4.5 SR 02-01-2016Request for Action
To
Item Number
Mayor and City Council
4.5
Agenda Section
Meeting Date
lFebruary1,
Prepared by
Consent
2016
Chris Leeseber , Senior Planner
Item Description
Reviewed by
Revised Snow and Ice Control Policy
Suzanne Fischer, Director, CODD
Reviewed by
Cal Portner, City Administrator
Action Requested
Amend, by motion, the City of Elk River Snow and Ice Control Policy.
Background/Discussion
Ordinance 74-102 was amended last September to include new winter parking restrictions as well as
updated information on mailboxes and trash containers. Subsequently, Section 58-37 of the City Solid
Waste Code was amended as follows:
Placement for collection. Where an alley open to traffic is available, each container for premises abutting
the alley shall be placed at the rear of the property next to the alley. Where no alley exists, the
container shall be placed on the driveway one foot behind the curb/street edge with a minimum of
three feet between containers. Containers shall be kept away from walls, fences, vehicles, and low -
hanging tree limbs. Containers shall not be so placed before 7:00 p.m. the night before collection
and shall be removed by 7:00 p.m. the day of collection and the container shall be stored out of sight
from neighboring properties and the street.
To achieve consistency, the Snow and Ice Control Policy should be revised to reflect the above language.
Financial Impact
N/A
Attachments
■ Snow & Ice Control Policy
P0WIREU 6r
Template Updated 4/14
I"ATURE]
CITY OF ELK RIVER
STREETS DIVISION
SNOW AND ICE CONTROL POLICY
I. Commencement Of Snow Or Ice Control Operations
The Street Superintendent or his/her designee determines plow routes and the sequence of
operations in accordance with priorities in this policy. At the inception of a snow event,
Street Division crews respond by salting the main roads. Salting roadways serves two
purposes: to keep traffic moving, and to prevent the snow from bonding to the pavement.
The basic criteria for these decisions are:
A. Snow accumulation of one (1.5) inch.
B. The Streets Superintendent or his/her designee's determination that plowing is
necessary due to:
i. Drifting snow
ii. Icy conditions
iii. Snowfall timing in relation to traffic flow
II. Street Plowing Priorities And Schedule
Streets are classified by their function, traffic volume, and community value.
A. Priority Routes
High volume routes which provide access for emergency fire, police, and medical
services; streets accessing schools and commercial businesses.
B. Secondary Routes
Residential streets, alleys and city parking lots.
C. Tertiary Routes
Cul-de-sacs.
In severe snow emergencies, operators may work in excess of 10 -hour shifts. However, due
to safety concerns, no operator should work more than fourteen (14) consecutive hours and
no more than eighteen (18) hours in any 24-hour period.
111. Winter Parking Restrictions Public safety requires the rapid and efficient removal
of snow or ice from city streets, public highways or other thoroughfares. No person shall
stop, stand, or park any vehicle or permit it to stand on any street in the city when, within
the preceding 24 hours, falling or blowing snow or a combination of falling and blowing
snow has accumulated to a depth of 1.5 or more inches of snow at street level anywhere
within that block, or when 1.5 or more inches of snow has been predicted within the next 24
hours as determined by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA). Provided, however, that parking shall be permitted within any block of any public
street where not otherwise prohibited whenever the entire length of roadway of such block
has been cleared of snow from curb to curb, or in the case of streets without curbs, between
the outer edges of the shoulders of such streets.
propsed 5.9.2015
Vehicles parked on a city street during a snow event are subject to a citation and a
fine in accordance with the Master Fee Schedule.
IV. Snow Removal
The Streets Superintendent determines when snow accumulations are removed from the
public right-of-way to mitigate hazardous traffic conditions. Snow removal operations will
not commence until other snowplowing operations are complete.
V. Downtown Snow Removal
Downtown snow removal (including parking lots) commences between 2:00 a.m. and 4:00
a.m. depending on the severity of snow event. Downtown businesses are responsible for
removing snow from the front of their establishments within 24 hours after a snowfall.
VI. Sidewalk Snow Removal
The City Council designates sidewalks and trails that are plowed by the city. Clearing of
non -designated city sidewalks are the responsibility of the property owner or tenant.
VII. Driveways
It is unlawful to deposit snow on public roadways per Minnesota Highway Traffic
Regulations.
State Statute 160.2715 Subd (5): Misdemeanors: It shall be unlawful to obstruct any public street or
highway or to deposit any snow or ice thereon; and, 169.42 Subd (9): Littering: No person shall throw,
deposit, place, or dump upon any street or highway any snow, ice, etc.
Residents observed doing such activities are subject to a citation and fine.
VIII. Items In The Public Right Of Way
Mailboxes
The city does not assume liability for mailboxes damaged during snowplowing operations
unless the Streets Division determines that a plow unit made direct contact.
Staff shall investigate each complaint and determine if the mailbox was hit by a plow or
other piece of equipment. If so, a temporary mailbox will be installed until a replacement is
erected.
The city will replace mailboxes damaged from direct contact with city equipment with the
`swing away' style mailbox conforming to the U.S. Postal Service specifications. If a resident
does not want the swing -away style, they will be reimbursed up to $75 (receipt required) to
replace the mailbox with a style of their choice. All mailboxes and structures in public right-
of-way must be constructed of break -a -way material.
Incidents involving cluster mailboxes will be determined on a case by case basis.
Trash Containers
2 propsed 5.9.2015
Where an alley open to traffic is available, each container for premises abutting the alley shall
be placed at the rear of the property next to the alley. Where no alley exists, the container
shall be placed on the driveway one foot behind the curb/street edge with a minimum of
three feet between containers. Containers shall be kept away from walls, fences, vehicles, and
low -hanging tree limbs. Containers shall not be so placed before 7:00 p.m. the night before
collection and shall be removed by 7:00 p.m. the day of collection and the container shall be
stored out of sight from neighboring properties and the street.Tr-ash and ..,..._.eling eafif..shal,l be plaeed 3 to 6 feet behind the snow line ��ndr-aw) :~ a
> ift the dr-i-eeway,
eleaf E)
The city is not responsible for damage to
trash/recycling containers placed in the street.
Lawn Sprinklers/ Invisible Pet Fences
The city is not responsible for damage to underground lawn sprinklers or invisible pet fences
located within the public right-of-way. Homeowners are responsible to protect such systems
from damage or to relocate sprinkler heads and fences within their property boundary.
Sod Damage
Sod damaged by city plowing equipment will be repaired the following spring either by street
crews using black dirt and seed; or by the property owner if they elect to do the repair using
commercial sod. The city will reimburse the property owner for the sod purchased but not
for labor costs. Reimbursement must be approved by the Street Superintendent or his/her
designee prior to the corrective work or sod purchase.
Please call the Streets Division at 763.635.1120 if you have any questions about this policy.
3 propsed 5.9.2015