HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 06/24/2014 - SNOW AND ICE CONTROL PROGRAM AND SIDEWALK SNOW REMDATE:
STAFF:
June 24, 2014
Larry Schneider, Streets Superintendent
Beth Sowder, Neighborhood Services Manager
WORK SESSION ITEM
City Council
SUBJECT FOR DISCUSSION
Snow and Ice Control Program and Sidewalk Snow Removal Compliance Update.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The purpose of this item is to review the City’s snow and ice control program and sidewalk snow removal
compliance efforts. Staff will review the current snow and ice control policy and procedures, and discuss the
challenges involved in maintaining safe roads and sidewalks during and after a snow event, as well as meeting
community expectations and the resulting impact on available resources.
GENERAL DIRECTION SOUGHT AND SPECIFIC QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED
1. Does Council have specific questions about current snow removal procedures, including how sidewalk snow
removal is handled?
2. Does Council believe current snow removal policies in terms of roadway plowing prioritization and sidewalk
compliance time limits are appropriate?
3. Does Council have feedback or specific questions regarding the City’s sidewalk snow removal compliance
enforcement?
BACKGROUND / DISCUSSION
Overview
Snow removal is a process that incorporates significant training efforts, high-tech data collection, innovative and
environmentally sensitive de-icing materials, and a large investment in equipment and facilities. No two storms
are alike and each presents unique challenges and strategies. The City of Fort Collins Streets Department has
developed a nationally recognized snow and ice removal program that is often used as a model for other
communities.
The Streets Department snow and ice removal program covers 1,100 lane miles of city streets, 105 miles of
sidewalks, as well as bike lanes, pedestrian connectors, parking lots, and the downtown area. Snow removal
services are provided 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to insure a safe transportation network for emergency
services, motorists, transit riders, bicyclists, and pedestrians. This is a high profile municipal service that not only
affects safe travel conditions, but access to commerce, jobs, and education.
The snow removal program requires over 100 City staff members and approximately 16 contractors to maintain a
24-hour snow removal operation. To meet these staffing and equipment needs, the Streets Department
collaborates with several other City departments for resources, including Traffic Operations, Parks, Light & Power,
Stormwater, Water & Sewer, Fleet Services and others.
Besides the Streets snow removal program, both the Parks and Natural Areas departments provide snow removal
services. Combined, they utilize over 60 employees for snow removal on Downtown sidewalks, Old Town
Square, 40+ parks, 35 miles of trails, 25+ natural area parking lots, and designated City parking lots and
sidewalks.
June 24, 2014 Page 2
Program Goals
The goals of the City’s snow and ice control program are to:
1. Keep primary and secondary streets, on-street bike lanes, sidewalks and pedestrian connectors open.
2. Respond with enhanced service levels in the event that a significant snowfall impedes the mobility of the
public in and around residential roads, sidewalks and bus shelters.
3. Use materials and equipment efficiently, effectively, and in an environmentally sensitive manner to help
reduce the dangers of traveling in inclement weather.
4. Enforce the sidewalk snow removal regulations that require all owners or residents of private property to
have ice and snow hazards cleared from public sidewalks or walkways abutting their property no later
than 24 hours after a snowfall stops.
5. Communicate any delayed opening or early release decisions in advance of City functions before
impending severe weather impacts the ability of residents or employees to safely arrive at their
destination within the city.
Operating Budget and Anticipated 2014 Shortfall
The Streets Department snow removal operations have expended an average of $1.42 million a year since 2005.
The current budget for 2014 is $1.3 million. Fort Collins experienced abnormally challenging 2013-2014 winter
seasons. In 2014, $1.5 million has already been spent to date due to the number and severity of storms. The
Streets Department will be requesting an additional appropriation of $750,000 from the Transportation
Undesignated Reserve Fund in October for snow operations through the end of 2014. Adequate reserves are in
place in anticipation of this need.
Snow and Ice Removal Procedures
A comprehensive Snow Plan Handbook is updated annually and outlines the City’s snow and ice removal
procedures and policies. The Handbook is also the basis for a mandatory annual two-day snow removal
operations training.
During the snow season (October through the end of April) snow crews rotate duty as the “first call” crew. A
Streets snow supervisor is on snow standby 24 hours a day, seven days a week to track weather conditions and
respond to notifications of snow events. Working with the Fort Collins Police patrol officers and dispatchers, and
utilizing an automated roadway alert system that monitors street conditions, the snow supervisor is notified when
adverse conditions occur after normal work hours or on holidays and weekends. Crews are expected to respond
quickly and work rotating 12-hour shifts throughout a storm event.
During snowstorms, 22 plow trucks are in operation on Fort Collins streets. Twenty trucks drive pre-determined
routes, while two “floater” trucks are assigned to routes where additional help may be needed or if a plow truck
goes out of service.
Road Snowplowing Priority
City streets are prioritized in four categories:
1. Priority 1 - Arterial Streets (e.g., Prospect, College) - Priority 1 streets are considered the minimum network
which must be kept open to provide a transportation system connecting hospitals, fire stations, police stations,
and rescue squad units. Collectively, Priority 1 streets make up the “Snow Emergency Route”. Arterial
streets are plowed curb-to-curb.
2. Priority 2 - Collector Streets (e.g., Remington, Swallow) - Priority 2 streets are selected to complete the
network of major traffic volume streets. Collector streets are not plowed curb-to-curb; snow is plowed to the
gutter.
3. Priority 3 - School Areas and Bus Routes - These streets include all remaining collectors, bus routes, and
access to schools.
Packet Pg. 3
June 24, 2014 Page 3
4. Priority 4 - Residential Streets - only plowed when snow accumulations completely block traffic movement
Note: The City of Fort Collins does not normally plow residential streets for two primary reasons: 1) most snow
melts within a day or two in the Fort Collins climate; and 2) this additional level of service would significantly
increase costs and impact the City’s ability to perform other high-priority services. However, during significant
snow events, with snowfall exceeding 12 inches, the city will strategically service neighborhood streets to address
known problem areas. Also, during regular snow events, the City deploys “floater” plows to respond to requests
from police and the community.
Sidewalk Snow Removal
Two contractor crews and one City crew provide snow removal for 105 miles of public sidewalks and 60
pedestrian connectors throughout the city. The City clears selected public sidewalks on arterial streets, collector
streets, bridges, and sidewalks adjacent to City property.
Public sidewalks on arterial streets are cleared once the plowing operation is complete since arterial streets are
plowed from curb-to-curb to provide emergency vehicle access and to clear bike lanes. This effort means the
plowed snow is deposited on the sidewalks. Clearing sidewalks before plowing is complete is not practical or
efficient since they will just be re-covered with snow each time the plow comes through.
Pedestrian access ramps and public sidewalks that are attached to the curb on arterial and collector streets are
cleared once the streets have been fully plowed. Plowing detached sidewalks (sidewalks separated from the
street curb with a median) and pedestrian connectors begins as soon as the storm is over. In some cases, when
snow continues to fall and accumulation becomes heavy on sidewalks, they may be plowed several times
throughout the storm.
With the exception of the arterial and collector streets described above, residents and business owners are
responsible for sidewalks in front of their property.
Section 20-102 of the City’s Municipal Code requires that sidewalks adjacent to both residential and commercial
properties be cleared of snow and ice no later than 24 hours after a snowfall ends. Property owners can be held
responsible for failure to remove snow and ice. Violation of the ordinance can result in a civil citation or
abatement, in which the City hires a contractor to clear the sidewalk at the property owner’s expense. Performing
inspections and calling contractors requires additional time, which means some sidewalks may go unshoveled for
more than 24 hours. Enforcement of the sidewalk snow removal ordinance is handled by the Code Compliance
officers. See Attachment 1 for more details about the enforcement process.
Code Compliance works closely with CSU, property owners, and property management companies to get the
word to residents of rentals reminding them of the snow removal code requirement and the need to make
arrangements if they will be out of town.
The chart below shows the code compliance cases for the past five snow seasons. The biggest challenge
remains the period of time that students are on winter break and many of the student rentals are unoccupied for
several weeks in the winter. Unfortunately, this creates a unique challenge in reaching voluntary compliance
goals. In addition to outreach efforts already in place, staff is planning to increase efforts by specifically targeting
outreach to property managers when tenants might be away in an effort to improve voluntary compliance. In
addition, increased outreach efforts have included social media, Coloradoan articles, Collegian paid
advertisements, Neighborhood News newsletter, and CityNews.
Season Complaint Cases Proactive Cases Abatements Voluntary
Compliance
2009-2010 802 838 559 71%
2010-2011 383 543 219 77%
2011-2012 269 415 235 66%
June 24, 2014 Page 4
2012-2013 545 311 235 73%
2013-2014 1063 337 325 77%
Relatively few complaints are received about businesses; most focus on residential non-compliance. However,
staff is planning on increasing outreach efforts to businesses during the 24 hour period before enforcement
begins in an effort to ensure they are aware of the requirements and clear snow and ice in front of their
businesses.
Staff researched other communities in an effort to compare the Fort Collins sidewalk snow removal ordinance and
enforcement processes with the other Colorado municipalities (See Attachment 1). Many municipalities have a
similar 24 hour time period, as well as similar or more lengthy enforcement processes. At this point, staff does
not recommend amending the Fort Collins snow removal code requirements or enforcement processes; however,
staff will increase outreach efforts to increase voluntary compliance rates.
Other Snow Removal Duties
Eighteen public parking lots are cleared at night between midnight and early morning. Downtown is also cleared
at night, usually the night after the storm stops. This allows time for the Parks Department to clear the Downtown
sidewalks and put the snow in the street for removal by the Streets snow operations staff. In the Downtown area,
snow is plowed and hauled off to a designated snow dump site (Hughes Stadium).
There are approximately 480 transit stops located within the city. Contractors clear the bus stops, and the Streets
Department clears the roads in front of the bus stop.
Snow Removal Technology
Technology is an important element of the City’s snow removal program. The City of Fort Collins was one of the
first cities in Colorado to start using a “real time” Automated Vehicle Location (AVL) system that tracks the actual
location, speed, and plowing operation of snow plow trucks. A Global Positioning System (GPS) allows snow
supervisors to track and verify snow and ice control operations for material usage, dispatching efficiency
adjustments, and for liability purposes.
The City of Fort Collins is one of a very few cities in Colorado with the ability to produce a de-icing product called
salt brine. Salt brine can also be used as an anti-icing product. It can be applied to streets before a storm
(depending on weather conditions) to help reduce hard packed snow and ice. This strategy is invaluable because
it allows plows to clear the streets more efficiently. Salt brine is made up of 23.3 percent salt,10 percent Geo Melt
(sugar beet juice), 10 percent calcium chloride, and water. The benefit to this product is that in can be produced
on-site at a significant cost savings compared to other deicing products. The ability to manufacture salt brine was
particularly important this year when suppliers could not provide the City with liquid deicers due to a national
shortage. Other communities faced with this shortage resorted to using sand, which is more detrimental to air
and water quality, and costly to sweep up.
New in the 2013-2014 snow season is a mobile Road Weather Information System (RWIS). Like the existing
static RWIS sites, this device helps to determine the level of grip on the road (coupled with the pavement
temperature) and provides information to help make decisions about how much deicer to apply to the roadway.
The mobile RWIS mounts on a snow supervisor’s vehicle to allow the crew chiefs to survey locations around the
city and quantify our performance measurement of bare pavement in four hours after the snow stops.
Environmental Management System
Snow and ice control operations and sidewalk snow removal efforts support multiple travel choices that directly
impact the environment. The Streets Department has initiated the implementation of an Environmental
Management System (EMS). The purpose of the EMS is to identify aspects of all Streets operations, including
snow removal, that have a significant impact on the environment. The goals of the program are: 1) prevent
pollution; 2) comply with regulations; 3) continual improvement. Our EMS Team develops and oversees the
program to help us meet environmental regulations through compliance audits and certification.
June 24, 2014 Page 5
Challenges
Sidewalks
Along with plowing streets, the City clears 105 miles of sidewalks. During heavier snowfall events, clearing
sidewalks on arterials within 24 hours becomes a challenge. Because snow from street plowing is deposited on
these sidewalks, snow can sometimes accumulate from 2-4 feet. The snow must then be cleared using a road
grader to pull it off the sidewalk and into the street for snow blowers to load into trucks and haul away. This
process significantly extends the time to complete snow removal on these sidewalks. For example, during the
January storms over 12” of snow fell in an extended period of time. It took three weeks to clear the sidewalks at a
cost of $183,000. The challenge is having the resources to clear the sidewalks within 24 hours and the
associated cost to get it done.
Community Expectations
The citizens of Fort Collins expect the City to have a well prepared snow plan that meets the needs of all modes
of transportation to ensure that roads, bike lanes, public sidewalks, bus stops, crosswalks, pedestrian access
ramps, and trails are made safe for travel as quickly as possible. They expect reliable, up-to-date information
about changing conditions to help make travel decisions. They expect the City to be environmentally conscious
when selecting materials for anti-icing and deicing. Balancing the high demands of the public with snow removal
resources is a constant challenge.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Snow and Ice Removal Program and Sidewalks Snow Removal Compliance White Paper (PDF)
2. Powerpoint presentation (PDF)
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Memorandum
Date: June 16, 2014
To: Mayor Weitkunat and City Council Members
Thru: Darin Atteberry, City Manager
Jeff Mihelich, Deputy City Manager
Karen Cumbo, Planning, Development and Transportation Director
From: Larry Schneider, Streets Superintendent
Beth Sowder, Neighborhood Services Manager
Subject: Snow and Ice Control Program and Sidewalks Snow Removal Compliance
______________________________________________________________________________
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City’s official snow season begins in October and typically lasts until April. With the onset
of winter, questions arise from the public regarding the City’s snow removal procedures. This
memorandum provides City Council with information on the City’s snow and ice control
program and sidewalk snow removal compliance.
The goals of the City’s snow and ice control program include:
1. Keep primary and secondary streets, on-street bike lanes, sidewalks and pedestrian
connectors open.
2. Respond with enhanced service levels in the event that a significant snowfall impedes the
mobility of the public in and around residential streets, sidewalks and bus shelters.
3. Use materials and equipment efficiently and effectively to help reduce the dangers of
traveling in inclement weather.
4. Enforce the sidewalk snow removal regulations that require all owners or residents of
private property to have ice and snow hazards cleared from public sidewalks or walkways
abutting their property no later than 24 hours after a snowfall stops (City Municipal Code
Section 20-102).
5. Communicate any delayed opening or early release decisions in advance of City
functions before impending severe weather impacts the ability of residents or employees
to safely arrive at their destination within the city.
ATTACHMENT 1
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OVERVIEW
The Streets Department snow and ice removal program covers 1,100 lane miles of city streets,
105 miles of sidewalks, as well as bike lanes, pedestrian connectors, parking lots, and the
Downtown area. Snow removal services are provided 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to ensure a
safe transportation network for emergency services, motorists and transit riders, bicyclists, and
pedestrians. This is a high profile municipal service that not only affects safe travel conditions,
but access to commerce, jobs, and education.
The snow and ice control program goals are achieved by having full crews available, equipment
maintained and ready when needed, and providing a safe environment for employees. Each year,
crews are provided with education and training on the use of snow removal materials and
equipment, and plow operators are recertified on the equipment used to perform snow control
operations.
During the snow season each crew rotates on a bi-weekly basis as the “first call” crew. A Streets
Department snow supervisor is on snow standby 24 hours a day, seven days a week to track
weather conditions and respond to notification of snow events. Working with Police Services
patrol officers and dispatchers, and an automated roadway alert system, the on-call snow
supervisor is notified when snow conditions occur after normal work hours or on holidays and
weekends. Crews are expected to respond quickly and work rotating 12-hour shifts throughout a
storm event.
The Natural Areas Department and the Parks Department are responsible for snow removal from
Downtown sidewalks, Old Town Square, 40+ parks, 35 miles of trails, 25+ natural area parking
lots, and designated City parking lots and sidewalks.
A standard operating procedure guides communication and assists the City Manager’s Office
with decision-making regarding City facilities and programming when a severe weather event
takes place that impacts the transportation system. A conference call is conducted with the City
Manager, Planning Development & Transportation Director, Community & Public Involvement
Office, Police Services, Streets Superintendent, Poudre PR-1 School District, Larimer County,
and Office of Emergency Management staff to assess local road conditions and make decisions
based on conditions. The decision to declare a Snow Emergency or alter City functions or facility
hours is made by the City Manager. During the declared Snow Emergency, vehicles parked on
Priority 1 snow routes may be towed at the owner’s expense. Citizens who had vehicles towed
can contact the Streets Department or Police Services for the location of their vehicle(s).
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GENERAL SNOW REMOVAL POLICIES
Fort Collins receives an average of 57” of snowfall annually. The annual snow removal budget
uses this snowfall figure and the expected number of street miles to be plowed and deiced as the
basis for annual allocation of funds. The City budgets for snow removal on arterial streets,
collector streets, bike lanes, Downtown, school routes, sidewalks and public parking lots.
Residential streets are not included in the allocation analysis. With an average of 14 storms per
year, plowing residential streets would overwhelmingly exceed the current yearly budget.
During snowstorms, 22 plow trucks operate on Fort Collins streets. Twenty trucks drive
predetermined routes, while two “floater” trucks are assigned to routes where additional help is
needed or if a plow truck goes out of service. Nine trucks distribute a liquid deicer and eleven
spreader trucks distribute granular materials. Two trucks have a dual system to distribute either
liquid or granular materials. Two pickup plow trucks and a loader are used to clean snow from
City parking lots and handicap parking spaces in the Downtown area between 2 a.m. and 10 a.m.
The City clears selected public sidewalks on arterial streets, collector streets, bridges, and
sidewalks adjacent to City property. Two contractor crews and one City crew clear 105 miles of
sidewalks and 60 pedestrian connectors throughout the city. Plowing of sidewalks and pedestrian
access ramps along arterials starts after the snow has stopped and the roads are cleared.
Communication
The Streets Department understands the importance of keeping the public informed about snow
operations. Snow and ice control program information is made available each year in news
releases, a utility bill insert, the City’s snow brochure, and on www.fcgov.com under “Snow
Removal.” The City’s snow brochure is provided to residents who request additional
information, and includes information on the snow and ice program and answers to commonly
asked questions about snow operations. Social media, including Facebook and Twitter, are
important communication tools utilized to reach citizens to provide updates on road conditions.
These sites disseminate critical information and are constantly updated throughout the course of
a storm.
The Streets Department constantly seeks ways to improve services provided to the community
and welcomes creative, constructive ideas from citizens and other City departments. Through
cooperation and input from a variety of sources, an effective and thorough snow removal
communication strategy is continually improved.
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Road Snowplowing Priority
City streets are prioritized in four categories:
1. Priority 1 – Arterial Streets (e.g. Prospect, College) – Priority 1 streets are considered the
minimum network which must be kept open to provide a transportation system
connecting hospitals, fire stations, police stations, and rescue squad units. Collectively,
Priority 1 streets make up the “Snow Emergency Route.” Arterials are plowed curb-to-
curb.
2. Priority 2 – Collector Streets (e.g. Remington, Swallow) – Priority 2 streets are selected
to complete the network of major traffic volume streets. Collector streets are not plowed
curb-to-curb; snow is plowed to the gutter.
3. Priority 3 – School Areas and Bus Routes – These streets include all remaining
collectors, bus routes, and access to schools. Priority 3 streets are plowed to the gutter.
4. Priority 4 – Residential Streets – only plowed when snow accumulations completely
block traffic movement.
Note: The City of Fort Collins does not normally plow residential streets for two primary
reasons: 1) most snow melts within a day or two in the Fort Collins climate; and 2) this
additional level of service would significantly increase costs and impact the City’s ability to
perform other high-priority services. However, during significant snow events, with snowfall
exceeding 12 inches, the City will strategically service neighborhood streets to address known
problem areas. Also, during regular snow events, the City deploys “floater” plows to respond to
requests from police and the community.
Please see Appendix 1: Snow Route Map.
Preparing for the Snow Season
Snow and ice control is a complex and demanding job requiring a wide and varied assortment of
skills and experiences. Due to the diversity, irregularity, and unpredictability of the job, the
Streets Department conducts an annual two-day training session each fall, ensuring that all
employees involved in snow and ice removal operations are trained and educated about all
aspects of operational procedures. Discussion of problems encountered during the last snow/ice
season and annual updates to the Snow and Ice Handbook are one component of the training.
Other areas of discussion include: 1) collaboration with Police Services and other City
departments; 2) how and when to use de-icing materials; and 3) Emergency Operations. As part
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of the training, new employees ride with an experienced driver during an early-season snow
storm to ensure readiness and proficiency.
Pre-Storm Meeting
If a storm is indicated by one of the weather service providers, a pre-storm meeting is scheduled.
The meeting is typically held a day prior to the storm and crew chiefs, supervisors, and other
personnel discuss preemptive actions to combat the storm. This meeting serves as a critical
briefing of weather conditions, where strategies are planned for staffing, equipment readiness,
anti-icing, plowing, and deicing. Preparing ahead of time allows for a more effective response to
maintain safety in the community.
Anti-Icing
Anti-icing is a proactive approach to winter street maintenance. It involves plow trucks spraying
salt brine on the roadways before a snowstorm. It forms a bond breaker between the pavement
surface and the snow and ice layer, which facilitates melting the snow and reduces the chance
that ice will form and bond to the surface. It is similar to how cooking oil prevents food from
sticking to the frying pan.
Anti-icing reduces the amount of time required to restore the streets to a clear, dry state.
Effective anti-icing is dependent upon having the right amount of anti-icing liquid in the right
place at the right time. Applying anti-icing liquids to the roadways is generally the most effective
approach to prevent icy and snow-packed streets.
Many factors that help determine if anti-icing will be effective, including air temperature, wind
speed, precipitation type and intensity, current pavement conditions and location. The Streets
Department uses these factors in an advanced weather forecasting system, as well as the
experience of our maintenance crews, to determine when and where to anti-ice.
Although salt can be corrosive to vehicles, the salt brine for anti-icing has the addition of a sugar
beet by-product that reduces the corrosiveness of the salt brine. Test results from an independent
lab showed that the sugar beet by-product and salt brine mixture is only one-third as corrosive as
salt.
Plowing
Snow plowing plays a very important piece in keeping roads safe and reducing the amount of
deicing material needed throughout a storm. Instead of attempting to melt the snow using only
deicer, plowing the snow off the street requires less deicer material to keep the road surface safe.
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Snow plowing operations begin when snow starts to accumulate on the roadway and run 24
hours around the clock. The goal is to achieve bare pavement.
Typically on snow routes, plow trucks will operate in teams. Team plowing may consist of two
or more plows operating together to provide for the removal of snow from the street between the
centerline and the curb line in one pass. This eliminates the need to make repeated passes to plow
the street to the curb line. On some streets when one snow plow is used, it may be necessary to
make two or more passes in each direction to completely clear the street of accumulated snow.
Not every snow event is the same, and therefore, not every snow plowing effort is the same.
With minor snowfalls, all snow routes will be plowed within 4-6 hours. Heavy snowfall, or one
prolonged storms over 1-4 days (or longer), may require additional help from contractors.
Streets will not plow or clear snow or ice from private property unless necessary to allow
emergency vehicles access for Fire, Police, or Emergency Management Service calls.
Deicing
If an assigned snow route has any hot spots (bridges, hills, certain intersections), a thorough
application of deicing material shall be applied before starting work on the assigned route.
Bridges will receive early attention since they freeze well before roads. Safe, clear intersections
are critical for smooth, uninterrupted traffic flow.
Material Storage
Deicing material is stored at the Street Department Deicing Facility, a one-of-a-kind facility in
the country. The facility was built in 2006 and has the capacity to store 10,000 tons of granular
material and 210,000 gallons of liquid. It is inspected regularly to ensure that the desired level of
cleanliness, appearance, and integrity is maintained, and that solid materials are properly stored
to prevent the release of materials into the environment. Wireless tracking technology enables
the usage of material to be monitored and analyzed for future storms.
In 2008 the Deicing Facility was one of ten agencies in the country to receive the “Excellence in
Storage” Award. The award recognized the high standards of best management practices,
environmental consciousness, and effective management of winter material storage. The facility
has continued to receive this award every year since, including 2014.
Stored materials include:
Salt Brine - Blended 23.3% salt to water, 8-10% calcium chloride, and 8-10%
Geomelt (by-product of sugar beet juice)
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Apex Meltdown - This liquid product is the City’s primary deicer. The product
base is a corrosion inhibitor that is derived from organic polymers blended with a
30 percent concentrate of magnesium chloride.
Ice Ban 305 – The product base is a corrosion inhibitor that is derived from corn
and a 25 percent concentrate of magnesium chloride. When Apex is unavailable,
Ice Ban 305 is used as a substitute.
Ice Buster - This is the City’s primary granular product, also known as sodium
chloride or salt. Before it is used on our roadways, it is pre-wetted with Apex
Meltdown or Ice Ban 305 to reduce corrosion.
Apogee - Unlike many non-chloride products, Apogee is not acetate based,
making it the perfect product for areas where acetates are prohibited. It can be
used for anti-icing, deicing, and pre-wetting.
The City of Fort Collins is one of a very few cities in Colorado with the ability to produce salt
brine. During national deicing material shortages in the winter season of 2013-2014, the Streets
Department was able to maintain its own supply of deicer and continue with normal procedures.
Other communities faced with this shortage resorted to using sand, which is more detrimental to
air and water quality and costly to sweep up.
Snow Removal of Sidewalks
Public sidewalks on arterial streets are cleared once the plowing operation is complete since
arterial streets are plowed from curb-to-curb to provide emergency vehicle access and to clear
bike lanes. This effort means the plowed snow is deposited on the sidewalks. Clearing
sidewalks before plowing is finished is not practical or efficient since they will just be re-covered
with snow each time the plow comes through.
Pedestrian access ramps and public sidewalks that are attached to the curb on arterial and
collector streets are cleared once the streets have been fully plowed. Plowing detached
sidewalks (sidewalks separated from the street curb with a median) and pedestrian connectors
begin as soon as the storm is over. In some cases, when snow continues to fall and accumulation
becomes heavy on sidewalks, they may be plowed several times throughout the storm. The goal
is to clear all sidewalks 24 hours after the storm is over.
Downtown Snow Removal
Fort Collins has a very vibrant Downtown area with events year round. Planning, coordinating,
and communication are essential components for snow removal. The timing of the operation is
critical. First pedestrian access ramps and sidewalks are cleared by the Parks Department and the
Streets Department. Then snow cleanup is scheduled the second night after the storm has ended.
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Downtown snow removal is performed during the hours of 12 a.m.-8 a.m. to avoid impeding all
modes of transportation. Graders, snow blowers, and loaders are used to load and haul snow to a
designated dump site (Hughes Stadium).
Despite the “No Parking” signs that are posted, parked cars remain the biggest challenge with
Downtown snow removal. Parked cars prevent crews from removing snow and ice, which
creates safety hazards and blocks drainage. Night work attempts to allow for safe and efficient
operations that benefit the public.
Please see Appendix 2: Downtown Snow Removal Map.
Snow Emergencies
In severe winter conditions, when vehicles disrupt snow removal efforts on high priority routes,
the City Manager may declare a Snow Emergency.
Local media will be contacted immediately to inform the public. Citizens will be urged to drive
only in emergency cases. Vehicles parked on the Priority 1 snow routes may be towed at the
owners’ expense. Citizens who have their vehicles towed can contact the Streets Department or
Police Services. When the Snow Emergency ends, local media will be informed.
Please see Appendix 3: Emergency Snow Removal Routes Map, and Appendix 4: City of Fort
Collins Municipal Code, Sec. 24-96. Snow Emergency.
BUDGET
Each year, the Streets Department budget accounts for snow and ice control operations for
normal weather patterns and events. The adopted 2014 budget for snow and ice control is $1.3
million.
Figure 1 below shows the Total Cost Per Calendar Year for Snow Operations.
Figure 1, Total Cost per Calendar Year for Snow Operations (as of 6/12/14)
Year 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Cost per
year
1,249,150 1,757,387 1,378,468 1,386,401 1,150,806 1,833,274 1,502,490
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The Streets Department’s snow removal operations have expended an average of $1.42 million a
year since 2005. The current budget for 2014 is $1.3 million. Fort Collins experienced an
abnormally challenging 2013-2014 winter season. As a result, $1.5 million has already been
spent year-to-date due to the number and severity of storms. The Streets Department will be
requesting an additional appropriation of $750,000 from the Transportation Undesignated
Reserve Fund in October for snow operations through the end of 2014. Adequate reserves are in
place in anticipation of this need.
Operational Efficiencies
The Streets Department snow removal program requires over 100 City staff members and
approximately 16 contractors to maintain a 24-hour snow removal operation. To meet these
staffing and equipment needs, the Streets Department collaborates with several other City
departments for resources, including Traffic Operations, Parks, Natural Areas, Light & Power,
Stormwater, Water & Sewer, Fleet Services and others. This allows the city to “staff up” for
snow events without hiring more personnel.
The Parks Department has two crews of over 50 employees to remove snow in two shifts on
weekdays and one crew to cover snow removal over the weekends. The Parks Department is
responsible for the following areas: Downtown corners, Old Town Square, renovated Downtown
alleys, all City building sidewalks, designated City building parking lots, all Recreation facilities,
31 miles of trails, six community parks, and 36 neighborhood parks. Parks partners with Poudre
School District for snow removal on sidewalks in parks adjacent to schools.
as of 6/3/2014
Year 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Cost per year 1,249,150.49 1,757,386.50 1,378,468.37 1,386,400.70 1,150,806.07 1,833,274.35 1,502,489.76
$0
$200,000
$400,000
$600,000
$800,000
$1,000,000
$1,200,000
$1,400,000
$1,600,000
$1,800,000
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Cost per year
10
The Natural Areas Department utilizes up to 12 crew members to clear snow from parking lots
and facilities. All snow removal operations conducted by Natural Areas occur within 24 hours of
receiving two inches or more of snow. Natural Areas hires a contractor to plow 1.3 miles of
sidewalks, one mile of paved trails, and one asphalt parking lot on nine sites in the natural areas.
On-site Natural Areas Rangers plow and shovel on three sites, including six gravel parking areas,
an entrance road, and .4 miles for paved trails. Natural Areas field crews plow and shovel the
remaining 0.1 mile of sidewalks, 2.1 miles paved trails, and 22 parking lots on 17 natural areas.
Natural Areas does not plow snow from natural surface trails.
There are approximately 480 transit stops located within the city. Contractors clear the bus
stops, and the Streets Department clears the roads in front of the bus stop.
TECHNOLOGY
The Streets Department is a leader in advanced technology systems. Up-to-date technology
provides the city with reliable resources to ensure safety and effectiveness.
Forecast
Weather information is essential for preparing for snow and ice control operations and other
weather-related emergencies. An effective weather service provides critical information about
the storm sufficiently in advance so that plans and preparations can be made.
The Streets Department utilizes several forecasting sources during the snow and ice season:
AccuWeather, the National Weather Service, Iteris, and DayWeather. These services provide
weather information to help determine what impact present and forthcoming weather will have
on overall operations. Both AccuWeather and the National Weather Service provide on-screen
tracking of weather systems that could affect road conditions, whereas Iteris and DayWeather are
localized systems. In the event of potential severe weather DayWeather sends out an e-mail alert
to snow supervisors, notifying them of the current conditions. These systems prepare crews to
take appropriate actions during snow operations.
Road Conditions
To maximize the effectiveness of control efforts and to reduce costs, the Streets Department uses
Road Weather Information Systems (RWIS) for snow and ice control. RWIS collects and
transmits weather and road condition data, then sends alerts when adverse conditions develop.
RWIS stations are located at fixed points like traffic signals. The newest RWIS tool is a mobile
unit mounted on a snow supervisor’s vehicle to allow crew chiefs to survey locations while
gathering critical information relating to road conditions. This technology helps in determining
11
the level of grip on the road and assists with decisions about how much deicer to apply to the
roadway. Components of the RWIS include meteorological sensors, pavement sensors, site-
specific forecasts, temperature profiles of streets, a weather advisor, communications, and
planning.
The RWIS can maximize the effectiveness of deicing and plowing efforts by pinpointing and
prioritizing streets that need attention. It can also eliminate unnecessary staff call-outs and
improve scheduling of crews based on estimates of the extent and severity of the storm.
Automated Vehicle Location (AVL) System
The Streets Department was one of the first cities in the state to start using a “real time”
Automated Vehicle Location (AVL) system to track the actual location, speed and plowing
operation of the snow routes. The Global Positioning System (GPS) allows supervisors to track
and verify snow and ice control operations for material usage, and for liability purposes. The
Streets Department uses AVL to manage snow operation productivity by accessing the historic
tracking data. Citizen claims and potential litigation can easily be investigated through AVL
since the system has the ability to provide specific data on every vehicle.
The AVL system has saved the Streets Department from unnecessarily spending money. As an
example, review of post-storm data showed that after snow gets packed down, it costs more in
deicing material, fuel, and labor to clear the streets. The Streets Department discovered that it is
far more cost efficient to hire contractors to assist City crews early in the snowstorm before the
snow is packed down.
DATA
Cityworks
Streets Department staff utilizes a specialized software program (Cityworks) to capture data
regarding snow removal. The program is designed to store information regarding all Streets
operations including snow removal operations.
Citizens often call the Streets Department with questions about plowing and snow operations or
to request assistance. Requests, questions, and concerns are entered into the program as service
requests and are immediately dispatched to supervisors.
Figure 2 below refers to the number of snow related requests that occurred in the past three
snow seasons. During the 2013-2014 season there was an increased amount of service requests
due to extreme low temperatures where ice had built up on streets and sidewalks.
12
Figure 2, Service Requests for Past Seasons
Snow Season Number of Requests Regarding Snow
Operations
October 2011-April 2012 275
October 2012-April 2013 252
October 2013-April 2014 501
This software is also used to track the cost of labor, equipment, and material during the snow
operations of every storm, and is only one of the many data collecting resources the Streets
Department uses that also assists in evaluating snow performance. The ability to retrieve and
review data helps determine the effectiveness of the crew’s response. Since snow storms are not
all the same, each requires different equipment and material to properly restore safety for the
public.
Figure 3 below refers to the number of miles plowed and anti-icing material used during the past
two snow seasons. During the 2013-2014 season there was a significant increase in miles
plowed, gallons of liquid used, and tons of granular material used due to the number of snow
events, accumulation and extreme cold temperatures.
Figure 3, Past Snow Seasons
Snow Season Miles Plowed Gallons of Liquid
Used
Tons of Granular
Material Used
October 2012-April 2013 20,343 325,964 1,038
October 2013-April 2014 37,634 604,379 1,743
ENVIRONMENTAL
Sustainable Snowfighting
During granular and liquid deicing applications, certain best management practices can produce
significant environmental benefits. The amount of granular material applied is regulated to
prevent over-applying materials to streets and decrease runoff concentrations. The snowplow
trucks are equipped with ground speed-control devices for spreaders that aid operators with the
proper application of granular and liquid material. Operators are trained to use the “Auto” mode
for dispensing material for proper application.
The Streets Department works closely with the deicing industry to find the best products that
support public safety and environmental accountability. All of the deicing materials meet the
standards of the Pacific Northwest Snowfighters Association, an organization that seeks to
13
evaluate and establish deicing material specifications for the industry. Additionally, the City
routinely monitors water quality samples within the city and submits deicing material samples to
local laboratories for testing.
The Streets Department does not use 100% magnesium chloride or sand because of the
detrimental effects to air quality and the environment. Streets continuously tests new products, as
they become available, for the safety of the community while also placing an extremely high
value on environmental protection and cost considerations. The City has also invested in
environmental testing of deicing materials through Colorado State University and the Colorado
Department of Transportation's deicing material environmental impact studies.
Environmental Management System
Snow and ice control operations and sidewalk snow removal efforts support multiple travel
choices that directly impact the environment. The Streets Department has initiated the
implementation of an Environmental Management System (EMS). The purpose of the EMS is to
identify aspects of all Streets operations, including snow removal, that have a significant impact
on the environment. The goals of the program are: 1) prevent pollution; 2) comply with
regulations; and 3) continual improvement. The EMS Team develops and oversees the program
to help the Streets Department meet environmental regulations through compliance audits and
certification.
CODE COMPLIANCE SIDEWALK SNOW REMOVAL
Please see Appendix 5: City of Fort Collins Municipal Code, Sec. 20-100 through Sec. 20-107.
Sidewalks.
The City of Fort Collins Municipal Code, Section 20-102 requires that sidewalks adjacent to
both residential and commercial properties be cleared of snow and ice no later than 24 hours
after a snowfall ends. Property owners can be held responsible for failure to remove snow and
ice. Violation of the ordinance can result in a civil citation or abatement, where the City hires a
contractor to clear the sidewalk at the property owner’s expense. This creates an issue where
walkways may not be shoveled within the 24 hour limit, since performing inspections and calling
contractors requires additional time. It is important to remember that unshoveled sidewalks are
common. Enforcement of the sidewalk snow removal ordinance is handled by the Code
Compliance officers - 4 full-time and 1 seasonal. They dedicate 100% of their time to sidewalk
snow removal enforcement for the days following a snow storm in order to respond to as many
complaints and to conduct proactive patrols as possible.
14
If sidewalks remain unshoveled, a courtesy notice of violation is posted on the front door of the
property in violation. Once a courtesy notice is posted the property owner has until 8 a.m. the
following morning to have the walk shoveled. Code Compliance will put a courtesy notice on
the property the first time it is found in violation but not for subsequent storms during the same
season. The City will send a contractor to those properties that do not comply and an invoice will
be sent to the owner. For properties that have already received a courtesy notice and again fail to
clear the sidewalk, no notice is given and a contractor is sent to clear the snow. The address will
be added to a list that is forwarded daily to a contractor for abatement of the hazardous condition.
The property owner is then billed for all snow removal charges and assessed an administrative
fee.
A challenge to note is that sometimes it is difficult for the contractor(s) hired by the City to clear
all the sidewalks in violation on the day following the inspections. This can cause a slight delay
in getting the hazard removed. It is also challenging to have more contractors available because
of the uncertain nature of this type of work. Code Compliance is reviewing their options for
more contractors to be available for sidewalk snow removal. Since this work is then billed to the
property owners where violations occur, there are no budget implications.
The chart below shows the code compliance cases for the past five snow seasons. The biggest
challenge remains the period of time that students are on winter break and many of the student
rentals are unoccupied for several weeks in the winter. Unfortunately, this creates a unique
challenge in reaching voluntary compliance goals. Because of this challenge, significant
outreach efforts have already been put in place, and staff will increase efforts by specifically
targeting outreach to property managers when tenants might be away in an effort to improve
voluntary compliance. This will be done with an email to all known property managers at the
beginning of each storm reminding them about sidewalk snow removal requirements. In
addition, increased outreach efforts have included social media, Coloradoan articles, Collegian
paid advertisements, Neighborhood News newsletter, and CityNews.
Figure 4 below shows Code Compliance cases for the past five snow seasons.
Figure 4, Past Five Seasons for Code Compliance
Season Complaint Cases Proactive Cases Abatements Voluntary
Compliance
2009-2010 802 838 559 71%
2010-2011 383 543 219 77%
2011-2012 269 415 235 66%
2012-2013 545 311 235 73%
2013-2014 1063 337 325 77%
15
Relatively few complaints are received about businesses; most focus on residential non-
compliance. However, staff is planning on increasing outreach efforts to businesses during the
24 hour period before enforcement begins in an effort to ensure they are aware of the
requirements and clear snow and ice in front of their businesses.
Code Compliance researched other communities in an effort to compare the Fort Collins
sidewalk snow removal ordinance and enforcement processes with other Colorado
municipalities. Many municipalities have a similar 24 hour time period, as well as similar or
more lengthy enforcement processes. At this point, Code Compliance does not recommend
amending the Fort Collins snow removal code requirements or enforcement processes; however,
staff will increase outreach efforts to improve voluntary compliance rates.
Please see Appendix 6: Sidewalk Codes in Various Jurisdictions
16
Appendix 1
Snow Route Priority Map
Appendix 2
Downtown Snow Removal Map
Appendix 3
Emergency Snow Removal Route
Appendix 4
City of Fort Collins Municipal Code, Sec. 24-96. Snow Emergency
Appendix 5
City of Fort Collins Municipal Code, Sec. 20-100 through Sec. 20-107. Sidewalks
Appendix 6
Sidewalk Codes in Various Jurisdictions
17
18
19
20
Appendix 4
City of Fort Collins Municipal Code, Sec. 24-96. Snow Emergency.
Sec. 24-96. Snow emergency.
(a) Whenever the City Manager, upon consultation with his or her staff, finds and so determines
that, due to falling snow, sleet, freezing rain or a forecast by the United States Weather Bureau of
weather conditions that so warrant, the City Manager is hereby authorized to declare the
existence of a snow emergency.
(b) The City Manager shall provide announcements to local radio and television stations
declaring a snow emergency to exist and to describe the action to be taken by the City. There
shall be included in such announcement the time that parking prohibitions are to become
effective pursuant to this Section. Where feasible, such announcement shall be disseminated to a
newspaper having a general circulation within the City.
(c) Upon the declaration of the existence of a snow emergency, parking of motor vehicles shall
be prohibited on all streets designated as snow emergency routes. For the purposes of this
Section, snow emergency routes shall consist of those streets or portions of streets within the
City as designated in the Snow Removal Handbook of the City of Fort Collins. On each street or
portion of street upon which parking is allowed and which is designated as a snow emergency
route, the City Engineer shall post at reasonable intervals special traffic signs indicating by the
appropriate symbol or wording that the street or portion of the street has been designated as a
snow emergency route. There shall be no parking whatsoever on any roadway or contiguous
shoulder of any state highway or connection link within the City during the times and at the
places where snow removal operations are in progress.
(d) Whenever any vehicle, except an emergency vehicle, is found standing, attended or
unattended, upon a snow emergency route in violation of this Section, the City Engineer shall
without delay and at the owner's expense take action to have the vehicle towed or otherwise
removed from the snow emergency route.
(e) Whenever the City Manager finds that some or all of the conditions which gave rise to the
snow emergency no longer exist, the City Manager may declare the termination of the
emergency, in part or in whole, effective immediately upon announcement. In the absence of any
such announcement, whenever the entire roadway of any snow emergency route is substantially
clear of snow from curb to curb, the snow emergency shall be deemed to be terminated, and the
normally permitted parking of vehicles shall be automatically authorized.
(Code 1972, §§ 95-73, 95-93—95-97; Ord. No. 222, 1998, § 3, 12-15-98; Ord. No. 137, 2009, 1-
5-10)
21
Appendix 5
City of Fort Collins Municipal Code, Sec. 20-100 through Sec. 20-107. Sidewalks
Sec. 20-100. Nuisance declared and prohibited; penalty
The placement, moving or transporting of snow by any person from privately owned property
that is not used for residential purposes onto any street or right-of-way (as that term is defined in
§ 20-61 of this Chapter) is hereby declared to constitute a nuisance as a snow obstruction and a
hazard to the public health and safety. No person shall place, move or transport, or cause any
other person to place, move or transport, snow from privately owned property that is not used for
residential purposes onto any street or right-of-way (as that term is defined in § 20-61 of this
Chapter). Any person who violates any provision of this Article commits a civil infraction and is
subject to the penalty provisions of Subsection 1-15(f).
Sec. 20-101. Removal by City
(a) The City Manager may, upon the discovery of any such placement, moving or transporting of
snow onto a street or right-of-way, immediately have the hazard corrected by removal of such
snow from such street or right-of-way; and the cost of such removal, including the cost of
inspection and other incidental costs in connection therewith, including the costs for carrying
charges and costs of administration, shall be assessed against the property abutting upon or
adjacent to the snow obstruction and the owner thereof.
(b) If the property owner contests the declaration of nuisance and/or the assessment of costs, he
or she shall file a written request with the Neighborhood Services Manager, within ten (10) days
from the service of a notice of assessment, a written request for a hearing before the Referee.
(c) Any cost assessment shall be a lien in the several amounts assessed against each property
from the date the assessment became due until paid and shall have priority over all other liens,
except general taxes and prior special assessment liens. Any such assessment shall be billed by
the Neighborhood Services Manager, or his or her designee, to the owner by deposit in the
United States mail addressed to the owner of record at the address as shown on the tax rolls or
such other, more recent address as may be available to the City, and to any agents,
representatives or occupants as may be known. If any such assessment is not paid within thirty
(30) days after it has been billed, the Financial Officer, or his or her designee, is hereby
authorized to thereafter certify to the County Treasurer the list of delinquent assessments so
billed, giving the name of the owner as it appears of record, the number of the lot and block and
the amount of the assessment plus a ten-percent penalty. The certification shall be the same in
substance and form as required for the certification of other taxes. The County Treasurer, upon
receipt of such certified list, is hereby authorized to place it upon the tax list for the current year
22
and to collect the assessment in the same manner as general property taxes are collected together
with any charges as may by law be made by the County Treasurer and all laws of the State for
the assessment and collection of general taxes, including the laws for the sale of property for
unpaid taxes and the redemption thereof, shall apply to and have full force and effect for the
collection of all such assessments. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the offending property is
not subject to taxation, the City may elect alternative means to collect the amounts due pursuant
to this Article, including the commencement of an action at law or in equity and, after judgment,
pursue such remedies as are provided by law.
Sec. 20-102. Removal of snow and ice from sidewalks required
The owners or occupants of property abutting sidewalks within the City shall at all times keep
the sidewalks abutting the lot or lots owned or occupied by them free and clear of snow and ice.
If any such owners or occupants shall fail to remove the snow and ice from the sidewalks
abutting their property within twenty-four (24) hours after the accumulation of snow and ice,
then the City Manager may at once have the hazard corrected by removal of snow and ice from
the sidewalk or by the application of abrasive material; and the cost, including inspection and
other incidental costs in connection therewith, including the cost for carrying charges and costs
of administration, shall be assessed against the property abutting the snow obstruction and the
owner thereof.
Sec. 20-103. Violations and penalties
Any person who violates any provision of this Article or § 20-102 above commits a civil
infraction and is subject the penalty provisions of Subsection 1-15(f.)
Sec. 20-107. Parking space obstructions
The obstruction of parking spaces reserved for persons with disabilities is hereby declared a
nuisance and is prohibited. No person shall deposit, place or pile any snow, ice, litter or other
materials onto any parking space which is identified for use by persons with disabilities.
23
Appendix 6
Sidewalk Code in Various Jurisdictions
Jurisdiction Code
Allowance
to Correct
Complaint
or
Proactive
Process for
Enforcement
Penalty Comments
Boulder 24 hours 1 warning per
address per season
Abate and
bill for
cost plus
admin fee
Aurora 24
hours(unless
CM declares
emergency,
then 48)
Complaint
only but
will also
write up
vicinity
1 warning per
address per season,
then a notice with a
$25 fee ($50 for
businesses). Re-
inspect after 24hrs,
then another admin
fee. On 3rd day if
still not cleared will
have abated and bill
owner
Up to 2
$25 fees
then
abatement
and billing
Westminster 24 hours
after snow
stops
Both but
proactive
only with
habitual
violators.
Post property then
re-inspect after 24
hrs.
Either
$150
Administr
ative
Citation,
24
Parker 48 hours Complaint
only but
will also
write up
vicinity
Courtesy notice
with 24 hrs to
comply. If no
compliance give a
final notice of
violation with
additional 24 hrs
Summons
Pueblo 8am if
accumulated
during night.
2 hrs if
accumulated
during day
Summons
to Muni
court
Very little
enforcement
due to lack of
manpower. Use
social media
and other
media outlets
to remind
residents.
Greeley 24 hours Post with warning
additional 24 hrs.
Abate by
contractor.
Bill for
cost of
work plus
20% and
$50 admin
fee
Fountain No code
Durango 24 hours Notice placed on
door
Abate and
bill for
cost plus
admin fee
Sheridan 24 hours Notice of violation
issued, Admin
citation or
summons
Generally a
reminder
works 99% of
time
Broomfield As promptly
as possible
and no later
25
Steamboat
Springs
Immediately
and
continually
Nov 20-April
15
Verbal warning
first then Notice To
Abate
City clears
walks and
bills
owner
cost plus
20% and
can end in
court with
fines up to
$999 per
day
Lakewood 24 hours Complaint
only
Enforced by Public
Works
(Engineering).
Leave a notice.
Could be
citation or
summons
In 26 years
have never
written a ticket
or abated.
Have handled
104 complaints
this season.
Englewood 12 hours Option of written
violation notice,
(then summons),
directly to
summons or if
vacant abate.
Loveland 24 hours Complaint
only, but
will also
write up
vicinity or
obvious
ones. Also
in school
zones.
Enforced by police.
Place notice at
property, door
hanger. Re-inspect
then call # from
utility billing. Make
every effort to
26
Denver 24 hours
residential/ 4
hours
business
Complaint
mostly but
proactive if
can. Get a
lot of
complaints
Post notice on door Re-inspect
after 24
hrs. If not
corrected,
issue
admin
citation
for $150.
Have
additional
15 days to
comply
before 2nd
citation
1
Snow and Ice Control
Program Update
Larry Schneider, Streets Superintendent
Beth Sowder, Neighborhood Services Manager
ATTACHMENT 2
2
Snow Removal Program Goals
• Keep priority streets, on-street bike lanes,
sidewalks and pedestrian connectors open.
• Respond when conditions impede mobility around
residential roads, sidewalks and bus shelters.
• Use resources effectively to reduce the danger of
traveling in inclement weather.
• Enforce the sidewalk snow removal regulations.
• Communicate delayed openings or early release
of City functions in a timely manner.
3
Snow Removal Program Overview
• Fort Collins averages 14 storms annually
• Snow removal responsibilities:
• 221 centerline miles of road
• 1,100 lane miles
• 105 miles of sidewalk
• 60 pedestrian connectors
• 6 miles bike trail/Mason Trail
• 280+ miles of on-street bike lane
• 18 public parking lots
• Downtown area
4
Snow Operations
Resources
• 22 snow plows
• Round-the-clock
operations
– 100+ trained staff
– 16 contractors
– 12-hour shifts
• 5 Code Compliance
Officers
– Monday-Friday
– 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
5
Snow Operations Resources
• Streets Department
crews assisted
by:
– Traffic Operations
– Parks
– Light and Power
– Stormwater
– Water and Sewer
– Fleet Services
6
Snow Removal Procedure
Priority Streets
• Priority 1 (Red) – Arterial streets
• Priority 2 (Blue) - Collector streets
• Priority 3 (Green) – School areas
and bus routes
• Priority 4 (Black) - Residential streets
7
N
Overland Trl
S County Road 5
N Shields St
S
L
e
may Ave
S Overland
T
rl
S College Ave
S County Road 19
N Taft
H
i
ll
R
d
N County Road 5
E County Road 48
S County Road 11
E County Road 52
S US Highway 287
E County
R
oad 30
E
Drake Rd
W Trilby Rd
W Vine Dr
W Douglas Rd
E Horsetooth Rd
N Timberline Rd
E Harmo
n
y Rd
E County Road 50
W
C
o
unty Road 3
8
E
N Lemay Ave
W Elizabeth St
E Douglas Rd
W Prospect Rd
St
a
te Highway 392
E Trilby Rd
E Vine
D
r
S Taft Hill Rd
E
P
rospect Rd
8
• Deicing facility and materials
– Granular capacity: 10,000 tons
– Liquid deicer capacity: 210,000 gallons
– 2008-2014 Excellence in Storage Award
9
Deicing Materials
• Deicing reduces injury accidents by 88%
• City tests new products to mitigate
environmental impacts
• Currently use:
• Apex Meltdown
• Ice Buster
• Salt Brine
10
Cutting Edge Technology
• Road Weather Information System (RWIS)
• Mobile sensor unit
• Automated vehicle locating
• Roadway spray systems
• Storage Facility
• Spreaders
• Innovative plow bits
11
N
Overland Trl
S County Road 5
N Shields St
S
L
e
may Ave
S Overland
T
rl
S College Ave
S County Road 19
N Taft
H
i
ll
R
d
N County Road 5
E County Road 48
S County Road 11
E County Road 52
S US Highway 287
E County
R
oad 30
E
Drake Rd
W Trilby Rd
W Vine Dr
W Douglas Rd
E Horsetooth Rd
N Timberline Rd
E Harmo
n
y Rd
E County Road 50
W
C
o
unty Road 3
8
E
N Lemay Ave
W Elizabeth St
E Douglas Rd
W Prospect Rd
St
a
te Highway 392
E Trilby Rd
E Vine
D
r
S Taft Hill Rd
E
P
rospect Rd
12
Sidewalk Snow Removal Goals
• Safety and accessibility for pedestrians
• City clears public sidewalks and access
ramps once plowing operation is complete
• Education about snow removal requirements
13
Sidewalk Snow Removal
Compliance
• Section 20-102 requires removal from
sidewalk within 24 hours after snowfall
• Citizens responsible for expense if not
compliant within 24 hours
• Education and outreach to CSU, landlords
and property managers
• Adopt-A-Neighbor program
• Proactively enforced by Code Compliance
14
Unshoveled Sidewalk Cases
• Complaint Cases
• Proactive Cases
• Abatements
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
2009-2010 2010-2011 2011-2012 2012-2013 2013-2014
15
Voluntary Code Compliance
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
2009-2010 2010-2011 2011-2012 2012-2013 2013-2014
• Voluntary Compliance
• Compliance Target
Voluntary Compliance %
16
Snow Removal Challenges
• Weather
• Amount of snow
• Duration and back to back storms
• Temperatures and wind
• Resources
• City equipment and staff
• Contractors
• Managing expectations
17
Total Cost Per Calendar Year
for Snow Operations
$0
$200,000
$400,000
$600,000
$800,000
$1,000,000
$1,200,000
$1,400,000
$1,600,000
$1,800,000
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Cost per year
18
Total Inches of Snow per
Calendar Year
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
19
2014 Snow Budget Update
• 11 storms January-May 2014
• $1.3 million 2014 budget
• $1.5 million current budget expended to date
• Request use of Transportation Fund
Undesignated Reserves this fall
20
Direction Sought From Council
• Does Council have specific questions about current
snow removal procedures, including how sidewalk
snow removal is handled?
• Does Council believe current snow removal policies in
terms of roadway plowing prioritization and sidewalk
compliance time limits are appropriate?
• Does Council have feedback or specific questions
regarding the City’s sidewalk snow removal
compliance enforcement?
W Drake Rd
Laporte Ave
S Shields St
W Mulberry St
W Horsetooth Rd
Sidewalks
and
Pedestrian
Access
Ramps
•N
W Drake Rd
Laporte Ave
S Shields St
W Mulberry St
W Horsetooth Rd
Route 1
Route 2
Route 3
Route 4
Route 5
Route 6
Route 7
Route 8
Priority 1
Priority 2
Priority 3
•N
Eight
Routes
contact resident
Abate and
bill for
cost plus
admin fee
Most comply
when get
notice but for
noncompliant
may get ticket
but doesn't
seem like they
ever do that.
Seems like
they would
prefer to have
Code Enf.
enforce. Every
officer is
different. Only
4-5 tickets each
year.
than noon the
day
following the
snowfall
Notice on property
or letter
Summons
to Muni
Court
after
pattern of
repeated
violations
Longmont 24 hours Door hanger
reminder, re-inspect
next day if no
compliance send
Notice of Violation.
No
penalty
for non-
complianc
e at this
time
summons
to muni
court or
abate and
bill owner
Adams
County
Send notice 1st
class mail. 14 days
to comply
Summons
Centennial No code Have a "Snow
Hero" program
that recognizes
those who are
shoveling
within 24 hrs
Firestone 24 hours