For the physically disabled, the winter of 2019 was isolating, especially treacherous

March 25-- Mar. 25--Bob Wagner uses a power wheelchair and drives an accessible van, and he does not let his physical disability keep him from socializing or leaving his downtown, Skyway-connected St. Paul apartment, which he calls a "godsend."

"In six weeks in Lowertown, I had more contact with my neighbors than I did in nine and a half years out in South Maplewood, because stairs are barriers," said Wagner, a psychologist who broke his neck and spine almost 15 years ago while body-surfing in the Pacific Ocean.

That said, there was a deterrent to traveling to and from his home by Mears Park this winter.

In areas where property owners failed to keep sidewalks shoveled clear of snow for their full length and width, Wagner was effectively stranded. And even a clear sidewalk is of limited help when there's no way to roll into the street.

"I talked to a couple business owners on my block because they shoveled the sidewalks but didn't do anything about the curb cut-outs," Wagner said. "I had to go a block around and find different routes through the Skyway. (As a result), they did a better job this year. You really discover the goodness of mankind, because people want to help."

ACCESS DIFFICULT

Members of the disability community who live or work downtown recently met with officials from Metro Transit, the St. Paul Department of Safety and Inspections and the St. Paul mayor's office to express disappointment at how difficult it was to access particular streets, crosswalks and transit stops.

They've asked for stepped-up enforcement when private property owners fail to shovel curb cuts and sidewalks or fix automatic doors.

Allison Locey, who uses a wheelchair and works in a call center at the First National Bank building, said leaving the Green Line's Central Station and crossing Fourth and Minnesota streets was sometimes impossible this winter because of the snow heaped in front of the icy crosswalk.

"The city of St. Paul said it was Metro Transit's corner and Metro Transit said it was the city's," said Locey. "I made the same calls last year, and nobody ever did anything until April, when the city said they happened to have a Bobcat in the area."

'SIDEWALKS ARE ATROCIOUS'

Rick Cardenas, a disabilities advocate, noted the elevator from the Skyway over Central Station has been broken for weeks.

For Cardenas, who uses a wheelchair, a broken elevator can mean going several blocks out of his way to catch a train.

Even the alternate routes were limited for Cardenas. An automatic door over Cedar Street within the St. Paul Athletic Club's skyway was broken for weeks, he said, forcing him to wait for passing strangers to help him through.

"I kept calling the city to complain," Cardenas said. "It took a long time."

Then there are the sidewalks.

Overall, "the sidewalks are atrocious," Wagner said. "If you drive a van that's wheelchair accessible, you can't do that when snow gets plowed on the sidewalk, because your ramp is sticking straight out and doesn't reach the sidewalk. I'm one of the lucky ones on the Skyway, but for those who aren't, they're isolated. They lose their community integration. They lose their choices."

STEPPED UP ENFORCEMENT?

After a snowfall, St. Paul property owners have 24 hours to clear the full length and width of their sidewalk, as well as sidewalk ramps to the street. Not everyone complies right away.

From November through early March, the St. Paul Department of Safety and Inspections issued more than 3,000 warning letters to property owners throughout the city who failed to comply.

That was followed by some 400 work orders sending city crews to clear sidewalks for them and charging them accordingly.

Still, some residents would like to see even faster enforcement, especially downtown.

When residents call city Code Enforcement to complain of snow and ice build-up, warning letters are mailed to the property owner indicating that an inspector will visit the site within 48 hours.

The letters state that if the inspector isn't satisfied and city Parks and Recreation work crews have to be dispatched, the property owner will be assessed $160 per hour for shoveling and $80 per hour for salting, at a minimum of half an hour for each service. That's at least $120, plus administrative fees, added to property taxes.

"It helps tremendously if people can give a specific address, so that way on our end people can look up the property owner or occupant," said Suzanne Donovan, a spokeswoman for the department. "The letters are effective. People definitely take action."

Here's what officials openly admit is the problem with that system, which is mostly complaint-driven. By the time inspectors or work crews make it out, sometimes fresh snow has fallen, effectively restarting the 24-hour clock.

Liz Xiong, a spokeswoman with the mayor's office, said officials in city hall are aware of the lag between complaints and enforcement.

SOLUTIONS: NEW WARNINGS, BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT?

Based on recent changes to city ordinances, the Department of Safety and Inspections has added an additional warning to the warning letters: "If the city receives subsequent snow and/or ice complaints within 365 days of this initial complaint, you will then have 24 hours to remove the snow/ice before the city clears the walk and assesses the charges to your property taxes. This notice serves as your first warning."

In addition, Code Enforcement officials have the authority to flag sidewalks that are snowy and iced over on their own, without waiting for complaints.

The proposed St. Paul Pedestrian Plan calls for DSI to step it up and proactively seek out even more properties that are not in compliance.

Locey, the call center employee, has her own ideas.

She lives in Minneapolis, which maintains a business improvement district in its downtown. As a result, she said, completing errands in her wheelchair is rarely a problem even a day or two after a snowstorm.

She'd like downtown St. Paul property owners to look into establishing a similar district, where sales fees or special assessments pay for extra snow shoveling, litter pickup and other benefits. With backing from the Knight Foundation, the St. Paul Downtown Alliance plans to dip its toe in this summer by experimenting with greeters.

"If I'm able to travel three blocks on the Minneapolis side, I should be able to get across the street in St. Paul," Locey said.

Wagner encourages residents and business owners to take the initiative and free up sidewalks, curb cuts and other problem areas rather than wait for complaints to pile up or the city to take action.

"It's a lot cheaper to buy shovels than to hire people to shovel every corner," Wagner said.

___

(c)2019 the Pioneer Press (St. Paul, Minn.)

Visit the Pioneer Press (St. Paul, Minn.) at www.twincities.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.