[Vision2020] Will the People of Moscow -- and the City -- Listen? Sidewalks must be kept clear

Sat Feb 24 12:58:40 PST 2007

Dear Saundra and Visionaries,

Since the letter Lois wrote to me arrived at my e-mail in-box at 10:03 A.M.,
I was in my office Friday morning and replied at 11:40 A.M..  I'm sure the
editorial page of the Friday Daily News had probably been put to bed the day
before. I think the agendas showing this as a topic of consideration for
Monday's 4:30 P.M. Public Works/Finance Committee meeting came out around
4:30 P.M. Friday afternoon. (I will be in Missoula on business Monday but
John Weber will chair the meeting and you and everyone are welcome to be
part of this discussion!) I go into all of this to try to illustrate that
one city council member is looking to welcome citizen comment on this vexing
matter and believes that we are talking about it improving the system.

The basic reality is that, outside of serious criminal laws, most of our
local and state laws are enforced on a complaint-basis. And even some of
those criminal laws on the books are not the subject of regular enforcement
actions by the contabulary. Lewd cohabitation (living with someone without
benefit of clergy) used to be on the statute books in Idaho and perhaps
still is, though I could not find it is a quick search of the Moroccan bound
volumes in my office. I do not recall any Latah County prosecutor in my 34
years of life in Idaho prosecuting someone under that statute...

Saundra, see my response to Lois below and try to come to the PWF Committee
meeting Monday afternoon or tune in on cable if you have it. The Mayor and
Council are concerned about this and realize how dangerous sidewalks can
cause terrible consequences for anyone but especially for those already with
infirmaties. I am a prime example of one who is concerned about this, "up
close and personal!" I try to have my walks maintained during the winter and
deeply appreciate those who do.

We are all REALLY trying to do the right thing by the citizens of Moscow...

All the best to you, Saundra, and to the collected Visionaries,

Linda Pall
Moscow City Council

BELOW IS LINDA'S RESPONSE (11:40 AM, 2/23/07) TO LOIS BLACKBURN'S E-MAIL
(10:03 AM, 2/23/07):

Dear Lois (I'm going informal no matter what here...),

Thanks for your e-mail. Please be advised that I have asked that the
discussion of enforcement of our existing city ordinances and other citizen
and council ideas regrading this truly important matter be on the Public
Works/Finance Agenda on the Monday, February 26, meeting at 4:30 P.M. in the
COuncil Chambers. Kit Craine has developed a proposal that is more assertive
than the city's current enforcement stance which relies primarily on
citizen-initiated complaints.

We should certainly address the question of winter access to our streets and
sidewalks for people with disabilities as well as those without.

We welcome your comments and proposals for discussion Monday (and by letter
or any other means you would like to involve us!). As you are aware, there
is a lot of competition for city funds and our efforts often have to balance
various interests. I hope to see a balanced, affordable approach proposed.

I am unable to attend Monday's meeting (and the one on March 12) because of
business commitments out of town.

I think you will find Kit's proposal very dehlpful to the discussion. Thanks
for ewriting.

Sincerely,

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Saundra Lund" <sslund at roadrunner.com>
To: "'vision2020'" <vision2020 at moscow.com>
Cc: "'Lois Blackburn'" <lblackburn at turbonet.com>; <aaronament at moscow.com>;
<lpall at moscow.com>; <bstout at ci.moscow.id.us>; <blambert at ci.moscow.id.us>;
<sears at moscow.com>; <nchaney at ci.moscow.id.us>
Sent: Saturday, February 24, 2007 12:33 AM
Subject: Will the People of Moscow -- and the City -- Listen? Sidewalks must
be kept clear

> Visionaries:
>
> The following letter appeared in Friday's Daily News, and I echo Lois
> Blackburn's concerns about sidewalks in this city during winter.  Some
> people & some businesses do an excellent job, but others don't.  My teen
is
> one who actually tries to walk home (and sometimes to school) for the
> exercise most days, and snow times this winter have made the experience an
.
> . . unpleasant adventure for her to try to find shoveled routes for her
1.75
> mile walk between school and home.
>
> Quite frankly, I'm getting pretty sick and tired of having laws and
> regulations on the books that are *supposed* to ensure a high quality of
> life for those who live here only to find out time and again that the
> "rules" are ignored -- and even flaunted -- because some folks have
figured
> out we have no enforcement  :-(
> __________
>
> LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
> Friday, February 23, 2007 - Page Updated at 01:10:47 PM
>
> Sidewalks must be kept clear
>
> There is a form of free winter recreation that the city of Moscow could
give
> to the residents: walking on the city sidewalks. Currently, this form of
> recreation is unavailable or very dangerous for a significant portion of
the
> winter because the city does not enforce its existing ordinance requiring
> residents to shovel the snow from their sidewalks. New snow gives good
> footing, but once it has been packed down or melted on the surface, the
> resulting surface ice becomes a menace.
>
> It seems to be a problem that can be solved. The only personnel required
> would be someone to drive the streets and hang a warning tag on the door
of
> every property in violation, making a note of the address. I believe that
> this would be effective for the large proportion of nonshoveling residents
> who simply don't bother because it is correctly assumed that the law is
> never enforced. Citations, with fines attached, could be issued to those
who
> do not respond. The income from fines could be used as an assistance fund
to
> pay someone to clear sidewalks for elderly, handicapped, or ill citizens.
>
> My aging bones rebel against shoveling snow, but I employ someone to do it
> for me. Owners of rental property or people going out of town could do the
> same.
>
> I walk around town every day, and on my rounds have frequently met two
young
> men who ride up and down Third Street in their wheelchairs. Until this
week,
> I hadn't seen them since November, presumably because of the icy obstacles
> on the sidewalks. Isn't there some requirement for accommodation for
> residents with disabilities?
>
> Many cities have such ordinances and enforce them. If we can't afford to
> enforce our laws, are we a viable city?
>
> Lois Blackburn, Moscow
> __________
>
> Thanks, Lois, for taking the time to write to help us *all* be able to
more
> safely enjoy winter on the Palouse!
>
>
> Saundra Lund
> Moscow, ID
>
> The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good people to do
> nothing.
> - Edmund Burke
>
> ***** Original material contained herein is Copyright 2007, Saundra Lund.
> Do not copy, forward, excerpt, or reproduce outside the Vision 2020 forum
> without the express written permission of the author.*****
>
>
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