw HAS TO just drive by when they see something, but they just do in a lot of cases. FWIW, we've been told that they do engage in self-initiated efforts to maintain city standards. My questions are, whose standards and exactly what is "uniformly across the city"?

it shouldn't be only business buildings to clear snow in front of their building why only them it should be every residential too and first of all in respect of mail delivery persons bringing YOUR mail to you

Speaking about whos responsibility is it... Who is responsible for clearing the boulevard from 26th to 18th?? Why has it been cleared both West of 26th and East of 18th but that piece by McDonalds is heaped?? I have almost seen 2 pedestrians get hit at those lights cause they just slap that walk light and boogie. People can't see them cause the bank is 8 feet high. It also extends a good foot or more into the lane. That turning lane on to 20th was a joke to start with now its just silly. What's up with that?

kraken said "So: are you saying: if we have a bylaw that is being broken (ie. dumpsters , snow on sidewalks in front of businesses , walking an animal without a leash , etc ) unless someone complains the officer has to just drive on by and let the infraction happen with no consequence? "

As By-law officers, they enforce a great number of by-laws. They respond to complains about messy properties, parking in residential areas, noise complaints, stray animals/pets, and on top of that, it''''s their job to issue parking tickets. It ranges from hoarding to parking...perhaps to get rid of the complaint-driven aspect of their job they should double their staff from 3 to 6...then every single sidewalk in the city would be cleared?????  
 
Edited by PrimeConvoy, 2017-01-16 09:33:48

Great suggestion but then our property taxes will rise to off set the cost of the new hires. Then the same folks will be screaming bloody murder and the others will chime in saying relax its only a couple double doubles a week.  
 
If we go from 3 to 6 that will only increase the same people complaining that all the new by-law officers are hassling them over petty issues... Unfortunately, no matter what system we have lots of people will still not be happy. The City can't win...

RT Holdings said "Great suggestion but then our property taxes will rise to off set the cost of the new hires. Then the same folks will be screaming bloody murder and the others will chime in saying relax its only a couple double doubles a week.     If we go from 3 to 6 that will only increase the same people complaining that all the new by-law officers are hassling them over petty issues... Unfortunately, no matter what system we have lots of people will still not be happy. The City can't win... "

Yeah, it's funny what people will complain about. Humans will always be humans. It's no different that other "law breakers". Police respond to calls, not crimes. Yet no one complains that the police aren't there to catch the culprits in the act.

Wife and I were out for a drive yesterday, Sunday, and we were commenting on how slow the city is completing any actual snow removal and/or street scraping. We were in all parts of the city except for the east end and we saw no completed work since we received the Boxing Day storm.  
This is only our second year here in Brandon and in our humble opinion, the snow removal from streets and boulevards is pathetic. The previous city we lived in receives more snow every year than here and past experience the streets and boulevards would be cleaned up within a week.  
It's very dangerous driving out there with all the mounds of snow. Great job to MIT as they were quick getting their provincial highways cleaned up in the City of Brandon.  
So what gives City of Brandon?

Best City in the World said "Wife and I were out for a drive yesterday, Sunday, and we were commenting on how slow the city is completing any actual snow removal and/or street scraping. We were in all parts of the city except for the east end and we saw no completed work since we received the Boxing Day storm.   This is only our second year here in Brandon and in our humble opinion, the snow removal from streets and boulevards is pathetic. The previous city we lived in receives more snow every year than here and past experience the streets and boulevards would be cleaned up within a week.   It's very dangerous driving out there with all the mounds of snow. Great job to MIT as they were quick getting their provincial highways cleaned up in the City of Brandon.   So what gives City of Brandon? "

Wow, you've learnt quite a bit in your short time here. I have lived here over 50 years and I still can't figure out how far the City looks after Richmond for... I think its 26th West and East is Province. But yes we all live in a pathetic City and you should likely move back...although it sounds like it gets a lot of snow every year!!!  
 
But on a side note I think the boys and girls are doing a pretty good job. We all can't just snap our fingers and expect it to be all gone. I've seen them working long hours and then you still need to find a place to put it all.

RT Holdings said "    Best City in the World said "Wife and I were out for a drive yesterday, Sunday, and we were commenting on how slow the city is completing any actual snow removal and/or street scraping. We were in all parts of the city except for the east end and we saw no completed work since we received the Boxing Day storm.   This is only our second year here in Brandon and in our humble opinion, the snow removal from streets and boulevards is pathetic. The previous city we lived in receives more snow every year than here and past experience the streets and boulevards would be cleaned up within a week.   It's very dangerous driving out there with all the mounds of snow. Great job to MIT as they were quick getting their provincial highways cleaned up in the City of Brandon.   So what gives City of Brandon? " Wow, you've learnt quite a bit in your short time here. I have lived here over 50 years and I still can't figure out how far the City looks after Richmond for... I think its 26th West and East is Province. But yes we all live in a pathetic City and you should likely move back...although it sounds like it gets a lot of snow every year!!!     But on a side note I think the boys and girls are doing a pretty good job. We all can't just snap our fingers and expect it to be all gone. I've seen them working long hours and then you still need to find a place to put it all. "

18th west is city, east of 18th is province.  
1st to Richmond is province, south of Richmond is city.  
Victoria, west of 1st is Province and east of 1st is city.  
18th is provincial all the way through.  
 
And that's all the province has to look after in the city. They don't have to worry about every other street in Brandon or deal with parked cars along the side of the streets.  
 
 
Best City in the World  
After the Boxing Day storm, we got all priority and residential streets cleared in less than a week. We started at Noon on Boxing Day and finished on New Years Eve. And the was using 2 shifts running 12 hours for 24 hour operations. I worked from noon till midnight all during that time, had one regular day shift, then started that same night at 11pm to start nights. Going on 3 weeks of nights now.  
 
We then also got a couple smaller snow falls since then. We have now been picking up snow around schools, downtown, and off centre medians. And there are 2 crews doing that, at day crew and a night crew.  
 
So really, we''re not doing anything? If we didn''t do anything the roads would still be completely impassible. BTW what city did you live in?  
 
Edited by Trevor B, 2017-01-16 16:37:01

An explanation as to why any residential streets were cleared before main business arteries like 10th, or snow routes like Rosser or Princess.  
 
10th street is so bad, it is shameful . A few businesses work so hard to clear their walkways, and the city has not only ignored it, but the one plow they did made all the metres inaccessible. Disgusting, really. Nice that all those small local businesses get such poor support from city management .  
 
Rosser E and Priness E are also dismal. Crews plowed around illegally parked cars (snow route not enforced), which has created places that two larger vehicles cannot pass in. Priness to downtown is terrible, again, how they can charge for use of metres when crews made them inaccessible is beyond me. At least some of Rosser has finally been cleaned up. There are so many places in town entire lanes have been sacrificed to windrows...so much for the turn/straight thru lanes.  
 
I do agree with other posters, the huge issue is how intersections have higher windrows than my car - where pedestrians are supposed to be able to safely cross. 26th is bad, Richmond near the mall, so many areas I truly hope people don't get killed.

we doing the residential when we got that extra snow on Dec. 30. And that snow is what's builtup on those streets. It seems like everyone has a different priority.

Trevor B said "we doing the residential when we got that extra snow on Dec. 30. And that snow is what's builtup on those streets. It seems like everyone has a different priority. "

Can you answer a question for me? Why are the loaders piling snow on the fire hydrants? Are the operators suppose to watch for that or is speed a factor so they just come back and unpack the hydrants later? Also, is it ok with the city when residents dig them out? Thanks.

Hackeda said "    Trevor B said "we doing the residential when we got that extra snow on Dec. 30. And that snow is what's builtup on those streets. It seems like everyone has a different priority. " Can you answer a question for me? Why are the loaders piling snow on the fire hydrants? Are the operators suppose to watch for that or is speed a factor so they just come back and unpack the hydrants later? Also, is it ok with the city when residents dig them out? Thanks. "

too, but in some cases they are already buried under the fallen snow and the operator doesn't see them. Or they are in a location that can't be seen and if being done at night just missed because of lack of light. Ideally, they should all have a reflective pole that extends up to mark their location. If there's a hydrant next to the curb, it can easily be hidden by the windrow, and at 2 am on a not very light residential street. The loader operator very likely will not see it.  
 
Unfortunately, I very like have not seen some hydrants and missed clearing them.  
 
The fire department is encouraging residents to dig them out. We just punch a hole in the snow so they a visible with the loader.  
 
There are also locations where it's the private companies clearing lots and driveways the bury the hydrants.

Trevor B said "    Hackeda said "    Trevor B said "we doing the residential when we got that extra snow on Dec. 30. And that snow is what's builtup on those streets. It seems like everyone has a different priority. " Can you answer a question for me? Why are the loaders piling snow on the fire hydrants? Are the operators suppose to watch for that or is speed a factor so they just come back and unpack the hydrants later? Also, is it ok with the city when residents dig them out? Thanks. " too, but in some cases they are already buried under the fallen snow and the operator doesn't see them. Or they are in a location that can't be seen and if being done at night just missed because of lack of light. Ideally, they should all have a reflective pole that extends up to mark their location. If there's a hydrant next to the curb, it can easily be hidden by the windrow, and at 2 am on a not very light residential street. The loader operator very likely will not see it.     Unfortunately, I very like have not seen some hydrants and missed clearing them.     The fire department is encouraging residents to dig them out. We just punch a hole in the snow so they a visible with the loader.     There are also locations where it's the private companies clearing lots and driveways the bury the hydrants. "

Appreciate the explanation. Makes sense.

I can't believe parents are not complaining about their kids having to walk on the road on Kirkaldy to get to school because the sidewalk on the South side of the school is impassable! In addition, there is a huge mound of snow on the corner of Kirkaldy and Knowlton that you have to walk right into traffic to get around. This is an accident waiting to happen.

I drove by on the weekend and a family was walking on the road because the snow was so high, this continues all the way to Home Depot. Very dangerous to have to walk on such a busy street because the sidewalk is in such bad shape. Because it was a Saturday, I contacted the City thru the website, hopefully they get that cleared.