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HomeMy WebLinkAbout6.r. Amendment to Snowplowing PolicyCITY OF ROSEMOUNT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY FOR ACTION City Council Meeting Date December 21, 2004 AGENDA ITEM: Amendment to the Snowplowing Policy AGENDA SECTION: CONSENT PREPARED BY: Rick Cook, Public Works Superintendent Dan Schultz, Parks and Recreation AGO Director ATTACHMENTS: Snowplowing Policy with proposed APPROVED BY: changes RECOMMENDED ACTION: Motion to approve the proposed changes to the Snowplowing Policy. ACTION: ISSUE In November of 2003 the City Council updated the City's Snowplowing Policy Staff have again reviewed the policy and are requesting the City Council consider updating the policy BACKGROUND In 2003 the changes to the Snowplowing Policy introduced language for the set back of Solid Waste Containers The 2003 update included having the trash and recycling cans /bins set back eight feet behind the curb Staff also updated the Priority Snowplow Routes and the Sidewalk/Trail Corridor list The Priority Routes are completed prior to any other streets, sidewalks and or bike trails The Sidewalk /Trail Corridors list is a list of sidewalks and bike trail that the City will maintain SUMMARY Staff is recommending the set back of solid waste containers be changed from eight feet to four feet This is recommended by staff as a housekeeping item and will not impact the plowing of City Streets and will provide solid waste collectors with a more reasonable distance to access the containers Staff is also recommending updating the Priority Snowplow Routes and the Sidewalk/Trail Corridor lists based on the addition of new streets and sidewalks /trails PUBLIC WORKS POLICY NO. M -1 CITY OF ROSEMOUNT SNOWPLOWING POLICY Introduction/Purpose Adopted by City Council on 10 -15 -96 Revised on 11 -04 -97 Revised on 11 -18 -03 The purpose of this policy is to define and outline snow and ice control objectives and procedures as established by the City of Rosemount The City of Rosemount believes that it is in the best interest of the residents for the City to assume basic responsibility for control of snow and ice on City streets. Reasonable ice and snow control is necessary for routine travel and emergency services The City will attempt to provide such control in a safe and cost effective manner, keeping in mind safety, budget, personnel and environmental concems The City will use City employees, City owned or rented equipment and/or private contractors to provide this service, This policy supersedes any and all previously wntten or unwntten policies of the City regarding snow and ice removal When Will City Start Snow or Ice Control Operations? The Public Works Superintendent will decide when to begin snow or ice control operations The cnterra for that decision are A Snow accumulation of 2 inches or more as measured in the City of Rosemount, B Drifting of snow that causes problems for travel, C Icy conditions which seriously affect travel, D Time of snowfall in relationship to heavy use of streets Snow and ice control operations are expensive and involve the use of limited personnel and equipment Consequently snowplowing operations will not generally be conducted for snowfall of less than 2 inches How Snow Will be Plowed Snow will be plowed in a manner so as to mmunize any traffic obstructions. The center of the roadway w ill be plowed first The snow shall then be pushed from left to nght The discharge shall go onto the boulevard area of the street In times of extreme snowfall, the process of clearing the streets of snow may be delayed, and it may not be reasonably possible to completely clear the streets of snow H Pohcy /snowplow2003 SNOWPLOWING POLICY Generally, operations shall continue until all roads are passable Widening and clean up operations may continue immediately or on the following working day depending upon conditions and eircumstances Due to safety concerns for the plow operators and the public, operations maybe terminated after 10 -12 hours to allow personnel adequate time for rest 4. Snow Removal The Public Works Superintendent will determine when snow will be removed by truck from an area Such snow removal will occur in areas where there is no room on the boulevard for snow storage and in areas where accumulated piles of snow create a hazardous condition Snow removal operations will not commence until other snowplowing operations have been completed Snow removal operations may also be delayed depending on weather conditions, personnel and budget availability The snow will be removed and hauled to a snow storage area 5 Priorities and Schedule for Which Streets will be Plowed The Citv has classified City streets based on the street function, traffic volume, and importance to the welfare of the community Those streets classified as "Snow Plow Routes" will be plowed first These are high volume streets, which connect major sections of the City and provide access for emergency fire, police and medical sern ices Exhibit "A" lists the "Snow Plow Routes" The second priority streets are those streets providing access to schools and commercial businesses The third priority streets are low volume residential streets The fourth priority areas are alleys and City parking lots Snow removal around fire hydrants will be performed when personnel and equipment are available and will follow the same priorities as explained above 6 Work Schedule for Snowplow Operators Snowplow operators will be expected to work eight -hour shifts In severe snow emergencies, operators sometimes have to w ork in excess of 8 -hour shifts Operators will take a fifteen minute break over 2 hours with a half -hour meal break after four hours After a twelve -hour day, the operators will be replaced if additional qualified personnel are available 7 Weather Conditions Snow and ice control operations will be conducted only when weather conditions do not endanger the safety of City employees and equipment Factors that may delay snow and ice control operations include severe cold, significant winds, ice and limited visibility E SNOWPLOWING POLICY Use of Sand, Salt and Other Chemicals The City will use sand, salt and other chemicals when there is hazardous ice or slippery conditions The City is concerned about the cost and the effect of such chemicals on the environment and may limit its use for that reason Sidewalks /Trails The City will maintain some of the sidewalks /trails in the City as listed on Exhibit `B" As there is a limited number of personnel available, the City will only maintain these sidewalks after the streets have been plowed Trails in City parks are not going to be plowed Under heavy snowfall conditions, which interfere with sidewalk snowplowing, the Public Works Department may discontinue sidewalk snowplowing According to City ordinances (Chapter 4) snow removal from sidewalks and trails is the responsibility of the adjacent homeowner If notice has been sent to owner /occupant and snow has not been removed, the City may remove the snow and ice and charge the cost of the removal through all means available against the adjacent property The flat fee rate to cover thi s cost is set per the Fee Resolution The City reserves the right to charge extra costs iii extraordinary situations 10 Right-of-Way Use The intent of the right -of -way is to provide room for snow storage, public and private utilities, sidewalks, street lights, signage and other City uses However certain private improv ements such as mailboxes are required within this area Other private improvements are not required a Mailbox Mailboxes and posts should be constructed sturdily enough to withstand snow rolling off a plow or w mg The City will bear the cost of the repair of a damaged mailbox only if it is a result of City equipment actually hitting the mailbox Damage resulting from snow is the responsibility of the property owner /resident The City will make temporary repairs to mailboxes for mail delivery if City plows actually hit a mailbox When weather and time permits, the Public Works Department will complete the repairs All replacement mailboxes and posts shall be a standard size non decorative type All costs over and above replacement of this standard type are the responsibility of the mailbox owner Mailboxes must be installed in such a manner as to provide access by Post Office personnel or other parcel carriers and to allow for Public Works equipment to maintain the streets A drawing showing the proper details for mailbox placement is attached as Exhibit "C" SNOWPLOWING POLICY b Boulevard Sod The City shall, when it receives a complaint, record the location of alleged damage to sod caused by contact with the City snowplow for review by the Public Works Department in the spring when the extent of the alleged damage can be verified Frequently the damage looks more severe immediately after occurring than it does when the snow has melted in the spring If the sod needs repair as determined by the Public Works Department, the Public Works Department shall either sod or seed the damaged area New topsoil maybe placed if deemed necessary The cost of the repairs are borne by the City Imgation Lighting, Trees, Fences, Etc The City will assume no responsibility for damage to underground irrigation systems, private lighting systems, trees, shrubs, rocks, fences or similar landscaping installed in City controlled right -of -way or easements d Solid Waste (Garbage) Recycling Bins The City will assume no responsibility for damage to solid waste (garbage) or recycling bins Solid Waste (garbage) and recyclable containers awaiting pickup should be at least 8 feet 4 feet behind the curblme 11 Snowbirds City Code, Chapter 8, Section 8 -2 -2 prohibits parking during a snow emergency A snow emergency is declared when a 2 -inch or more snowfall occurs and continues until that street has been plowed to the curb SNOWPLOWING POLICY EXHIBIT "A" SNOB" PLOW ROUTES STREET FROM TO 130 Street West TH 3 Bacardi Avenue 140`' Street East Blaine Avenue CSAH 42 143rd Street West Cameo Avenue TH 3 145th Street West Diamond Path CSAH 42 151x` Court West 151st Street West Shannon Parkway Canada Avenue 155th Street West Shannon Parkway Chippendale Avenue Biscayne Av enue Connemara Trail Boulder Trail Boulder Trail Biscayne Avenue Boulder Avenue (including) Brazil Avenue Public Works Mann Bldg 145'' Street West Business Parkway CSAH 42 Boulder Trail Cameo Avenue 145th Strcet West 143rd Street West Canada Avenue CSAH 42 TH 3 Carousel Way Chippendale Avenue 151st Street West Chili Avenue 145th Street West 143 Street Chippendale Avenue 145th Street West 160th Street West Cimanon AN enue CSAH 42 151 Street West Claret Avenue CSAH 42 151 s Street West Conley Avenue CSAH 42 140' Street East Connemara Ti ail Diamond Path B lrRP RR- I vrr �rvr c�va rr rcrrac Autumn Path Crestone Avenue CSAH 42 151" Street West Delft A� enue Dodd Boulevard Upper 148th Street Dodd Boulevaid Delft Avenue Chippendale Avenue Evermoor Parkway Diamond Path Connemara Trail Pine Bend Trail Hwy 55 RR Tracks (bituminous) Shannon Parkway McAndrews Road 160th Street Upper 148th Street Diamond Path Delft Avenue SNOWPLOWING POLICY EXHIBIT `B" SIDEWALK/BIKE PATH CORRIDOR ROUTES PLOWED BY THE CITY ROUTE FROM TO 145th Street West Diamond Path Chippendale Avenue 160 Street West Biscayne Avenue Diamond Path Biscayne Avenue Boulder Trail Connemara Trail Canada A enue 147th Street 144th Street Chill Avenue 145th Street 143rd Street Chippendale Avenue 160th Street 145th Street Connemara Trail Diamond Path glove an Birchwood Avenue CSAH 42 Diamond Path TH 3 (South Robert Trail) Dodd Boulevard Chippendale Ax enue CSAH 42 Shannon Parkway 160th Street C R 38 (McAndrews Road) Evermoor Parkway Shannon Parkway Connemara Trail