WL Council adopts new Snow/Ice Control Policy

From the City of Williams Lake:

At its regular meeting Tuesday evening, Council approved a new Snow & Ice Control Policy to clearly define the objectives and standards by which snow removal is to be undertaken in the City.

While the City has always had high standards for the control of snow and ice, the new policy provides more efficient procedures, and distinct priority areas in the City. It also provides residents a defined set of objectives the City is committed to achieving.

Under the policy, priority is given to the downtown core, where the objective is to have snow plowed, windrowed, and trucked away between 8 and 24 hours after a snow event. Within each of the City’s five snow removal zones, there are three areas with three different levels of priority. These roads will be the first to be plowed and treated following a snow event.

Residential areas will be plowed and windrowed for cleanup. This procedure will take approximately 24-96 hours to complete following the cleanup of the downtown core and will be done in conjunction with the solid waste collection route. Residents are asked to put garbage and recycling carts on the curb the morning of their collection day, not the night before, and to remove them from the curb as soon as possible following collection.

Snow clearing of City sidewalks, parking lots, stairs, walkways and public transit bus stops may be cleaned within 8 – 24 hours after a storm where the City receives 5 centimetres of snow or more. In cases of extreme snow events, qualified City staff from other divisions will be assigned to assist in snow clearing operations.

The snow clearing staff and equipment the City employs each winter are based on the weather conditions experienced in a typical winter. In the event of extreme or prolonged weather events like were experienced last winter, it may take longer than normal to achieve the established objectives and the public are encouraged to be patient and exercise caution while driving and walking during these periods.

The policy and maps outlining priority areas are available at the City’s website at http://williamslake.ca/index.asp?p=2081. A Q&A will be available at that address in the coming days.

For more information please contact:
Kevin Goldfuss - Director of Municipal Services
The City of Williams Lake
Ph: 250 392-1783
Email: kgoldfuss@williamslake.ca