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Home My WebLink About6.i. Amendment to Snowplowing PolicyCITY OF ROSEMOUNT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY FOR ACTION CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: November 18, 2003 AGENDA ITEM: Amendment to Snowplowing Policy AGENDA SECTION: Consent PREPARED BY: Rick Cook, Public Works Superinten, n e AGENDA NO: r J fy j' jTEM "6 1 ATTACHMENTS: Snowplowing Policy APPROVED BY: This item is on the agenda for Council consideration. In reviewing the Snowplowing Policy, Public Works Policy No. M -1, which was last revised in November of 1997, one new item is being recommended along with some updating of the snowplowing routes and sidewalk corridor routes. Under Item 10 - Right- of -Wgy Use Staff is recommending adding (d.) Solid Waste (Garbage) & Recycling Bins This would benefit both the snowplow drivers and the homeowners: The "Snowplow Routes "listed in Exhibit "A" are classified as priority routes and will be completed prior to any other streets, sidewalks or bike trails. The Sidewalk Corridors listed in Exhibit "B" are the only sidewalks and bike trails the City will maintain. Staff is asking that the City Council approve the changes to the Snowplowing Policy. 5 b PUBLIC WORKS t POLICY NO. M -1 CITY OF ROSEMOUNT Adopted by City Council SNOWPLOWING POLICY on 10 -15 -96 Revised on 11 -04 -97 Revised on 1 Introduction/Purpose 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 concerns. 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 written or unwritten policies of the City regarding snow and ice removal. 2. ` When Will City Start Snow or Ice Control Operations? The Public Works Superintendent will decide when to begin snow or ice control operations. The criteria 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. 3. How Snow Will be Plowed Snow will be plowed in a manner so as to minimize any traffic obstructions. The center of the roadway will be plowed first. The snow shall then be pushed from left to right. 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: Pol icy /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 circumstances. Due to safety concerns for the plow operators and the public, operations may be 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 City 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 services. 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 work 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. 2 SNOWPLOWING POLICY 8. 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. 9. 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 this cost is set per the Fee Resolution. The City reserves the right to charge extra costs in extraordinary situations. 10. Right -of -Wad 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 improvements 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 wing. 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 ". 3 SNOWPLOWING POLICY 4 EXHIBIT «A» SNOW PLOW ROUTES "FRA =F FROM T 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 42 151 Court West 151 st Street West Shannon Parkway Canada Avenue 155th Street West Shannon Parkway Chippendale Avenue Biscayne Avenue Connemara Trail Boulder Trail Boulder Trail Biscayne Avenue Boulder Avenue (including) Brazil Avenue Public Works Maint. Bldg 145 Street West Business Parkway CSAH 42 Boulder Trail Cameo Avenue 145th Street West 143rd Street West Canada Avenue CSAH 42 TH 3 Carousel Way Chippendale Avenue 151 st Street West Chili Avenue 145th Street West 143` d Street Chippendale Avenue 145th Street West 160th Street West Cimarron Avenue CSAH 42 151 Street West Claret Avenue CSAH 42 151 Street West Conley Avenue CSAH 42 140 Street East Connemara Trail Diamond Path Birchwood Avenue Crestone Avenue CSAH 42 151 Street West Delft Avenue Dodd Boulevard Upper 148th Street Dodd Boulevard Delft Avenue Chi endale 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 5 SNOWPLOWING POLICY EXHIBIT «B» SIDEWALK/BIKE PATH CORRIDOR ROUTES PLOWED BY THE CITY