Snow and ice Removal
Amendment of Municipal Code Section 10-8-180 regarding responsibilities for removal of snow and ice from public way and establishment of Chicago Plow the Sidewalks Pilot Program
- Record number: SO2023-0002851
- Type: Ordinance; category: Municipal Code Amendments
- Status: Final
- Sponsor: Villegas, Gilbert
- Committee: Committee on Pedestrian and Traffic Safety
- Introduced: May 24, 2023
- Final action: Jul 19, 2023
- Official record: Office of the City Clerk
Roll call: Passed Jul 19, 2023
48 yea, 1 nay, 1 absent. This was a divided vote. On motion of Alderperson La Spata, and unsuccessful motion to reconsider by Alderman Mitchell, the matter was Passed. Voted at the City Council meeting of Jul 19, 2023.
Nay (1): Anthony Beale (9)
Yea (44): Daniel La Spata (1), Brian Hopkins (2), Pat Dowell (3), Lamont J. Robinson (4), Desmon C. Yancy (5), William E. Hall (6), Gregory I. Mitchell (7), Michelle A. Harris (8), Peter Chico (10), Nicole T. Lee (11), Julia M. Ramirez (12), Marty Quinn (13), Raymond A. Lopez (15), Stephanie D. Coleman (16), David H. Moore (17), Derrick G. Curtis (18), Matthew J. O'Shea (19), Jeanette B. Taylor (20), Ronnie L. Mosley (21), Michael D. Rodriguez (22), Silvana Tabares (23), Monique L. Scott (24), Jessica L. Fuentes (26), Walter R. Burnett (27), Jason C. Ervin (28), Chris Taliaferro (29), Ruth Cruz (30), Felix Cardona Jr. (31), William Conway (34), Gilbert Villegas (36), Emma Mitts (37), Nicholas Sposato (38), Samantha Nugent (39), Andre Vasquez Jr. (40), Anthony V. Napolitano (41), Brendan Reilly (42), Timothy R. Knudsen (43), Bennett R. Lawson (44), James M. Gardiner (45), Angela Clay (46), Matthew J. Martin (47), Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth (48), Maria E. Hadden (49), Debra L. Silverstein (50)
Absent (1): Scott Waguespack (32)
Former members who voted: Jeylu B. Gutierrez (Yea), Byron Sigcho-Lopez (Yea), Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (Yea), Rossana Rodriguez Sanchez (Yea)
Plain-language summary
Written by AI (@cf/openai/gpt-oss-120b) from the ordinance text only: Plow the Sidewalks Pilot Ordinance v3 FINAL AMENDED.pdf. AI can make mistakes; the official document always wins.
The ordinance adds a $50 to $500 daily fine for anyone who does not clear snow and ice from sidewalks, but exempts residential building owners in areas that are part of the new Chicago Plow the Sidewalks Pilot Program. The pilot program will have the city clear sidewalks in selected neighborhoods, create jobs, and study the benefits, with a working group set up to choose the pilot areas and report results.
- Fines of $50‑$500 per day apply for sidewalk snow/ice violations, except for residential buildings in pilot areas.
- The Chicago Plow the Sidewalks Pilot Program will have the city clear sidewalks in chosen neighborhoods.
- A working group of city staff and the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities must be formed within 60 days.
- The group will select pilot areas using criteria like senior population, low income, and disability concentration, and must consult the community at least three times before May 31 2024.
- A study on the program’s impacts is due by May 1 2025, after which the working group will end.
Money
- $50‑$500 fine per offense per day – penalty for violating sidewalk snow and ice removal rules
Who: City residents, property owners, and tenants (especially in pilot areas) and city workers hired to clear sidewalks are affected by the ordinance.
Timeline
- Jul 14, 2023: Substituted
- Jul 14, 2023: Recommended to Pass, Committee on Pedestrian and Traffic Safety
- Jul 19, 2023: Passed, City Council
Documents
- Plow the Sidewalks Pilot Ordinance v3 FINAL AMENDED.pdf (Legislation)
- OriginalLegacy O2023-2104.pdf (Miscellaneous)
- SO2023-0002851 Recommendation Lettere.pdf (Committee Letter)