Agenda - Parks and Recreation Commission - 06/09/2005 - Joint with CC

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Se.asonal-Maintenance continued Winter The city currently doesn't offer designated ski trails per se, with residents using public land for cross country skiing at will Demand for a formal system with groomed trails may however develop. What this means is that most of the activity concerning trails in the winter is snow re,noval. Little special preparation is required leading up to the snow removal season, but in some cases certain locations may receive guide stakes to assist plow operators. In fact, a fall sweeping for leaves is seldom needed - with the first plowing event casting the leaves and twigs off the trail with the snow. In terms of the overall city snow removal operation, there is a distinct hierarchy which is normally as follows: Arterial Streets and public safety buildings receive first priority, with other city streets thereafter. Cul de sacs and other municipal facilities are concurrent with, or follow the general street plowing. During the ice rink season, the fink snow removal operation takes some precedence over trails and sidewalks. Outside of mid-winter, trails are plowed with other clean up functions relating to the snow event, which is often the second day - unless it is a significant snowfall or other extreme conditions necessitate more street ploxving. The exception to the above order is trail and sidewalk snow removal within and connecting the 2- mile school walking zone. Staffmakes a concerted effort to have the snow cleared by 8:30 - 9 AN[ on school days. Trails and sidewalks are cleared with several differing pieces of equipment depending on the wide range of conditions possible, as ~vell as equipment availability. Policing Trails There are two types of 'policing of trails'. One is maintenance related wherein the trails are routinely traveled by staff in the course of regular tasks. Vandalism, when it occurs is repaired as soon as possible, and in some cases future instances may be reduced by prompt corrective action. In some cases vandals are th~varted by the presence of staff or the public. The other 'policing' is actually the patrolling of trail corridors by Police Officers or their Police Reserves. This activity,, may be initiated by a complainant or a part of a routine patrol. For the physical patrolling of the trail corridors, police have at their disposal snowmobiles, an ATV, in addition to bicycles. However most of the dme squad cars are used. It is for this reason that Police and Fire are included in any significant trail planning so that the design ensures that emergency vehicles can get to most areas.