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HomeMy Public PortalAboutSnow and Ice Control Policy Page 1 of 10 COUNCIL POLICY Effective Date: February 13, 2012 Amended Date: October 23, 2023 SECTION: Operations TITLE: Snow and Ice Control Policy PURPOSE: a. To ensure clarity and transparency on levels of service provided. b. To provide vehicular and pedestrian traffic with adequate mobility throughout the community. c. To prevent or reduce accidents or injuries. d. To manage budgets and resourcing effectively and sustainably. SCOPE: Subject to equipment, personnel, and budget constraints, the Town of Oliver undertakes snow and ice control on a priority basis to accommodate vehicular and pedestrian access on: • Road rights-of-way within the geographical boundaries of the Town excluding Highway 97 (also known as the Main Street). • Town owned and maintained building entryways. • Sidewalks adjacent all Town owned properties. • Select stairways, sidewalks, Pathways, bridges, and Town owned parking lots. As indicated on the following Appendices: • Appendix “A” - Roadway Priority Ratings. • Appendix “B” – Stairways, Sidewalks, Bridges, Pathways, & Town Owned Parking Lots to be Cleared. The key objectives of this policy are: • To provide vehicular and pedestrian traffic with sufficient mobility under prevailing winter conditions within the Town’s financial resources. • To reduce the hazards of ice and snow conditions for motorists and pedestrians. Snow and Ice Control Page 2 of 10 • To facilitate the handling of emergencies by emergency operations personnel. • To facilitate the operation of public transit. • To minimize economic losses to the community and industry. • To ensure the Town owned parking lots are adequately maintained to an acceptable standard. • To provide safe recreational opportunities for residents during winter months. • To reduce the harmful effects of anti-icing and de-icer chemicals on the environment. DEFINITIONS: That the following definition apply to this policy: I. “APPENDIX A” – Appendix A – Roadway Priority Ratings as attached to this policy. II. “APPENDIX B” – Appendix B – Stairways, Sidewalks, Bridges, Lanes, & Parking lots to be cleared as attached to this policy. III. “APPENDIX C” – Appendix C – Anti-icing priorities. IV. “CLEAR (ED, ING)” means the plowing or shoveling of snow on roadways and other surface types. a. Snow clearing of roadways, lanes, and parking lots shall be done in a manner to achieve a minimum of 2.75 meters of width for driving and a maximum accumulation of 5 cm of snow and slush. b. Snow clearing of sidewalks, walkways, and stairs shall be done in a manner to achieve a minimum walking path of 1 meter of width and a maximum accumulation of 5 cm of snow or slush. V. "DE-ICER" means the chemical agent that the Town of Oliver uses to control build-up of snow or ice on roads. VI. "DIRECTOR" means the Director of Operations or his approved designate. VII. "DRAINAGE PROBLEM" means problems caused by accumulated or running snow melt water. VIII. “ICE CONTROL” means the control of the buildup of packed snow or ice through the use of equipment, sanding or de-icing. IX. “OPENED” means the ploughing of snow from the driving lanes to the side. X. "SANDING" means the application, by mechanical spreaders, of treated sand or small granular material to improve traction. XI. “SIDEWALK” means the hard surface designed and constructed for and normally used by pedestrian traffic within the road right of way, excluding multi-use paths. XII. “SNOW DUMP” means a pre-approved location for the dumping and storage of hauled snow. XIII. “SNOW LOADING AND HAULING” means the removal of snow from Town roads, parking lots, lanes and sidewalks by loading the snow from windrows onto trucks and hauling the snow, to Snow Dump sites. XIV. "SNOW PLOWING" means the ploughing of snow into windrows on Town roads and lanes. Storage areas can be on centre medians, boulevards, adjacent to the curb or sidewalk and at the edge of back lanes or Town owned properties. Snow and Ice Control Page 3 of 10 XV. "SNOW AND ICE CONTROL" means all operations associated with Snow Ploughing, Snow Loading, Snow Hauling, and Ice Control. XVI. “SNOW REMOVAL” involves loading the windrowed snow onto a truck subsequently hauling the snow-to-snow disposal sites. No attempt will be made to remove from driveway entrances. XVII. “TOWN” means the Town of Oliver. POLICY STATEMENT: The Town of Oliver is responsible for the maintenance of public road rights-of-way within the geographical boundaries of the Town. Part of this maintenance responsibility involves snow and ice control which is undertaken to provide for vehicular and pedestrian access on roads, sidewalks, the airport, and some parking areas at Town owned public facilities on a priority basis. POLICY: 1. RESPONSIBILITIES: 1.1. Town Council Shall • Set and adopt the SNOW AND ICE CONTROL budget. • Set the level of service. 1.2. The Director shall implement the Snow and Ice Control Policy on Public Right of Ways by: • Determining when and how to initiate and implement SNOW AND ICE CONTROL Operations • Allocating and scheduling Works and Operations resources • Obtaining, allocating, and scheduling privately held resources • Addressing Public complaints • Managing the allocated budget • Reviewing policy annually with staff • Ensuring all equipment is in good working condition for the season 1.3. The Works and Operations Department shall operate the Town of Oliver owned equipment, or hired equipment, to carry out the Snow and Ice Control on public right of ways in accordance with the Snow and Ice Control Policy and in accordance with the instructions of the Director. 2. PRIORITIES AND STANDARDS FOR ROADS AND OTHER SURFACE TYPES 2.1. The Town operates with a budgeted amount of funds, which fund many services. The Town, in establishing the Snow and Ice Clearing Policy, must take into consideration its financial resources and its personnel. Priorities are Snow and Ice Control Page 4 of 10 established to provide the greatest benefit to most of the traveling public. In setting priorities, consideration is given to criteria such as: Traffic Volume, Road Classification, Road Geometrics, Terrain, Emergency Services, Access to Amenities, Drift Exposure, and Drainage Problems. 2.2. The Town has set priority ratings as defined in Appendix ‘A’ and ‘B’ attached to this policy. Priority 1 Roads - Outlined in Red in APPENDIX A Generally servicing: • Major Collectors – main routes serving as connectors/collectors between areas and routes • Steep Grades – hilly terrain with high traffic volumes • School Zones – serving as routes to access school • Roads serving emergency routes to hospitals and fire equipment • Major Transit Routes – serving the majority of the Transit Users Priority 2 Roads - Outlined in Green in APPENDIX A Generally servicing: • Collectors – remainder of • Main Industrial Routes – serving as routes for industrial traffic • Minor Transit Routes • Local roads Priority 3 Lanes - Outlined in Magenta in APPENDIX A 2.3. Other Surface Types outlined in APPENDIX B Generally servicing: • Stairways - Priority 1 • Bridge – Pedestrian Access – Priority 1 • Town Owned Parking Lots – Priority 1 • Town Owned Buildings - Pedestrian Access – Priority 1 • Sidewalks and Walkways – Priority 2 • Traffic Calming at School Zones – Priority 2 • Walkways - Priority 3 Snow and Ice Control Page 5 of 10 2.4. The Town has set the following standards for SNOW AND ICE CONTROL subject to budget constraints, and availability of personnel and equipment: Priority 1: The roads and the other surface types shall be CLEARED and ICE CONTROL may be applied as required within 12 hours of the end of the storm event. Priority 2: The roads and the other surface types shall be CLEARED and ICE CONTROL may be applied as required within 24 hours of the end of the storm event. Priority 3: The roads and the other surface types shall be CLEARED and ICE CONTROL may be applied as required within 48 hours of the end of the storm event. Exceptions: • Priority 3 roads or other surface types may not be CLEARED on weekends or statutory holidays. These days are not included in the 48-hour standard noted above. For example, if the storm event ends Friday at 11:30 pm all Priority 3 roads and other surface types shall be cleared within 48 hours of 12:00 am Monday morning which is 12:00 am Wednesday. • When the storms are continuous, or follow within 12 hours of another, SNOW AND ICE CONTROL operations may be repeated or continued on Priority 1 Roads and Other Surface Types until the standards are achieved prior to commencing SNOW AND ICE CONTROL operations on priorities 2 and 3. • Due to operational circumstances including but not limited to; traffic flow, operational efficiencies, road closures, special events, and other such circumstances deemed appropriate by the Director, lower-level priorities may be addressed prior to high level priorities provided that all priorities will be addressed within the time frame allocated for that priority. • Snow Removal shall be undertaken only in situations where lack of adequate storage prohibits the reasonable movement of vehicular, bicycle, and/or pedestrian traffic, due to the presence of a windrow or stockpile of snow. During most winter seasons, only a limited amount of Snow Removal will be done due to storage space and budgetary limitations. In the event Snow Removal is required the process will be aligned with the Priorities outlined in Appendices A & B. 3. ANTI-ICING BEFORE A SNOW EVENT 3.1. When roads surfaces are dry, temperatures are either forecasted to be or are below 0° Celsius and precipitation is predicted, a sodium chloride, anti-icing solution may be applied to roadways and parking lots around the Town to help to prevent ice and snow from accumulating and adhering to the road during a snow event. Snow and Ice Control Page 6 of 10 4. SNOW PLOWING OF ROADS, TOWN OWNED PARKING LOTS AND LANES 4.1. SNOW PLOWING Operations may commence in accordance with the priorities and standards discussed in Sections 2.2, 2.3, and 2.4, upon a snow accumulation of 2.5 cm, and in consideration of field conditions and weather forecast. 4.2. Lanes which provide the only available access to MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPMENTS with no available on street parking and lanes as shown in APPENDIX A will be addressed on a Priority 3 basis. All other lanes are considered low priority and may be addressed only in the event of extreme weather resulting in a single snowstorm accumulation greater than 30 cm. These lanes may be CLEARED to a COMPACTED SNOW STANDARD as budget and resources permit. 4.3. SNOW PLOWING may result in windrows on both sides of the road. The clearing of windrows in front of driveways left by snow plowing equipment shall be the responsibility of the property owner or occupant. 4.4. The clearing of windrows as they cross lane entrances shall be the responsibility of the Town and may be CLEARED as required as soon as practical, after CLEARING all Priority 3 roads and other surface types. 4.5. The clearing of snow between the edge of the street and all fire hydrants is the responsibility of the Town. The work may commence when the snow depth exceeds 45 cm or when the hydrant is hidden from view. 5. ICE CONTROL OF ROADS, TOWN OWNED PARKING LOTS AND LANES 5.1. The Town will provide ICE CONTROL on Town roads, parking lots and lanes in accordance with the priorities and standards discussed in Sections 2.2, 2.3, and 2.4, upon determining that ice conditions exist or are in the immediate forecast. 5.2. ICE CONTROL on roadways and lanes will not normally be undertaken mid-block and may only be undertaken at intersections with the exception of Priority 1 roads if conditions warrant. 6. SNOW AND ICE CONTROL ON STAIRS, SIDEWALKS, BRIDGES, WALKWAYS, AND TOWN OWNED BUILDING PEDESTRIAN ACCESSES 6.1. The Town will CLEAR snow and may provide ICE CONTROL on Town owned stairs, sidewalks adjacent to Town property, walkways that are indicated in APPENDIX B as per the priorities and standards identified in Sections 2.2, 2.3 and 2.4. 6.2. SNOW AND ICE CONTROL on sidewalks may result in windrows of snow on either side of the sidewalk which may remain in place. Snow and Ice Control Page 7 of 10 6.3. SNOW AND ICE CONTROL for Town owned building – pedestrian accesses may involve snow removal and/or the application of DE-ICER and may commence upon accumulation of 2.5 cm of snow or icy conditions being present at the entryways of Town Owned Buildings as indicated in APPENDIX B. 6.4. Public complaints received advising that rain or snow melt has created a layer of ice on the Other Surface Types that has created a hazard may be investigated within one working day of the complaint. If warranted the ice layer may be sanded, treated with DE-ICERs, closed, or allowed to have a level firm snow layer established above the ice level to permit pedestrian use. 6.5. Subject to availability of crews and equipment, the Town will do bulk snow removal from public sidewalks. As deemed necessary, the Town may perform basic snow removal service to most sidewalks, steps, and steep inclines. 6.6. De-Icing and the application of abrasives on public sidewalks adjacent to private property will be the responsibility of the property owners. 6.7. As per Town of Oliver Traffic Bylaw 650 and its amendments, Part 6 Section 29, “The owner or occupier of any real property within the Town shall perform or arrange for the performance of the following works on their property and on streets abutting their property: (c) where the property is a commercial property, remove any snow or ice from adjacent sidewalks by not later than 10:00 am each day”. 7. SNOW STORAGE AND HAULING The Town’s priority is to plow the roads and make them passable for motor vehicles. As such, snow is first cleared from the traffic lanes and stored on or near gutters, boulevards or in parking spaces. Once some of these storage areas have reached a certain size, the Town may haul the snow to designated snow storage sites. Consideration will not normally be given for removal of snow from a roadway unless there is insufficient space available on the side of the road to allow for two travel lanes because of stored snow. Snow hauling is very time consuming, costly and can take significantly longer than snow plowing. The utilization of snow hauling is contingent upon manpower, equipment availability, snow dumpsite capacity, budgets, and operational concerns. 8. DAMAGE RELATED TO SNOW PLOWING, SANDING OR REMOVAL There are occasions when damage could occur to private property and public boulevards. Please advise the Town in writing if you believe we have damaged your property. Please note we are unable to accept any liability for the repair of boulevard lawns because of damage caused by sand from winter operations. We ask your cooperation in the removal of sand from boulevards in the spring. The sand can be placed on the street where it does not impede traffic. The Town will be scraping, Snow and Ice Control Page 8 of 10 sweeping, and flushing the streets in the spring and will clean sand removed from boulevards at that time. Please clean your boulevard before the street cleaning equipment arrives. 9. PUBLIC RELATIONS 9.1. The Public Works Clerk at (250) 485-6213, Monday to Friday 8:00 am to 3:15 pm, shall handle all concerns and inquires. At all other times including statutory holidays, emergency concerns and inquires shall be directed to the afterhours line (250) 498-6335. 10. HOURS OF OPERATION AND STAFF DEPLOYMENT. 10.1. The Town will be prepared to conduct SNOW AND ICE CONTROL Operations during the period November 1 to March 31. 10.2. The Town will normally provide SNOW AND ICE CONTROL Operations between the hours of 5:00 am and 11:00 pm, 7 days per week including statutory holidays as per the following: • During REGULAR HOURS OF OPERATION (7:00 am to 3:15 pm weekdays except for statutory holidays) crews will provide SNOW AND ICE CONTROL in accordance with the priorities and standards set out in Sections 2.2, 2.3 and 2.4 of this policy. • Weekends and statutory holidays will have SNOW AND ICE CONTROL on Priority 1 and Priority 2 roads and other surface types only. Priority 3 roads and other surface types may not be CLEARED on weekends or Statutory holidays. • In the event of winter conditions requiring SNOW AND ICE CONTROL commencing after 3:15 pm, operators and equipment may be dispatched to provide maintenance on Priority 1 roads and other surface types only. Priority 1 roads may be CLEARED and Priority 1 other surface types may be CLEARED until 11:00 pm. 10.3. The Public Works Department standby personnel may monitor weather conditions and will provide a visual inspection at 4:00 am to determine if crews are to be called out as early as 5:00 am (7 days a week). • If afterhours standby personnel receive complaints about hazardous road conditions from the R.C.M.P., Public or Fire Department, they may be investigated and dealt with in accordance with this policy. Discretion as to the level of SNOW AND ICE CONTROL required may be applied. If a complaint is received on Priority 3 road or other surface type or in a low traffic and flat area the complaint may not be investigated or addressed. Snow and Ice Control Page 9 of 10 10.4. When extreme winter weather (greater than 30 cm snow accumulation) conditions exist as caused by severe or repetitive storms or emergency conditions, overtime, additional Town equipment and outside resources may be mobilized under the authorization of the Director. 11. PARKING BANS 11.1. Parking bans may be implemented, as required, to provide for operations. Areas where parking is to be banned will be signed in advance or odd/even parking will be initiated. Vehicles that do not adhere to the parking ban may be towed and the owner of the vehicle will be responsible for all towing costs. 12. ROAD CLOSURES 12.1. Roads that have been closed by the Director or their designate(s) will be posted on the Town of Oliver website (www.oliver.ca) during regular operational hours. The following alleyway will be closed to all vehicles during the entire snow season: • Alleyway between Bing Avenue and Tilton Avenue will be closed from the back of 851 Bing Avenue down to Haven Street. 13. DRIVEWAYS 13.1. In normal road clearing circumstances, snow will be plowed to the sides of the roads and no attempt will be made to clear access to driveways. As a result of plowing, snow piles (windrows) may be created in driveways. The clearing of windrows from driveways is the responsibility of the property owner. 14. PRIVATE PROPERTY 14.1. The Town of Oliver does not conduct snow and ice control on private property, including strata developments. Exceptions can be made where an emergency request is made for police, fire, or ambulance access. 14.2. Snow removed from private property must not be stored on Town land or on Town roads; residents are reminded that this is a very dangerous practice. 15. HAZARDS 15.1. General Hazards Dealing with snow is complex and is often conducted in adverse weather conditions. No two snowstorms are exactly alike, and our snow and ice control operators have to deal with the following: • Decreased visibility, glare, and reduced light. • Variable temperatures affecting ice and snow conditions. • Reduced traction. Snow and Ice Control Page 10 of 10 • Stranded, stuck, and frustrated motorists. • Emergency service requests initiated by Police, Fire or Ambulance. • Parked vehicles and objects that are hidden by snow. • The pressure of trying to get the job done. Residents are requested to please give our snow removal equipment the right of way – we are working to get everyone to their destinations safely. Please drive carefully and pay attention to road conditions. There are times where it makes sense to pull over and wait for a plow to pass. PLAN YOUR ROUTE TO TAKE EMERGENCY ROUTES AND AVOID STREETS WITH STEEP GRADES. It can prevent a costly accident or a dangerous situation. 15.2. Windrow and Stockpiled Snow Hazard Warning. Windrows and other stockpiles of snow occur as an outcome of Snow Plowing activities. These windrows and other stockpiles of snow can be hazardous for the following reasons: • The solidity of the snow and the ability of the snow to support applied weight can vary considerably based on ambient weather conditions. • The solidity of the snow can vary considerably depending on the degree of work hardening that has occurred due to the Snow Plowing activities. • The solidity of the snow can vary considerably due to soft spots or pockets of air that can lead to sink holes or a collapse of the snow. • The collapse of a windrow or other stockpile of snow could trap a person and could possibly result in suffocation or the onset of hypothermia. • The opacity of the snow can prevent the visual detection of other hazards that may be present either in or under the accumulated snow resulting in a concealed condition. • The surface of the snow may be slippery and could result in a loss of footing; Therefore, STEPPING ONTO OR INTO A WINDROW OR OTHER STOCKPILE OF SNOW COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH and should be avoided. It is recommended that persons attempting to access property that is located on the other side of a windrows or other stockpile of snow either: o Seek an alternate point of access. o Wait until either Town Snow Removal activities have occurred, or the hazard has abated due to the snow melting completely. PLEASE EDUCATE AND WATCH CHILDREN TO MAKE SURE THEY DO NOT PLAY IN OR ON WINDROWS OR OTHER STOCKPILED SNOW. APPENDICES 1. Appendix A - Roadway Priority Ratings, may be revised by the Public Works Manager and adopted by Council as required. 2. Appendix B - Stairways, Sidewalks, Bridges, Lanes, and Parking Lots to be CLEARED, may be revised by the Director, and adopted by Council as required.