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4.4. SR 11-15-1999 . . . ITEM 4.4. REVISED 11/15/99 SNOW AND ICE CONTROL POLICY Opening Statement Snow and ice are natural occurring elements in Elk River and this policy is a guideline as to how the City of Elk River deals with these natural element within the constraints created by funding, equipment, and personnel. SNOW PLOWING ReslJonsibilitv The Street Department monitors the street conditions to determine the timing and amount of equipment and personnel necessary to clear the streets. The Street Superintendent or his designee has the responsibility of determining plow routes and sequencing of operations in accordance with priorities as established by this policy. The Superintendent shall retain the latitude to adjust sequencing or route assignments based on storm conditions, equipment availability, and/or conditions warranting changes. Guidelines for Commencement of Operations Snow plowing and/or ice control operations will be initiated by the Street Superintendent or his designated representative. Operation will begin when two or more inches of snow has fallen or when ice conditions exist. Plowing will begin as close as practicable to the time when the snowfall ceases, however, every effort will be made to have all priority routes plowed by morning rush hour. For storms of an unusually long duration, priority routes will be plowed when accumulation become hazardous for driving. Based on different storm situations and severity levels, the starting times are flexible. During an extremely heavy snowfall, priority routes will be plowed and all residential routes will be plowed with at least one pass to allow emergency travel. Following the storm, all streets will be replowed and widened to allow normal vehicle usage. . . . Street Plowing Priorities 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 "Priority Plow Routes" will be plowed first. These are high volume routes which provide access for emergency fire, police, and medical services, and streets that access schools and commercial businesses. Each of the seven truck plows has a priority route (See map Attachment "A"). The second priority streets are low volume residential streets. The third priority areas are alleys and city parking lots. The fourth priority areas are cul-de-sacs. Work Schedule for Snowolow Ooerators Snowplow operators will be expected to work ten hour shifts. In severe snow emergencies, operators sometimes have to work in excess of ten hour shifts. However, because of budget and safety concerns, no operators should work more than a twelve hour shift in any twenty-four hour period. Operators will take a fifteen minute break every two hours with a half-hour meal break after four hours. Mter a twelve hour day, the operators will be replaced if additional qualified personnel are available. Weather Conditions Mav Cause Susoension of Operations 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, and limited visibility. Any decision to suspend operations shall be made by the Street Department Superintendent and shall be based on the conditions of the storm. The City will still provide access for emergency, fire, police, and medical services during a major snow or ice storm. Sidewalks Sidewalks on the City's non-motorized pathway system are plowed concurrently with the street plowing (see map Attachment "B") using City equipment. Sidewalks are cleared of snow, but the City cannot remove packed snow and ice build up. Sidewalks that are not on the City's non- motorized pathway system must be cleared by the property owners. B . . . Cul-de-Sacs While some isolated cul-de-sacs are plowed immediately with the streets, most are just "circled" by the truck plow and plowed completely at a later time. When "circling", the truck makes one pass, usually in the clockwise rotation, leaving the bulk of the snow in the center of the cul-de-sac and opening all driveways. The cul-de-sac is plowed out completely by another machine at a later time. Ice Rinks The Laborer of the Street Department will operate a tractor mounted snowblower and rotary broom and clear the ice rinks at Lion's Park and Handke Pit while the streets are being plowed. Ice Control & Sand/Salt ADDlication The City will use sand, salt, and other chemicals when there are hazardous ice or slippery road conditions. The City is concerned about the effect of such chemicals on the environment and will limit its use for that reason. First Priority - Priority routes, high volume intersections, and railroad crossmgs. Second Priority - Stop intersections, moderate volume intersections. Third Priority - Residential intersections. Elk River, like most communities, does not have the equipment or resources to sand all streets end to end, and during extremely cold weather, chemicals are not responsive as ice melters. Drivers must use caution when operating a motor vehicle, especially during winter months. Roadside Mail Boxes The City shall not assume liability for mailboxes damaged during snowplowing operations unless the Street Department determines that a plowing unit has made direct contact with the box. Mailboxes that are damaged by contact with City equipment will be repaired by Street Department personnel as soon as possible after plowing operations are completed. C . . . Drivewavs One of the most irritating problems for residents is the snow deposited in driveways during plowing operations. The snow windrows are pushed by the plow blade to the right side of the street and also into driveways. The driver's make every attempt to minimize the amount of snow deposited in driveways, but the amount can still be significant. Based on staff, equipment, and the costs associated, City personnel do not provide driveway cleaning. Possible exceptions are at the discretion of the Supervisor for emergency situations. Sod Damaee Sod damaged by City plowing equipment will be repaired using one of two procedures the following spring: 1. City Street Department will repair the damage using black dirt and seed. 2. The property owner may elect to do the repair work using commercial sod. The City will reimburse the property owner for the sod purchased, not the labor. Said reimbursement must be approved by the City prior to the property owner doing any corrective work or purchasing any sod. Lawn Sprinkler Damaee The City will not be responsible for damage to any underground lawn sprinklers that are located on boulevards within the street right-of-way. It shall be the responsibility of the homeowner to protect such systems from damage or to relocate sprinkler heads within the homeowner's property lines. D . . . Special Note It is unlawful for anyone to deposit snow on a public right-of-way per Minnesota Highway Traffic Regulations 160.27 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 (1): Littering: No person shall throw, deposit, place, or dump upon any street or highway any snow, ice, etc. Trash Containers Since trash is collected five days per week, one or more routes encounter trash containers while plowing. Plow operators will slow down and swerve around trash containers, but often times just the snow windrow will knock the container over. Routes that are plowed on trash pickup day will have to be re-plowed after other snow operations are completed to avoid frozen mounds of snow in the road. Residents are encouraged to leave their trash containers behind the curb line on trash pickup day because plow operators will not stop to move containers or set containers upright that have overturned. E . . . SNOW PLOWING OPERATION PROCEDURE 1999-00 Season Snow shall be plowed in a manner so as to minimize traffic obstructions. The center of the roadway will be plowed first. The snow shall then be pushed from left to right with the discharge going onto the boulevard area of the right-of-way. It is the departmental goal to have the entire street system cleaned after a "typical" snowfall in approximately 10 hours, assuming a general plowing operation beginning at 3:00 A.M. and snowfall ending by 7:00 A.M. Depending on snowfall conditions and duration of the storm, clean up operations can vary significantly. Each operator has a priority route to plow first, followed by the designated residential area. Route 2602 Priority Route West Main Street, Proctor Avenue, downtown area Residential Route Residential area south of Highway 10 and west of Jackson to the Elk River, plus Meadowvale Heights, Countryside Estates, and Nordic Woods Route 2607 (loader) Priority Route Fire Hall, City HalllPolice Station Secondary Route Intersections Main Street at Highway 169, Main Street and Jackson at Highway 10, 14 parking lots, 2 alleys Route 2604 Priority Route Evans Avenue from 193rd to 197th Avenue, 197th Avenue from Highway 169 to Tyler Street, Tyler Street from County Road 13 to County Road 33 Residential Route Rural area east of Highway 169, North of County Road 12, 221st Avenue, 225th Avenue, city streets adjoining County Road #32 . . . Page 2 Route 2610 Priority Route West School Street, North Jackson Avenue, Highland Road Residential Route Area north of Highway 10, west of Jackson Avenue, east of County Road 1 Route 2606 Priority Route Industrial Park, Railroad Drive, 4th Street, and Irving Avenue Residential Route Area north of Highway 10, west of County Road 1, developments off County Road #35 Route 2608 Priority Route (with Route 2613) School Street, Dodge Avenue, Freeport Avenue, East Main, Evans Avenue Residential Route Area east of Highway 169, south of 197th Avenue, north of the Santa Fe/Burlington Northern railroad tracks, Hidden Creek Route 2609 Priority Route Orono Road, Orono Parkway, Joplin Street Residential Route Area west and south of the Elk River Route 2614 Priority Route (with Route 2607) School Street, Freeport Avenue, Main Street, Evans Avenue (to Nursing Home), Railroad Drive, 165th east of Highway 10, 171 st Avenue east of . . . Page 3 Highway 10, 173rd Avenue east of Highway 10, and Yale Street west of Highway 10 Residential Route East of Jackson Avenue, west of Highway 169, north of Highway 10, and south of School Street. Also including east rural area between the Mississippi River and the railroad tracks. Route 2603 (Loader) Priority Intersections of 191st, 193rd, 197th, School Street, and Main Street at Highway 169 Secondary Route - 2649 Cul-de-sacs Route 2612 (sidewalk) Designated non-motorized pathways and sidewalks Route 2650 Priority City HalllPolice walks, Downtown walks, Library Secondary Route Ice rinks (cleaning and flooding) Route 2690 (contract plow) Cul-de-sacs Earlv Shift The "early shift", where two operators start work at 5:00 a.m. each working day, will start November 29, 1999, and continue until March 24, 2000, with the operators starting early on a rotating schedule. It will be the responsibility of the early shift to check the priority routes, City Hall, Fire Station, the downtown parking lots, and with the Police Officer on duty for areas that may require sanding. . . . Page 4 The two persons scheduled for the early start on Monday will be responsible for the department call outs on the preceding weekend. That means that they will be responsible for taking the pager home with them on Friday evening and responding to emergency requests throughout the weekend. Call Out The "call out" procedure for after hours shall be as follows: 1. A citizen calls the Sheriffs Office complaining of a slippery street. 2. The Sheriffs dispatcher takes the person's name and phone number and then notifies the police officer on duty. 3. The police officer on duty makes a visual inspection of the area in question in a timely manner (not emergency). 4. If the police officer feels that salt/sand is needed for the safety of the motoring public, the officer will have the Sheriffs dispatcher page the Street Department person who is on call. 5. The "on call" person will then respond with salt/sand to the area in question. Plow Ooerator Instructions To minimize damage to mailboxes, plowing speeds should not exceed 20 m.p.h. The City is responsible to repair or replace mailboxes that are damaged by ACTUAL CONTACT with our equipment. Operators are not allowed to pull, push, or jump start private vehicles with City equipment. They may offer sand, use of shovels, or call for help on the two-way radio. Each operator is responsible for the daily maintenance checks of the vehicle he is operating. These checks include engine oil level, radiator level, fuel, transmission fluid, power steering fluid, brakes, lights, and tires. Plows, wings, and sanders should be checked after every use. Salt/sand should be dumped and trucks and boxes washed after sanding operations are completed. Fuel tanks should be at least 75 percent full when trucks are parked. Keep equipment clean inside and out. When Plowing DO . Obey traffic laws . . . Page 5 . Exercise care at intersections especially when plowing or sanding . Respect curbs, do not let wings ride on top of the curb . Report any damage to the Street Superintendent (mailboxes, signs, shrubs, fences, equipment, etc.) When Plowing/Sanding DO NOT . Intentionally push or dump snow in driveways . Dump snow on fire hydrants . Push or dump snow against fences . Push or dump snow on shrubs . Push snow back on boulevards at intersections (this can cause visibility problems) . Drive on lawns IN CASE OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT . Notify Police . Call the Street Superintendent . Remain at the scene to be of assistance until you are released by the police or your supervisor N . ::!/. tl'1.fOIl~ ~ ~ ~ ~ JO JO JO JO JO JO JO JO '0 JO :00. 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