Agenda Packets - 2011/11/14 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

CITY OF MOUNDS VIEW | PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT 4472 - SNOW PLOWING AND ICE CONTROL POLICY 4 2. Priority Routes for Trails, Sidewalks, and Municipal Parking Lots (a) Snow plowing and ice control priorities for City trails and sidewalks are based upon use, location, and connections to other trails and sidewalks. Priorities for trails and sidewalks consider school routes and zones and proximity to arterial and collector streets, city facilities, and bus routes. These priorities may change based upon time of day and day of week that snow plowing and ice control operations begin (and end) for each winter storm, compared to the schedules of the schools, bus company, and business hours. Table 2 summarizes the priorities for all city trails and sidewalks as high, medium, and low. A map showing the trail and sidewalk system, along with the parking lots, is attached as Exhibit C. (b) Prioritization for snow plowing and ice control operations for municipal parking lots also varies depending on time of day and day of week compared to usage of parking lots. Parking lots used by public safety vehicles (police, fire, etc.) will take precedence over other parking lots. Prioritization ranking for snow plowing of the municipal parking lots is summarized on Table 2 and locations shown on the Exhibit C map. 3. Coordinating Snow Plow and Ice Control Operations (a) The City has a limited number of specific pieces of equipment for snow removal and ice control. Most of this equipment is customized for only streets or trails/parking lots or sidewalks. In addition, City employees are assigned to specific routes with backups assigned. Therefore, snow plowing and ice control operations for streets, sidewalks, and trails/parking lots are more-or-less separate processes and priorities between these infrastructures seldom conflict. (b) During significant and severe winter storms, the City must be prepared to move personnel and equipment to maintain Priority Snow Plow Routes if needed. In fulfilling the need to have all priority streets safe and passable, when resources are limited, plowing of all other streets may be stopped at any time so resources can be shifted to priority routes. (c) Snow plowing and ice control operations for municipal parking lots and trails may be intertwined since travel between municipal parking lots occurs on the trail system. (d) Unforeseeable circumstances may cause delays in completing assigned plow routes. Such circumstances may include weather conditions that endanger the safety of snowplow operators and/or safe and effective operation of equipment, commuter traffic, disabled vehicles, poor visibility conditions, parked cars along streets, assistance to emergency response vehicles, equipment breakdown, and personnel shortages. 3. RULES, REGULATIONS, AND PROPERTY DAMAGE A. Traffic and Parking Regulations 1. Snowplow Operator Exemption (Minn. Statutes, Chapter 169) (a) The City recognizes that snowplow operators are exempt from traffic regulations set forth in Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 169 while actually engaged in work on streets, except for regulations related to driving while impaired and the safety of school children. Pursuant to this authority, snowplow operators engaged in snow removal or ice control on city streets have discretion to disregard traffic laws set forth in Chapter 169, except for laws relating to impaired driving and school children safety, when in their judgment, it is safe to disregard such laws. (b) The privileges granted herein to operators of snow removal and ice control vehicles shall apply only if the vehicle is equipped with one lighted lamp displaying a flashing, oscillating, or rotating amber light placed in such a position on the vehicle as to be visible throughout an arc of 360 degrees. 2. Snow and Ice Accumulations (Municipal Code, Section 801.40, Subd. 1) (a) “All snow accumulated from clearing or plowing operations on private property shall be stockpiled on the property from which the snow is cleared or upon other private property for which the property owner has written permission. In clearing snow and/or moving snow, it shall be unlawful to operate in such a manner as to cause any snow to be