Snow & Ice Control Policy Update

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Consultation has concluded

Council approved revisions to the Snow and Ice Control Policy and directed Administration to, prior to the 2022/23 snow season, present a review of the City's Snow & Ice Control Service Levels on Roads and the Active Transportation Network. The revised policy can be found in the 'Document Library' section located on the right hand side of the page.

City administration are presenting the Snow & Ice Control Policy to the Infrastructure and Economic Development Committee July 6, 2021 to review proposed amendments that will align the policy with current operations.

Highlights of the proposed amendments include:

  • Snow in residential neighbourhoods will be plowed to the sides of the streets without sidewalks and pushed past the curb and stored on the City boulevard.
  • Residential neighbourhoods with sidewalks on both sides of the streets will either be windrowed and stored on the side of the road or pushed past the curb and stored on the City boulevard.
  • Plowing for Priority 1 routes will start when sufficient snow accumulates. The time standard to meet this service is within 24 hours after the end of the snowfall event.
  • Plowing for Priority 2 routes will start when sufficient snow accumulates and after Priority 1 roads are complete. The time standard to meet this service is within five days after Priority 1 routes are complete.
  • Plowing for Priority 3 routes will start when sufficient snow accumulates and after Priority 1 roads are complete. The time standard to meet this service is within five days after the end of the snowfall event.
  • Service levels and snow storage procedures may be adjusted if extreme snowfall accumulates.
  • Windrows across driveway openings will be cleared during residential snow plowing.
  • Sidewalks, pathways and transit stops will be cleared when sufficient snow accumulates.

It is expected that the public will experience minimal changes as the policy review is intended to bring the legislation in line with current operations.

Summary of Engagements

Did You Know: All About Snow and Ice Control! Key Highlights:

  • Engagement occurred in June 24 to July 25, 2019
  • 316 Total Responses
  • High level summary in Budget 2020 Report

Budget:

  • 53% of respondents selected to increase the snow removal and ice control budget
  • 40% of respondents selected to maintain the snow removal and ice control budget
  • 6% of respondents selected to decrease the snow removal and ice control budget

How Informed:

  • 52% of respondents felt informed or well informed about snow and ice control operations
  • 32% or respondents felt slightly informed
  • 15% of respondents felt uninformed

Satisfaction with Priority 1 Road Clearing:

  • 10% Extremely Satisfied
  • 44% Satisfied
  • 16% Neutral
  • 20% Unsatisfied
  • 10% Extremely Unsatisfied

Satisfaction with Priority 2 Road Clearing:

  • 6% Extremely Satisfied
  • 30% Satisfied
  • 19% Neutral
  • 28% Unsatisfied
  • 18% Extremely Unsatisfied

Satisfaction with Priority 3 Road Clearing:

  • 4% Extremely Satisfied
  • 21% Satisfied
  • 26% Neutral
  • 26% Unsatisfied
  • 24% Extremely Unsatisfied

Top areas of concern for Priority Road Clearing:

  • Drivability
  • Intersection Safety
  • Ice Control, such as sand, salt, and de-icer

Satisfaction with Residential Road Clearing:

  • 15% Extremely Satisfied
  • 23% Satisfied
  • 11% Neutral
  • 30% Unsatisfied
  • 31% Extremely Unsatisfied

Top areas of concern for Residential Road Clearing:

  • Drivability
  • Parking and access to driveways, walkways, and sidewalks
  • Intersection Safety

Bi-Annual Citizen Satisfaction Survey

  • January 13 to 31, 2020
  • 401 Responses
  • Snow and Ice Control identified as a key area for improvement
  • Included in Budget 2021 Report

Budget 2021 – What We Heard Report

  • Budget Allocator - Ran June 25 to July 15, 2020
  • 46 Responses
  • 17% Increase Funding by 5%
  • 65% Maintain Existing Funding
  • 17% Decrease Funding by 5%

Budget 2020 – What We Heard Report

  • Survey Ran September 16 to October 9, 2019
  • 200 Responses

Satisfaction with winter maintenance:

  1. 9% very Satisfied
  2. 44% Satisfied
  3. 23% Dissatisfied
  4. 2% Don’t know

Residents ranked 30 services that were most valued:

  1. Ice Control on Priority 1 and 2 ranked as third most valued City service
  2. Residential snow clearing ranked as fourth most valued City service
  3. Removal of snow from centre windrows ranked as eighth most valued City service
  4. Driveway windrow plowing ranked as ninth most valued service

The proposed policy will be available for viewing online in the days before the committee meeting.

Stay tuned to engage.cityofgp.com/snow-ice-control and our social media channels for the latest news and updates on the policy.

Council approved revisions to the Snow and Ice Control Policy and directed Administration to, prior to the 2022/23 snow season, present a review of the City's Snow & Ice Control Service Levels on Roads and the Active Transportation Network. The revised policy can be found in the 'Document Library' section located on the right hand side of the page.

City administration are presenting the Snow & Ice Control Policy to the Infrastructure and Economic Development Committee July 6, 2021 to review proposed amendments that will align the policy with current operations.

Highlights of the proposed amendments include:

  • Snow in residential neighbourhoods will be plowed to the sides of the streets without sidewalks and pushed past the curb and stored on the City boulevard.
  • Residential neighbourhoods with sidewalks on both sides of the streets will either be windrowed and stored on the side of the road or pushed past the curb and stored on the City boulevard.
  • Plowing for Priority 1 routes will start when sufficient snow accumulates. The time standard to meet this service is within 24 hours after the end of the snowfall event.
  • Plowing for Priority 2 routes will start when sufficient snow accumulates and after Priority 1 roads are complete. The time standard to meet this service is within five days after Priority 1 routes are complete.
  • Plowing for Priority 3 routes will start when sufficient snow accumulates and after Priority 1 roads are complete. The time standard to meet this service is within five days after the end of the snowfall event.
  • Service levels and snow storage procedures may be adjusted if extreme snowfall accumulates.
  • Windrows across driveway openings will be cleared during residential snow plowing.
  • Sidewalks, pathways and transit stops will be cleared when sufficient snow accumulates.

It is expected that the public will experience minimal changes as the policy review is intended to bring the legislation in line with current operations.

Summary of Engagements

Did You Know: All About Snow and Ice Control! Key Highlights:

  • Engagement occurred in June 24 to July 25, 2019
  • 316 Total Responses
  • High level summary in Budget 2020 Report

Budget:

  • 53% of respondents selected to increase the snow removal and ice control budget
  • 40% of respondents selected to maintain the snow removal and ice control budget
  • 6% of respondents selected to decrease the snow removal and ice control budget

How Informed:

  • 52% of respondents felt informed or well informed about snow and ice control operations
  • 32% or respondents felt slightly informed
  • 15% of respondents felt uninformed

Satisfaction with Priority 1 Road Clearing:

  • 10% Extremely Satisfied
  • 44% Satisfied
  • 16% Neutral
  • 20% Unsatisfied
  • 10% Extremely Unsatisfied

Satisfaction with Priority 2 Road Clearing:

  • 6% Extremely Satisfied
  • 30% Satisfied
  • 19% Neutral
  • 28% Unsatisfied
  • 18% Extremely Unsatisfied

Satisfaction with Priority 3 Road Clearing:

  • 4% Extremely Satisfied
  • 21% Satisfied
  • 26% Neutral
  • 26% Unsatisfied
  • 24% Extremely Unsatisfied

Top areas of concern for Priority Road Clearing:

  • Drivability
  • Intersection Safety
  • Ice Control, such as sand, salt, and de-icer

Satisfaction with Residential Road Clearing:

  • 15% Extremely Satisfied
  • 23% Satisfied
  • 11% Neutral
  • 30% Unsatisfied
  • 31% Extremely Unsatisfied

Top areas of concern for Residential Road Clearing:

  • Drivability
  • Parking and access to driveways, walkways, and sidewalks
  • Intersection Safety

Bi-Annual Citizen Satisfaction Survey

  • January 13 to 31, 2020
  • 401 Responses
  • Snow and Ice Control identified as a key area for improvement
  • Included in Budget 2021 Report

Budget 2021 – What We Heard Report

  • Budget Allocator - Ran June 25 to July 15, 2020
  • 46 Responses
  • 17% Increase Funding by 5%
  • 65% Maintain Existing Funding
  • 17% Decrease Funding by 5%

Budget 2020 – What We Heard Report

  • Survey Ran September 16 to October 9, 2019
  • 200 Responses

Satisfaction with winter maintenance:

  1. 9% very Satisfied
  2. 44% Satisfied
  3. 23% Dissatisfied
  4. 2% Don’t know

Residents ranked 30 services that were most valued:

  1. Ice Control on Priority 1 and 2 ranked as third most valued City service
  2. Residential snow clearing ranked as fourth most valued City service
  3. Removal of snow from centre windrows ranked as eighth most valued City service
  4. Driveway windrow plowing ranked as ninth most valued service

The proposed policy will be available for viewing online in the days before the committee meeting.

Stay tuned to engage.cityofgp.com/snow-ice-control and our social media channels for the latest news and updates on the policy.