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HomeMy Public PortalAboutSnow and Ice Removal Policy COUNCIL Page 1 of 6 POLICY Effective Date February 13, 2012 Snow and Ice Control Policy The purpose of this policy is to describe the manner in which snow and ice control will be carried out. 1. 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. 2. OBJECTIVES The objectives of this policy are: a) To provide vehicular and pedestrian traffic with adequate mobility under prevailing winter conditions within the Town’s financial resources. b) To prevent or reduce accidents or injuries due to winter conditions. c) To provide for the operation of emergency services and transit. d) To ensure that Town owned parking lots do not become impassable. 3. DEFINITIONS In this policy, "DE-ICER" means the chemical agent that the Town of Oliver uses to control build-up of snow or ice on roads.. "DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS" means the Director of Operations or his approved designate. "DRAINAGE PROBLEM" means problems caused by accumulated or running snow melt water. Policy: Snow and Ice Control Page 2 of 6 "ICE CONTROL" means the control or the buildup of packed snow or ice through the use of equipment, Sanding and/or De-icing. “OPENED,” means the ploughing of snow from the driving lanes to the side. "SANDING" means the application, by mechanical spreaders, of treated sand or small granular material to improve traction. “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. “SNOW DUMP” means a pre-approved location for the dumping and storage of hauled snow. “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. "SNOW PLOUGHING" 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" means all operations associated with Snow Ploughing, Snow Loading, Snow Hauling, and Ice Control. 4. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE TOWN OF OLIVER Council Shall: a) Set and adopt the Snow Removal Budget; and b) Set policy on the levels of service from time to time. The Director of Operations shall ensure the implementation of the Snow and Ice Control Policy by: a) Determining when and how to initiate and perform Snow and Ice Control operations. b) Allocating and scheduling Works and Operations resources. c) Obtaining, allocating and scheduling privately held resources. d) Addressing Public concerns. e) Managing the Budget. f) Review policy annually with crew. g) Assure all equipment is in good working condition for the season. Policy: Snow and Ice Control Page 3 of 6 The Public Works employees shall operate the Town of Oliver owned equipment to carry out Snow and Ice Control in accordance with the Snow and Ice Control Policy and in accordance with the instructions of the Director of Operations or designate whenever possible. 5. ROADWAY PRIORITIES AND STANDARDS The Town of Oliver operates with a budgeted amount of funds, which are required for a number of purposes. The Town, in establishing the Snow and Ice Control Policy, must take into consideration its financial resources and its personnel. Priorities are established to provide the greatest benefit to the majority of the traveling public. In setting priorities, consideration is given to criteria such as: Traffic Volume, Road Classification, Road Geometrics, Terrain, Emergency Services, Drift Exposure, and Drainage Problems. The Town of Oliver has set priority ratings as defined in Schedule ‘A’ attached hereto and forming part of this policy. When necessary, for reasons of safety, at the discretion of the Director of Operations or his designate, the order of priority for the provision of the required services may be altered. The following Town resources will be used for Snow and Ice Control: a) Two plowing/sanding trucks b) One de-icing truck with blade c) One sidewalk plow d) One backhoe For effective snow and ice control, and when warranted, Town snow removal will commence at 5:00 am. The regular staffing for the operation of the equipment is based on an eight-hour day, five days per week basis. Staffing costs for the operation of equipment beyond these times are paid at premium rates. When possible, the Director of Operations will take the necessary measures to reduce the hours of service paid at premium rates. 6. SNOW AND ICE REMOVAL FOR ROADS, TOWN OF OLIVER OWNED PARKING LOTS, OLIVER AIRPORT AND LANES Dependent on the weather conditions, the Director of Operations or his designate will determine resources to be used for removal of snow and ice within the Town, and more specifically, in accordance with the following sub-priorities: a) Intersections with traffic lights, roads with steep grades. b) Intersections and corners. Policy: Snow and Ice Control Page 4 of 6 c) Ice Control will NOT normally be undertaken mid-block. In extenuating circumstances, the Town of Oliver has the authority to use the services of a contractor to assist in snow and ice control. Except where an air medi-vac is required, snow removal at the Oliver airport will only be provided during a regularly scheduled shift once the priority locations are in safe condition. Generally, snow removal services in the lanes is not provided. Exceptions are: a) The lanes immediately east and west of Main Street from Similkameen Avenue to Hillcrest Avenue. These are treated as part of the downtown core. b) Paved lanes will be plowed and sanded as the need arises. The Town of Oliver will not inspect or callout crews for removal of snow deposited on the roadways by residents. Excluding contracted work, town equipment and crews will not provide snow and ice removal services on private property. 7. PLOWING AND SANDING OF SIDEWALKS Excluding commercial businesses, subject to availability of crews and equipment, the Town of Oliver will be responsible for bulk snow removal from public sidewalks. As deemed necessary, the Town may perform this detailed snow removal service and application of abrasives to most sidewalks, steps and steep inclines. As per Town of Oliver Traffic Bylaw 650, 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” Commercial property owners are responsible for the removal of snow and ice and the placement of abrasives to all adjacent sidewalks and stairs. Policy: Snow and Ice Control Page 5 of 6 8. THE PLACING OF SNOW WINDROWS Snow Removal operations begin near the centre line and work towards the curb or edges of the roadway. Crews will not open private driveway access blocked by windrows. 9. REMOVAL SERVICE FROM MINISTRY OF TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE (MOTI) The Town of Oliver crews will not perform snow and ice removal on access roads within the jurisdiction of the MOTI. 10 HAULING OF SNOW Hauling of snow shall be undertaken only in situations where lack of adequate storage prohibits the reasonable movement of vehicular and/or pedestrian traffic. A signage and traffic control strategy shall be implemented to ensure the safety of the workers and the public. Policy: Snow and Ice Control Page 6 of 6 SCHEDULE ‘A’ PRIORITY TARGET AREAS FOR SNOW AND ICE REMOVAL TARGET AREA PRIORITY Main access routes, School Routes and High Risk Areas (Steep Inclines) 1 Downtown Core and Fire Hall Apron 2 Town Building Parking Lots, Residential Streets and Cul-de-sacs 3 Airport 4