[OldNorth] New Trash Can System

[Valerie Vann]

sheryl lynn gerety wrote:
> 
> Thanks for the update. I had to go to campus so was unable to observe
> how things went on this end of ON, but in the late afternoon I did see
> quite a few carts with 'warning' tags attached, saying in effect:
> I picked it up this time but next time. . .and then check box options
> to correct various errors of placement. The three I examined closely
> were all check for something like "improper placement at end of 
> sidewalk" although they were mid-block. The "sidewalk" in this case was
> usually just a concrete or stepping-stone path across the parking
> strip grass, just what you would expect the resident to use.

That last is rather odd. I used to place my can ON my little "access
sidewalk" and never had any word said about it. Otherwise the wheels
got all muddy and I kept my cans on the porch.

The city seems to be getting proprietary about those little access
sidewalks. I can't imagine why, as a lot of them that are, as 
you say, just stepping stones, were installed by the property
owners, not the city. And some lots no longer have one.

The only reason I can think of is that they are a convenience for
exiting parked cars from the passenger side, but half the parking
spaces don't have that option anyway. The public has a right
of way to pass over the planting stip, but I don't know that
they're entitled to pavement to do so.

Sounds like nit-picking on the part of the collector, or else
a misreading of the directions, which I'd guess are meant to
prevent blocking the the MAIN access AT INTERSECTIONS/CROSSWALKS.

I switched to putting mine in the middle of my driveway, 
since I've got one, because it's easier to get it into the
street that way, and hopefully stand less chance of being
hemmed in by parkers, but if you don't have a driveway, your
access sidewalk is certainly the sensible alternative.

I've been thinking for some time that we need a clarification
on the status of the planting strips, on several issues,
such as: what are the respective city and parcel owner property
rights for the planting strips; who is responsible for the
maintenance of plantings on them (in addition to the street trees),
who is liable for public use of them, if the public has a
right of way easement over them; are the little access sidewalks
maintained by the city and subject to the same regulations
as other sidewalks with respect to obstructions and public use;
where is the public easement line, and the related issue
of location of front yard fences; is there (or should there
be) a city policy regarding planting of (or allowing through
neglect the growth of "volunteer") trees or large shrubs in 
the planting strips or adjacent to the sidewalks such that 
they or their root systems damage the sidewalks or curbs,
impede public access, or restrict vehicle sightlines at
corners; and what limitations, if any, are there to public
use of the planting strips (i.e. other than the adjacent property
owner), e.g. signs and placards, yard or other forms of sales,
picketing or protest activities. And there's the special case
where a parcel's planting strip is partly used for a
bus stop, with it's consequences of noise, litter, vandalism,
loss of parking, and conflicts with trash & yard waste collection.

Valerie Vann
valerie at vanngroup.com