The city is taking a closer look at how it clears sidewalks.

At the moment, public works staff removes snow and de-ices para-ramps, and only sidewalks that abut city property.

There are another 90 kilometres of sidewalks within Cranbrook city limits, and public works clears those "as time and resources are permitted".

What's more, Cranbrook doesn't have a bylaw that requires homeowners to clear the public sidewalk in front of their property.

"It's a volunteer-based program right now," said Will Pearce, chief administrative officer, at Monday's council meeting.

"We certainly encourage folks to take care of the sidewalks in front of their homes or businesses."

Only downtown business owners in commercial zones are required by law to remove snow from the sidewalk in front of their business, but there is no time requirement to do so.

Last May, the city's Cranbrook in Motion Committee took a closer look at the sidewalk clearing policy, explained Mayor Wayne Stetski.

"They looked at it last year and they made the decision to keep it informal," said Stetski. "But that is an option: to put a bylaw in place requiring homeowners to clear the sidewalks in front of their residences."

Kimberley requires residents to clear snow from sidewalks in front of their house before 10 a.m. Invermere, Revelstoke, Castlegar, Lethbridge and Calgary require residents to do it within 24 hours of snowfall.

During the discussion at Monday's meeting, Mayor Stetski asked Pearce to prepare a report that details popular routes that start at seniors' housing facilities.

"I'm wondering if we could plan a strategy where we look at where senior citizen housing is located, look at the routes senior citizens use to get from there to shopping, access health services at the hospital and clinics, and make those a priority for clearing those sidewalks."

Councillor Bob Whetham brought up Rotary Way, which the city has a policy of not clearing because the trail is not considered an all-season pathway. Whetham suggested that the most travelled portions of Rotary Way could be a priority.

Pearce told council that staff would prepare a map of sidewalks with heavy use as well as costs associated with clearing it, then bring it back for council's consideration.