At today’s (mon) City of Prince Albert Executive Committee meeting the city’s Snow and Ice Control Policy will be considered.

The proposed updates, according to a city news release, won’t impact service levels but will provide clarification about service level standards.

Operations Manager Jeff DaSilva says they have found their best practices don’t always align with written standards outlined in the city’s policy.

The proposed policy change includes having two priority levels rather than four. Priority streets have the highest traffic, requiring ongoing attention to ensure clear roadways for residents and emergency vehicles. When there is a new snowfall or a continuous snow event, crews will restart operations by returning to the priority one streets and working through the remaining priority areas.

Because there is no opportunity for snow storage downtown the City of Prince Albert will identify that area not as a priority level but as an area designated for snowlifts which is when that snow is trucked out.

Residential areas will be assessed for grading as needed depending on the amount of snowfall. Grading occurs in residential areas a minimum once a season. Something many homeowners will be glad to hear is a policy around driveway windrows in Prince Albert. The previous policy identified a windrow of 12 inches, but the updated version will ensure no more than a six-inch-high windrow of snow will be left behind on driveways.

There are also changes around specifying sidewalk storage for snow and dealing with snow in school zones.

The policy amendments will be introduced and discussed at the Executive committee meeting. Any approved updates following the meeting will be forwarded to a City Council meeting for final review and approval.