Naughty or nice? NewsChannel 21 visits sidewalk stewards

Winter’s early icy blast has left not only roads, but sidewalks around Bend pretty hit-and-miss.

One of the biggest misses: many sidewalks on the city’s pedestrian heavy Third Street corridor.

NewsChannel 21 asked All Occasion Flowers and Gifts employees Wednesday why the sidewalks outside the shop are mountains of snow and ice. A manager referred KTVZ to an owner who did not return a request for comment.

Sidewalks outside The Signal Spot were also untouched and glazed over. The owner of the business didn’t want to comment on camera but said the shoveling duties fall onto his landlord — that’s Bend Property Management.

A spokesperson for the company also did not return NewsChannel 21’s request for comment.

But guess who did want to talk> The owner of Sunday Guitars — maybe because his sidewalks were clean down to pavement.

“It’s just a priority to us, people passing by are potential customers,” said owner Ted Engstrom. “They take care of us, we take care of them.”

And you may be wondering if the city’s pulling its weight on the sidewalks.

On Wednesday a two-man crew was out plowing sidewalks near Juniper Ridge. City workers just began tackling the sidewalks Tuesday, even though the snow hit almost a week ago.

David Abbas, interim Director of the city’s Roadway Operations and Maintenance Department, said sidewalks are low on the totem pole — first priority after storms is plowing roads.

And the city is responsible for fewer sidewalks than you may think.

“The city is responsible for sidewalks abutting or adjacent to city property,” Abbas said, adding that the city will also clear sidewalks near roundabouts and on and near bridges.

So don’t expect the city to come remove your snow. That’s on you, or your landlord.

If it’s residential (sidewalks) it’s the homeowner (responsibility) if it’s commercial, it’s the business,” Abbas said.

Abbas did say the sidewalk-clearing rules are rarely enforced. Still, you could get a fine. In Bend, residential property owners have 24 hours to clear sidewalks of snow, commercial areas have six hours.

Those who don’t comply can face a fine, although there’s first three warnings.

The fine in for businesses is $460 a day. For neighborhoods, it’s $260 a day.