Some cost savers for the City of Prince George’s Snow and Ice Control policy will be making its way back to the City Council table at tomorrow’s (Monday) meeting.
The policy was discussed at meetings earlier this year, Council requested a report comeback with the budget impacts on the following:
- Ceasing to clear residential driveways as defined in the existing Snow and Ice Control Policy,
- Increase snow clearing service levels minimum metrics by 2.5 cm,
- Reduction of snow clearing service on statutory holidays.
According to a report that will be presented to Council at tomorrow’s meeting, the 2024 budget survey showed main route satisfaction was 77 per cent great or good, and for residential routes, respondents conveyed satisfaction was 54 per cent great or good.
During budget deliberations in January, City Council approved a budget of $10.3 million for snow and ice control for 2024.
This budget covers January to December, not the start of winter to the spring.
It’s estimated that eliminating residential driveway windrow opening during a defined snow event would remove the costs associated with employing seven contracted loaders specific to the driveway opening function.
Based on an average of five snow events per year, eliminating the service could achieve an average annual savings of $225,000 in today’s dollars.
Minimum service metrics are based on accumulated snow received in a 24 hour period.
Currently, priority one and two routes are cleared with a 7.5 centimetre snowfall, while priority three routes are cleared following a minimum snow accumulation of 12 centimetres.
Priority one routes are arterial roads and curb adjacent sidewalks, downtown central businesses, hospital district, major facility entrances, and city off-street parking.
Priority two routes are collector roads and curb adjacent sidewalks, priority hills, commercial and industrial zoning roads, laneways and curb adjacent sidewalks, transit bus rotes not in priority one, and transit bus stops along priority one and two routes.
Priority three routes include residential roads, laneways and designated sidewalks, minor facility entrances, pedestrian surfaces and parking areas, major park pathways, trails and parking lots, and event parking areas.
The City staff report shows that over the past three years (2022-2024 to date) there were 13 snow events.
If the thresholds for these routes were increased to 10 and 15 centimetres (priority three routes were rounded up to 15 cm from 14.5 cm in the staff report), only nine of these snow events would have met the thresholds.
This would have resulted in an estimated savings of $612,002 over the three years.
The third possible reduction would be to reduce service levels when these snow events happen on statutory holidays.
The report states that for each day snow and ice control services are paused during a defined snow event that encompasses three shifts for internal labour and equipment and contracted services on a statutory holiday, cost savings reflect a total of $211,501.
If a snow event were to take place on all applicable winter statutory holidays (4 in total), the estimated savings would amount to $846,004.
If all three of these changes were made, the estimated annual savings could amount to $1,275,004.
Other items on the agenda for tomorrow’s meeting include several recommendations from the City’s Bear Awareness Committee, and a report on upgrades for Carrie Jane Gray Park.
The agenda for tomorrow’s meeting is here.
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