CHICAGO — A Chicago alderman proposed an ordinance to City Council for a pilot municipal sidewalk snow and ice removal program.

Ald. Scott Waguespack (23rd Ward) was among the council members leading the charge when it comes to the City Council being more independent of the mayor.

“So far, we have a majority of the members on board and we’ll be calling for a special meeting next week to discuss these rule changes,” Waguespack said.

“This is what we should have been doing all along and will create a good balance of power between legislative and executive branches,” said Ald. Jason Ervin (28th Ward).

From lame-duck Mayor Lori Lightfoot all the way to Richard J. Daley, Chicago mayors have had the power to select who they want in committee chair positions. But now, the alderpersons want to decide themselves, along with several other things like creating their own legislative council.

Alderman Gilbert Villegas, who held a press conference Wednesday morning with details on the Chicago Plow The Sidewalks Pilot Program, says, “we are the only large city in the top 10 large cities that don’t have this independent structure.”

The intent is to ensure seniors and those with physical disabilities can get out of their homes and to stores for food and other supplies.

The alderman wants $750,000 to fund the pilot program.

Villegas points to the city of Toronto, which already plows its sidewalks.