Agenda Packets - 2011/11/07 - Laserfiche WebLink

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CITY OF MOUNDS VIEW | PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT 4472 - SNOW PLOWING AND ICE CONTROL POLICY 3 (c) In times of extreme snowfall, streets may not always be immediately cleared of snow completely. An initial pass will try to plow the street as wide as possible to allow for vehicular passage. Subsequent passes will attempt to clear the remaining snow from the street. Clean up operations will occur last to clear intersections and snow storage areas along corners and County intersections. (d) Widening and clean up operations may occur on the initial day of snow plowing or on the following working day for most winter storms. There may be major winter snow storms that will necessitate additional time to complete widening and clean up operations. 2. Trails and Sidewalks Operations (a) Trails and sidewalks adjacent to streets will typically be plowed after the adjacent street has been cleared of snow. In general, the snow will be pushed onto the boulevard area furthest from the street. In times of extreme snowfall, subsequent passes may be needed to clear additional snowfall that has fallen or been discharged from street snow plowing operations onto the trail or sidewalk. (b) Trails and sidewalks will be plowed, blown, or swept depending on the amount and type of snowfall. The City will attempt to clear trails and sidewalks as thoroughly as possible, but they may not be cleared of all snow and ice or maintained to bare pavement. 3. Municipal Parking Lots Operations (a) City-owned parking lots that are generally empty of parked vehicles and/or whose facilities closed for business at the time of plowing will typically be plowed in the most efficient manner to clear the accumulated snow from the drive lanes and parking spaces. Parking lots that contain a higher number of parked vehicles make plowing the entire lot difficult. In these cases, the drive lanes may be plowed for vehicular passage. Plowing of parking spaces and other clean up operations may need to occur at a later time after the lot becomes more empty of parked vehicles. (b) The City will attempt to clear the parking lots as thoroughly as possible, but they may not be cleared of all snow and ice or maintained to bare pavement. The City may make exceptions with handicapped stalls and associated circulation routes. 4. Other Operations (a) Metro Transit is responsible for winter maintenance of their bus stops in the city. However, if commuters are subject to hazardous or unsafe conditions due to lack of adequate space to wait, the City may attempt to clear the waiting area in conjunction with snow and ice control for trails, sidewalks, or clean up operations. (b) Private property owners are responsible for clearing snow and ice control activities associated with their properties. The City will not perform snow plowing or ice control operations for any driveways, streets, sidewalks, or parking lots owned by private entities. D. Determining Priority Snow Plow Routes and Coordinating Operations 1. Priority Snow Plow Routes for Streets (a) The City has designated certain streets as “Priority Snow Plow Routes” to set precedence for which streets provide the most benefit to the City when snow plowing and ice control demands exceed available resources. This designation was generally based on street function, traffic volume, and importance to the welfare of the community. The higher ranking streets typically have higher traffic volumes and connect major sections of the city, whereby providing emergency access for fire, police, and medical services to these various sectors. Other high ranking priority streets provide good access to schools, civic centers, commercial businesses, industrial parks, and other points of interest. Table 1 lists the Priority Snow Plow Routes and a map showing the location of these streets is attached as Exhibit A. Most city streets have a functional classification as local streets. 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