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5.5. SR 11-04-1996?ity of ITEM 5.5. vet MEMORANDUM Mayor and City Council FROM: Phil Hals, Streets/Parks Superintendent DATE: November 4, 1996 SUBJECT: Annual Review of Snow and Ice Control Policy As in the past, it is necessary for the City Council to review and adopt the snow and ice policy. On November 14, 1996, I will be attending a seminar on snow and ice policies, conducted by the League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust. If they find deficiencies with our policy, I will schedule a spot on a future agenda to review possible changes. The basic elements of our policy remain the same as last year with six truck routes, one sidewalk route, one loader route, one walkway/parking lot route, one multi-service route, and one hired loader for cul-de-sacs. The following plans have been added for the 96-97 season: · Lafayette Woods (partial) · Nordic Woods · Ridgewood Hills · Pheasant Run · Weatherwood · Hillside 5th & 6th · Cherry Hills · E.H. Rennet · 171st Ave It is my estimate that the new streets will add approximately 6 hours of plowing time. Our plan is to add some mileage to each plow route. If this growth continues, we will need to add another plow route for next year. This past year we placed more emphasis on attention to detail (i.e. extra trips to clean up, spot sand and widen). Judging from the reduced number of complaint calls our efforts were well received by the public. It is our plan to continue to improve the level of service we can offer without adding extra overtime or large increases in materials used. 13065 Orono Parkway · P.O. Box 490 · Elk River, MN 55330 · (612) 441-7420 · Fax: (612) 441-7425 Last winter as an experiment we hired Big Jon's Construction Company's loader to plow cul-de-sacs while our equipment concentrated on main line street plowing. I feel that this was a total success as it allowed us to cover the street routes faster. I would like to continue the same program this winter. Another experiment last year was to hire one (sometimes two) tandem axle dump truck to haul snow from the downtown snow removal area. This too was a success as it helped speed up the whole operation by 20 to 25 percent. This was also budgeted for 1997 and I would like to continue to use extra trucks for the coming snow season. During our routine equipment inspections we discovered some damage to the lower supports on one of our snow plows. According to the manufacturer, we could update the plow to a "trip edge" design for improved safety at a cost of $1,200 (plus labor to do the welding and installation). If funds are not available from our repair budget, I would request that the City Council authorize this expenditure from the major equipment repair fund. s:kcouncil\snowpoly.doc REVISED 11/6/95 SNOW AND ICE CONTROL POLICY .Opening Statement Snow and ice are natural occurring elements in Elk River and this policy is a guide]me as to how the City of Elk River deals with these natural, elements. SNOW PLOWING Guidelines for Commencement of Operation~ 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. 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 severiW 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 Each of the six truck plows has a priority route that is plowed first (see map Attachment "A") followed by a residential route. Sand and salt axe apphed during the plowing operation and after plowing is completed. Sidewalks Sidewalks on the unmotorized 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 plowed by the City must be cleared by the property owners. 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 "circhnge', 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. Snow Removal The downtown area and several other locations must have the snow loaded and trucked away because of lack of snow storage (see Attachment "C"). The snow removal is normally accomphshed within 48 hours of the completion of snow plowing operations. Ice Control & Sand~Salt Application First Priority - Priority routes, high volume intersections, and railroad tracks. Second Priority - Stop intersections, moderate volume intersections. Third Priority - Residential intersections. Elk River, hke 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 hability 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. Sod Damage Sod damaged by City plowing equipment will be repaired using one of two procedures the following spring: City Street Department will repair the damage using black dirt and seed. 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 Damage The City will not be responsible for damage to any underground lawn sprinklers that are located on boulevards within the street right-oLway. 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. 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 fi'ozen mounds of snow in the road. Residents are encouraged to leave their trash containers behind the curb ]/ne on trash pickup day because plow operators will not stop to move containers or set containers upright that have overturned. SNOW PLOVVING OPERATION PROCEDURE 1995-96 Season Each operator has a priority route to plow first, followed by the designated residential area. Route 1 Priority_ Route_ 197th Avenue from Highway 169 to Tyler Street, Tyler Street to County Road 13 to County Road 33; 165th from Highway 10 East; 173rd from Highway 10 East and Yale from Highway 10 West. Residential Route Rural area east of Highway 169 Route 2 Priority Route School Street, Dodge Avenue, Freeport Avenue. Residential Route Area east of Jackson Avenue, south of 193rd Avenue and west of Twin Lake Road, north of 181st Avenue Route 3 Priority Route East and West Main Street, Proctor Avenue Residential Route Residential area south of Highway 10 and west of Jackson Route 4 Priority Route West School Street, North Jackson Avenue, Highland Road, 193rd from Highway 169 east Residential Route Area north of Highway 10, west of Jackson Avenue, east of County Road i Page 2 Route 5 Priorit2~ Route Industrial Park, Jackson Avenue south of School Street, Railroad Drive and 3rd Street Residential Route Area north of Highway 10, west of County Road i Route 6 Priority Route Gary Street, Orono Road, Orono Parkway, Joplin Street Residential Route Moldenhauer Addition, Riverview Heights, Pinewood Addition, Heritage Landing, Mississippi Oaks, Country Crossings Route 7 (loader) Priority Route Fire Hall, City Hall/Police Station, and Nursing Home Residential Route Eleven parking lots, two alleys and fifteen cul-de-sacs Route 8 (sidewalk) Designated nonmotorized pathways, one hockey rink and one skating rink The "early shift", where two operators start work at 6:00 a.m. each working day, will start November 27, 1995, and continue until March 29, 1996, 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 Pohce Officer on duty for areas that may require sanding. 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. Page 3 Normal plowing operations will be set up by the Street Superintendent or his designee. Start times will vary according to the depth of the snow and the severity of the storm. Each operator will be responsible for his assigned route. As routes are completed, equipment will be assigned to help finish other routes. With an "average" snowfall of 4" to 6", it is our goal to have all streets and cul-de-sacs plowed in 8 to 12 hours. Sand/salt will be applied during and immediately following plowing operations with special attention given to priority routes, high volume intersections, bills, curves, and railroad crossings. We do not have the resources to sand every street curb to curb, end to end, so drivers must exercise caution during the winter season. In the early morning hours of the day following our plowing operation, the snow is hauled from the downtown area and several locations where nonmotorized pathways are immediately behind the curb. This operation requires the motor grader to windrow the snow, the loader mounted snow blower to load it, and four or more trucks to haul the snow away. The downtown clean up will be scheduled by the Street Superintendent or his designee and will be coordinated with the contractor in charge of cleaning the downtown sidewalks. Nonmotorized Pathways The sidewalks that are designated as nonmotorized pathways will be plowed at the same time as the street plowing. A member of the Street Department will operate the sidewalk snowblower. When the pathway system has been plowed, the snowblower will then clear the skating and hockey rinks in Lion's Park. Page 4 The "call out" procedure for after hours shall be as follows: A citizen calls the Sheriffs Office complaining of a slippery street. The Sheriffs dispatcher takes the person's name and phone number and then notifies the police officer on duty. o The police officer on duty makes a visual inspection of the area in question in a timely manner (not emergency). 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. The "on call" person will then respond with salt/sand to the area in question. Plow Operator 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 off 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 trafficlaws · 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 Page 5 · 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 Pohce · Call the Street Superintendent · Remain at the scene to be of assistance until you are released by the pohce or your supervisor lqaTH lq-7TH lqGTH lq%TH lq4TH lq?NFl lqlST lqE1TH 1BqTH 1FIRTH IRTTH 1RRTH 1RgTH lfi4TH 18PNr) laST I~FITH 17qTH ~ ~ W ZZ F1C3 ._J Z _J F1 EZ] 'zHZz n/z W 2> WjG:I EDZ .JZ (/) IqF~TH IgTll II.V. 194th AVE. LR. ~ I.JEFF£RSON LA_ . 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