The City of Kitchener had considered going with city-wide municipal snow clearing service that was estimated to cost more than $3 million per year before opting for more proactive bylaw enforcement, which has reportedly been effective in getting people to adhere to the bylaw that requires folks to shovel the sidewalk(s) adjacent to their property.

While municipalities offer limited programs that can assist people who are unable to shovel, some are still unable to access them. Many others have no excuse.

Bodaly said he wanted to reinforce he still cares about the topic.

“I’m personally hopeful this topic is going to come up as part of our three-year budget conversation that’s going to be happening over the next few months,” he said.

“Trails, sidewalks and laneways are of course becoming very popular in our municipalities and you need to use the same type of innovative approaches (on roads) to clearing those areas,” said consultant Tim Dobbie, while delivering recommendations in the report.

Coun. Diane Freeman wanted to know how the report tied in with leaf collection service that’s now being done with front end loaders used for clearing snow.

“I hate leaf collection; I’m just putting that out there,” she said.

Dobbie said that Waterloo is tied in with all other municipalities in Ontario.

“I don’t think anybody’s really come up with the solution, but I think the global warming and change in our environment means this municipality and other are going to have to learn to take up leaves that are frozen,” he said.

Henry noted the City of London made the choice 10 years ago not to provide the service, but said the consultants who were on hand at the finance meeting, presenting work that was funded by a provincial grant, were constrained by their mandated contract which stipulated service levels reductions were not an option.

“Even if that was there best recommendation, they could not tell us to reduce staff one iota,” Henry said.