CITY OF FORT ST. JOHN
SNOW REMOVAL
Council Policy No. 37/00
Records Management Number: 5400-00
Engineering and Public Works
SNOW REMOVAL POLICY
POLICY
It is the policy of the City to undertake snow removal and ice control operations to reduce the negative impact of
winter conditions for motorists and pedestrians; to minimize economic loss to the community by reducing accidents
and injuries; and to facilitate the operation of the Transit, Fire, Police and Ambulance Services. In general snow
removal operations will commence on Priority 1 through Priority 4 after snowfall accumulations of up to 50 mm,
and on all other routes after accumulations of up to 100 mm. The routes and their priorities are as indicated in the
City’s Snow and Ice Control Plan which is reviewed and updated on a regular basis. This policy recognizes that
plowing and sanding services cannot eliminate all hazardous winter driving conditions and sets the level of service
to be that of maintaining roads in an acceptable driving condition within budget limitations. Detailed operating
procedures will be contained in the City’s Snowfighter’s Handbook.
POLICY PURPOSE
Provide snow and ice control within the City on 110 km of roads.
GOAL
Reduce the inconvenience of winter conditions for the travelling public to the greatest degree possible with available
financial resources and facilitate the operation of Transit and Emergency Services.
OBJECTIVE
Reduce snow and ice hazards to provide the public with a reasonable degree of mobility while using a reasonable
amount of caution.
STATEMENT
The City will undertake snow and ice control operations on City streets, lanes, sidewalks and parking lots as
follows:
SERVICE LEVEL FOR SNOW PLOWING:
Normal Public Works Department operations are for one shift per day, Monday to Friday for all activities.
Abnormal weather and road conditions dictate to what extent overtime and additional forces are implemented. A list
of priorities is essential to planning the winter snow and ice control and to provide the greatest benefit to the
majority of the travelling public. Priorities are as listed:
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
Major Thoroughfares
Transit Routes
Designated Downtown Core Area
Secondary/Collector Routes
Residential Areas
Commercial and Multi Family Zoned Lanes
Council Resolution Number: 158/00
Supersedes Council Resolution Number: 687/93
Effective: October 25, 1993
Page: 1 of 17
CITY OF FORT ST. JOHN
SNOW REMOVAL
Council Policy No. 37/00
Records Management Number: 5400-00
Engineering and Public Works
SERVICE LEVEL FOR SNOW PLOWING: (continued)
a)
Thoroughfares, Transit, Downtown Core and Secondary Routes are plowed upon accumulations of 5 cm of
snowfall or more and is accomplished by deploying two graders. As some areas within these categories
require the snow to be windrowed into the roadway for haul off, the shift would be 4:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
and run for four days to complete. Yellowhead Road and Bridge are responsible for plowing snow into
windrows on 100th Street from 108th Avenue to 85th Avenue and on 100th Avenue from 108th Street to 93rd
Street and City Public Works Department does the haul off.
Haul off is completed in four days and is accomplished by deploying one foreman and pick-up, one
loader/snowblower, one flag person and pick-up and four City dump trucks plus rented dump trucks as
required.
Roadways in these categories will be plowed as close to the road surface as possible to minimize driving
difficulties.
If a sidewalk exists along a major thoroughfare the snow from the road will be plowed to the opposite side
or hauled off as determined by Public Works personnel.
b)
Residential areas are plowed upon accumulations of 10 cm or more of snowfall. These areas are divided
into quadrants (North West, North East, South East and South West) and are plowed on a clockwise
rotational basis except when there is a drifting situation. When there is a drifting situation, these areas are
made passable first then plowing commences on the first quadrant in rotation.
c)
Commercial and Multi-Family Zoned Lanes are plowed after all the previous priorities are completed and
only after accumulations of 10 cm or more of snowfall.
d)
Parking Lots:
Fire Department exits are cleaned after each snowfall.
Arena, RCMP are cleaned after accumulation of 10 cm or more of snow or when a hazard exists.
City Hall and Public Works lots are cleaned after accumulations of 15 cm or more of snow.
e)
Snow plowing windrows left in lane and driveway accesses will be cleaned during plowing operations to a
height not exceeding 15 cm.
f)
When snowfalls are continuous or fall closely to one another, operations will continue to be repeated on the
highest priorities until completed before moving on to the next priority.
This could result in higher accumulations in the lower priorities. In this case, after accumulations of
snowfall have reached 20 cm or more, Public Works personnel may hire additional outside forces to
complete the priority list of plowing.
Council Resolution Number: 158/00
Supersedes Council Resolution Number: 687/93
Effective: October 25, 1993
Page: 2 of 17
CITY OF FORT ST. JOHN
SNOW REMOVAL
Council Policy No. 37/00
Records Management Number: 5400-00
Engineering and Public Works
SERVICE LEVEL FOR ICE CONTROL:
Normal sanding shift is 6:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Monday to Friday and is accomplished with one sand truck and one
loader. If conditions warrant, a second sand truck would be deployed in an effort to make the roadways reasonably
safe for the travelling public.
Weekend sanding is done on an as required basis through calls from RCMP or by the Streets Foreman after an
inspection tour.
Sanding material is 5/8” minus crushed aggregate mixed with road salt.
Sanding operations are conducted in accordance with the list of plowing priorities.
Yellowhead Road and Bridge are responsible for the ice control on 100 th Street and 100th Avenue full length.
SERVICE LEVEL FOR SIDEWALKS:
Operations commence following a snowfall. Normal shift is 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. except when accumulations are
5 cm or more in which case the shift would start at 4:30 a.m. for areas with snow haul off and plowing. Sidewalks
currently cleaned are as follows:




Along 96th Street from 101st Avenue to 93rd Avenue,
Along 86th Street from 100th Avenue to 98th Avenue,
Along 93rd Avenue from 86th Street to 98th Street,
Along 108th Street from 100th Avenue to 96th Avenue and any sidewalk fronting City owned properties.
Sidewalks are also cleared at lane entrances in the C2 zone.
Sidewalks will receive ice control as conditions dictate and as deemed necessary by Public Works personnel by
applying road sand and/or de-icers.
The City has only one piece of equipment to utilize in clearing sidewalks which is a four wheel drive multi-purpose
tractor and has a snow blower, broom and blade as attachments with no available back up unit in case of breakdown.
SERVICE LEVEL FOR BUS STOPS:
Operations commence as conditions dictate in order to maintain and provide reasonable access for buses and riders.
Snow plowing windrows are removed from bus stops in conjunction with plowing operations.
SNOW DISPOSAL SITE:
The City has one snow disposal site which is located in the North East quadrant. The site encompasses the area
North to South from 105th Avenue to 101st Avenue and East to West from 86th Street to 88th Street.
Maintenance to this site will be based on dumping demands as determined by Public Works personnel.
Council Resolution Number: 158/00
Supersedes Council Resolution Number: 687/93
Effective: October 25, 1993
Page: 3 of 17
CITY OF FORT ST. JOHN
SNOW REMOVAL
Council Policy No. 37/00
Records Management Number: 5400-00
Engineering and Public Works
SNOW DISPOSAL SITE: (continued)
To complete all functions of a one time snow plowing/haul off scenario of a 10 cm snowfall should take 13 days,
provided there are no breakdowns.
Council Resolution Number: 158/00
Supersedes Council Resolution Number: 687/93
Effective: October 25, 1993
Page: 4 of 17
CITY OF FORT ST. JOHN
SNOW REMOVAL
Council Policy No. 37/00
Records Management Number: 5400-00
Engineering and Public Works
SNOW OPERATIONS
INTRODUCTION
The City of Fort St. John Public Works Department has the responsibility for snow removal and ice control on 110
km of streets and 24 km of sidewalks and walkways.
Our goal is to reduce the inconvenience of winter conditions for motorists and pedestrians to the greatest
degree possible within our financial resources; to minimize economic loss to the community; prevent or
reduce accidents or injuries; and facilitate the operation of the Transit, Fire, Police, and Ambulance
Services.
This brochure was prepared to provide you with some basic information on how we perform this service and to
answer questions that you may have concerning the snow removal and ice control operations.
Please remember that snow removal and ice control cannot restore summer driving conditions and extra
defensive driving practices are required when operating a vehicle under winter conditions.
We wish you a safe and enjoyable winter season.
JOHN LOCHER
DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING SERVICES
Council Resolution Number: 158/00
Supersedes Council Resolution Number: 687/93
Effective: October 25, 1993
Page: 5 of 17
CITY OF FORT ST. JOHN
SNOW REMOVAL
Council Policy No. 37/00
Records Management Number: 5400-00
Engineering and Public Works
SNOW & ICE CONTROL POLICY
The City adopted a Policy respecting snow and ice control in 1988 to regulate the levels of service and priorities of
street clearing within the City. That policy is updated on a regular basis to reflect the desires of the City’s residents
and changes in equipment holdings. The policy gives first priority to major thoroughfares followed by transit
routes, the downtown core, collector streets, local streets and finally lanes in the Commercial 2 zone and in Multi
Family zoned areas. These priorities are established to provide the greatest benefit to the majority of the traveling
public and take into consideration items such as traffic volume, road classification and special conditions such as
terrain, transit, drift exposure, etc.
The snow and ice control plan recognizes that plowing and sanding cannot eliminate all hazardous winter driving
conditions and sets the level of service to permit motorists and pedestrians to travel with a reasonable degree of
mobility using a reasonable amount of caution.
For roads that have sidewalks on both sides of the road, plowing to even side of the road on even years and odd
side of the road on odd years. If there is a sidewalk on only one side of the road, then the snow will be plowed to
the opposite side of the road. If there are no sidewalks on the road, then the snow will be plowed to both sides of
the road.
Council Resolution Number: 158/00
Supersedes Council Resolution Number: 687/93
Effective: October 25, 1993
Page: 6 of 17
CITY OF FORT ST. JOHN
SNOW REMOVAL
Council Policy No. 37/00
Records Management Number: 5400-00
Engineering and Public Works
SNOW CONTROL OPERATIONS
City snow control is provided by the Municipal Public Works Department supplemented with rented private sector
equipment.
Scheduled nights shift work hours are 5:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. Monday to Friday.
Regular day shift work hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday to Friday. This shift concentrates on all routes
and sidewalks.
During snow emergencies and major storms, snow control services operate 24 hours a day, seven (7) days a week.
We believe that we are currently providing the highest standard of snow removal of any similar sized community
located in northern Alberta and B.C. The new policies and procedures allow us to plow all streets within 32 hours
after a major snowfall - prior practices took 15 days. We anticipate that we can improve upon that time frame and
will strive to institute improvements in all facets of the snow removal operations.
Council Resolution Number: 158/00
Supersedes Council Resolution Number: 687/93
Effective: October 25, 1993
Page: 7 of 17
CITY OF FORT ST. JOHN
SNOW REMOVAL
Council Policy No. 37/00
Records Management Number: 5400-00
Engineering and Public Works
DAY SHIFT WORK FORCE
EQUIPMENT
QUANTITY
Snow blower
1
Loaders
3
Graders
2
Sidewalk Machines
with blades and blowers
3
Plow Trucks with sanders
3
Rented dump trucks
(as required)
7
(avg.)
NIGHT SHIFT WORK FORCE
EQUIPMENT
QUANTITY
The day shift equipment if
required plus
Dump Trucks
1
Snowblower/Loader
1
Rented Dump Trucks as Required
Council Resolution Number: 158/00
Supersedes Council Resolution Number: 687/93
Effective: October 25, 1993
Page: 8 of 17
CITY OF FORT ST. JOHN
SNOW REMOVAL
Council Policy No. 37/00
Records Management Number: 5400-00
Engineering and Public Works
PLOWING SCHEDULE
Priority 1
-
All Major Thoroughfares
Priority 2
-
Transit Routes
Priority 3
-
Downtown Core
Priority 4
-
Residential, Commercial and Industrial Collectors
Priority 5
-
Remaining Residential, Commercial and Industrial
Priority 6
-
Commercial and Multi Family
Lanes
Many of our streets have to be plowed and the snow loaded into trucks and removed to snow dumps on the same
day. The majority of the streets in the downtown core, 93rd Avenue by North Peace Senior Secondary School,
86th Street by Robert Ogilvie School and 110th Avenue in the vicinity of 100th Street are haul off locations.
Council Resolution Number: 158/00
Supersedes Council Resolution Number: 687/93
Effective: October 25, 1993
Page: 9 of 17
CITY OF FORT ST. JOHN
SNOW REMOVAL
Council Policy No. 37/00
Records Management Number: 5400-00
Engineering and Public Works
SIDEWALK CLEARING
Designated Sidewalks are plowed and sanded along all streets by small plow-equipped tractors. Sidewalks in the
Commercial Zone are cleared of snow by the businesses. They are also cleared by the City just prior to the haul off
operations. The priority for sidewalks goes to those sidewalks on routes to schools.
Sidewalks in the vicinity of the Peace Lutheran care facility are maintained by that organization.
maintenance standards are very high!
Their
TOWING
One of the main obstacles hampering efficient snow plowing and removal is parked vehicles. Parking on a
downtown or major arterial street between 12:00 midnight and 8:00 a.m. Monday to Friday when snow operations
are in progress will result in your vehicle being towed at your expense. In residential areas vehicles will also be
subject to towing if they are hampering snow-clearing operations. Ample notification will be provided before
vehicles are towed from residential streets.
Council Resolution Number: 158/00
Supersedes Council Resolution Number: 687/93
Effective: October 25, 1993
Page: 10 of 17
CITY OF FORT ST. JOHN
SNOW REMOVAL
Council Policy No. 37/00
Records Management Number: 5400-00
Engineering and Public Works
SNOW REMOVAL
PARKING RESTRICTIONS
FOR THE CITY OF FORT ST. JOHN
1.
Downtown areas - no parking 12:00 midnight to 8:00 a.m. as posted. Off-street parking downtown
is available.
2.
Residential areas - no parking 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. during scheduled snow removal operations.
Notification will be by temporary signing and radio announcements.
3.
HELP US DO A GOOD JOB OF SNOW REMOVAL BY KEEPING YOUR STREET
CLEAR OF PARKED VEHICLES.
4.
Call City Hall for the latest parking restriction information in your area.
Council Resolution Number: 158/00
Supersedes Council Resolution Number: 687/93
Effective: October 25, 1993
Page: 11 of 17
CITY OF FORT ST. JOHN
SNOW REMOVAL
Council Policy No. 37/00
Records Management Number: 5400-00
Engineering and Public Works
SNOW AND ICE CONTROL
MATERIALS USED
ITEM
TOTAL
Sand
(tonnes)
5,500
Salt
(tonnes)
120
SNOW AND ICE EXPENSE
YEAR
BUDGET
ACTUAL
1996
1997
1998
$516,339
$619,910
$731,652
$568,603
$576,882
$481,448
Council Resolution Number: 158/00
Supersedes Council Resolution Number: 687/93
Effective: October 25, 1993
Page: 12 of 17
CITY OF FORT ST. JOHN
SNOW REMOVAL
Council Policy No. 37/00
Records Management Number: 5400-00
Engineering and Public Works
CITY OF FORT ST. JOHN
SNOWFALL
(Centimetres)
MONTH
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
January
26.9
11.0
98.7
9.3
35
55.8
29.6
February
37.2
10.7
46.3
30.1
28.4
37
27.8
March
5.0
8.6
7.3
36.3
14.6
83.2
33.2
April
9.6
20.1
0.2
17.6
15.4
5.4
May
3.8
0
0.2
0
23.6
September
11.8
2.4
0
0
9.4
October
20.2
2.2
16.2
23.2
33.2
36.6
13.6
November
11.7
17.4
28.0
99.1
89.6
5.2
40.4
December
34.0
19.0
19.6
35.5
44.9
19.6
44.4
200.6
91.4
216.5 251.1
294.1
237.4
194.4
TOTALS
WINTER TOTALS
92 – 93
93 – 94
94 – 95
128.1
193.7
157.1
Council Resolution Number: 158/00
Supersedes Council Resolution Number: 687/93
95 – 96
96 – 97
97 – 98
274.8
333.8
157.4
Effective: October 25, 1993
Page: 13 of 17
CITY OF FORT ST. JOHN
SNOW REMOVAL
Council Policy No. 37/00
Records Management Number: 5400-00
Engineering and Public Works
CITY OF FORT ST. JOHN
STATISTICS
Population
16,000
Area Within City Limits
8 sq. mi.
No. of Public Works Employees
25
Length of Paved Roads
80 km
Length of Gravel Roads
35 km
Lanes (all)
30 km
Length of Sidewalks/Walkways
Gravel/Asphalt
19 km
Other
5 km
(Winter sidewalk)
Council Resolution Number: 158/00
Supersedes Council Resolution Number: 687/93
Effective: October 25, 1993
Page: 14 of 17
CITY OF FORT ST. JOHN
SNOW REMOVAL
Council Policy No. 37/00
Records Management Number: 5400-00
Engineering and Public Works
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS ABOUT SNOW OPERATIONS
Why Don’t You Drivers Put The Blade Down And Plow All The Snow Off Down To The Pavement?
The Department uses some “gravity” plows that can be mounted on the same trucks used during the summer.
These plows tend to ride on top of the compacted snow. Clearing to the bare pavement with the trucks could leave
unacceptable windows in driveways.
It Seems Like We’re Always Plowed Last. Why Can’t We Be First Sometimes?
That’s a good question. People are creatures of habit and our drivers have a tendency to begin and end in the same
places. We do try to reverse this order if conditions permit
When Is It Ok To Park On My Street Again After It’s Been Plowed?
You can park on the street as soon as it’s been completely plowed to the curb, or its full width. Be careful, it takes
more than one pass with the plows to get the job done completely.
Why Don’t You Just Tow The Cars Off The Street That Don’t Observe The Parking Bans?
When vehicles are obstructing operations, we must often remove them. It involves a towing company and
considerable time. Sometimes rather than hold up our equipment it is necessary to plow around parked vehicles
creating snow islands when the vehicle is moved. If there is a car on your street that is never moved, call the
Engineering Department at 787-8150.
What Can I Do To Avoid Being Towed?
Have and use off-street parking during winter months. When parking on the street insure that you comply with
posted parking restrictions as well as the general citywide winter parking restrictions.
Can You Reduce Costs?
We try to keep a good balance between levels of service and expenditures by continually trying to improve our
service without increasing costs. Our budget has relatively remained constant for the past few years but actual
costs depend on the weather. The more snow and icing, the more it costs.
Why Can’t The City Remove Snow They Put In My Driveway?
Snow is removed from driveway entrances when graders are doing the clearing operation. The truck-mounted
plows cover too large an area for driveway snow removal operations to keep up. We continue to examine options
to reduce the inconvenience of the windrow left in your driveway.
Council Resolution Number: 158/00
Supersedes Council Resolution Number: 687/93
Effective: October 25, 1993
Page: 15 of 17
CITY OF FORT ST. JOHN
SNOW REMOVAL
Council Policy No. 37/00
Records Management Number: 5400-00
Engineering and Public Works
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS ABOUT SNOW OPERATIONS (continued)
Why Do The Plows Go So Fast?
Plows do have to go a minimum speed in order to throw the snow off to the side. We do ask our drivers not to
drive faster than necessary. In some cases however, shrubs, fences, walkways and driveways close to the curb
cannot avoid getting snow on them.
My Street Was Plowed Poorly Because Of Parked Cars. Can You Come Back And Plow Again?
We will certainly try to when time permits. Call us at the Engineering Department at 787-8150.
My Car Has Been Towed. Where Will I Find It?
For information on where towed vehicles are being stored, call City Hall at 787-8150
I’m Very Concerned About Our Environment. Why Don’t You Eliminate The Use Of Salt?
The City has eliminated the need to add salt to the sand we apply to the streets through the use of a higher quality
grit. Salt is only used when necessary i.e. freezing rain and when temperatures are above –10ºc.
I Didn’t Know You Would Be Plowing And I Think It’s Unfair That My Car Got Towed Away.
We try to give snow removal operations as much publicity as we can. The news people are very cooperative with
us on this. Try to be on the lookout for news from your radio, T.V., newspaper or call City Hall at 787-8150 for
the most current update on what areas are being worked on. Maybe your neighbor thinks it’s unfair the street
wasn’t plowed where your car was parked.
Who Can I Call If I’ve Got A Complaint Or A Request?
For plowing or sanding call 787-8150. All emergency maintenance requests after normal working hours should go
to City Answering Service at 785-5880.
I’d Like To Make A Suggestion On Snow Removal. Who Can I Send It To?
We’ll be happy to get your suggestions. Send them to City of Fort St. John, 10631 - 100th Street, Fort St. John,
B.C., V1J 3Z5, Attention: John Locher, Director of Engineering Services, or Ed Doyscher, Public Works
Superintendent.
Where Do I Park Downtown At Night?
Wherever possible use off-street parking lots.
Council Resolution Number: 158/00
Supersedes Council Resolution Number: 687/93
Effective: October 25, 1993
Page: 16 of 17
CITY OF FORT ST. JOHN
SNOW REMOVAL
Council Policy No. 37/00
Records Management Number: 5400-00
Engineering and Public Works
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS ABOUT SNOW OPERATIONS (continued)
Is It All Right To Allow My Children To Dig Snow Caves Along Roadside Snow Banks?
This should definitely not be allowed. Equipment widening streets or blowing snow back could collapse a snow
cave trapping or seriously injuring children inside. Our operators are constantly watching for children but if hidden
in a snow cave a child may not be seen until it is too late.
Help us in our efforts - Please DO NOT shovel/blow /plow snow from sidewalks or driveways onto the street.
The snow should be placed on abutting boulevards so as not to create an unexpected hazard for motorists or
pedestrians.
Council Resolution Number: 158/00
Supersedes Council Resolution Number: 687/93
Effective: October 25, 1993
Page: 17 of 17