10/14/97 - Laserfiche WebLink

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]~CASE # / CONSIDER REVISION OF SNOW REMOVAL AND ICE CONTROL POLICY By: Steve Jankowski, City Engineer Background: It is good practice to periodically review and update City policies. A written snow and ice control policy serves multiple purposes. It describes the level of service which can be expected by the public and can be used to help employees and public officials answer questions relative to snow and ice control issues. While a written policy cannot guarantee against lawsuits, it can help to reduce the City's exposure from tort litigation. Attached is a copy of our current Snow Removal and Ice Control Policy which was adopted in May 1996. In 1996/97, the City was divided into seven major plow routes and five cul-de-sac routes. For the upcoming 1997/98 snow season, the Street Supervisor is reviewing the addition of 3.22 miles of roadway that were added in 1996, to determine whether modifications to the current routes are necessary. The Street Supervisor is confident that the seven major routes can be plowed within the eight-hour goal for a typical snowfall. However, there have been 12 additional cul-de-sacs and seven dead-ends which have been added since the previous snow season. Maps showing the 1997/98 snow plowing routes will be available at the meeting. The Street Supervisor is reviewing whether an additional cul-de-sac route should be recommended. If so, it would be necessary to contract the additional work, since there currently are no additional City units available. The cost of contracting a single cul-de-sac route is estimated to be approximately $5,000, based on an average snowfall season, which is defined as ten major snowstorms. This year, staff will be utilizing a Snow Removal Operation Report form to document the Public Works Department activities for each storm event. It is anticipated that copies will be forwarded to Council on a monthly basis. A copy of this form is attached to this case. Staff is asking Council to consider whether it wishes to increase the level of service with regard to snow and ice control over the previous snow season. One method in which service could be increased would be to schedule one unit to work the main roads during the storm from the period when the Public Works crew leaves in the late afternoon until they return to begin the full-scale snow removal operation. This unit would patrol the arterial streets, salting or plowing as may be necessary to keep these passable during the storm. The unit would need to have a cell phone for emergency situations. This scenario would also propose the use of straight salt on these roadways which would be a change from our current practice of utilizing a 1:10 salt/sand mixture on all of our roads. The advantages of this additional effort would be: (1) Improved driving conditions during the storm on arterial streets (2) Improved availability for response to emergency situations which would be coordinated through 911 (3) Better potential for achieving bare pavement on these arterial streets following the storm because of straight salt applications and reduced snow packing. (4) Improved public relations as a result of the extended presence.