Cottonwood Heights Snow Removal Policy and Procedure
Purpose:
The purpose of this is policy is to establish procedures for the removal of snow and ice on city streets and sidewalks in Cottonwood Heights. The city currently contracts with Salt Lake County Public Works Department for street snow plowing services.
Objective:
The objective of these policies and procedures is to give direction for timely and efficient removal of snow and ice from city streets and sidewalks in Cottonwood Heights. Priority is given to streets which carry the largest traffic volume. Limited resources preclude service on lower priority streets until higher priority streets have been cleared. Motorists should expect snow-packed or icy conditions on lower priority streets during storms of high intensity or long duration and during non-work hours. Plowing will continue until all streets have been cleared.
Scope:
This policy is intended for streets located within the boundaries of Cottonwood Heights. The city maintains more than 320 lane miles of arterial, secondary and residential streets that have been divided into four (4) priorities:
PRIORITY 1, Major Arterials – Fort Union Boulevard, Highland Drive, Creek Road, Bengal Boulevard, Union Park, 1300 East, 2700 East, and 3000 East. These streets are first priority because they are essential to the movement of public safety vehicles in the city and will be cleared first in any storm event.
PRIORITY 2, Minor Arterials – 2300 East, Park Centre Drive, 7200 South, Danish Road, Oak Creek Drive, 2325 East, Nantucket Drive, 3500 East, Nye Drive, 1700 East, Whitmore Way, Portsmouth Avenue, and Big Cottonwood Canyon Road. Streets in this priority are based on volume and the need to provide access to schools, bus routes and other essential services.
PRIORITY 3 and 4, Collector Roads and Local Residential Roads– These priorities cover all additional collector and local streets. Priority 3 will include street networks that serve areas that are major traffic volume generators and areas with trouble spots such as busy intersections and roads on steep slopes or other critical features.
Maintenance of Wasatch Boulevard, a state road, is performed by the Utah Department of Transportation.
MAP OF SNOW REMOVAL PRIORITIES
Responsibility:
The responsibility for implementing the snow removal policy lies with the Public Works Director or his/her designee during off hours. The Public Works Director will authorize the use of additional resources or overtime as conditions warrant.
Training:
Prior to the start of snow season the Public Works Deptartment will conduct training on city-owned equipment for all personnel involved in snow removal activities. The training will include classroom and hands on equipment training, including the operation of salters, snowplows and front end loaders. This training may include a “Dry Run” of each route to locate obstacles and familiarize operators with assigned areas.
Weather Monitoring:
Public works personnel, using the National Weather Service and local weather stations, will monitor daily forecasts and current conditions and will be responsible for placing snowplow crews on “On-call” status.
Commencement of Plow Operations:
Public works personnel will monitor road conditions. During non-work hours the police department, through the On-Duty Sergeant, will also monitor road conditions. When snow or ice begins to accumulate, or when the commencement of a known storm is imminent, the Public Works Director or his/her designee will authorize plow or salting operations to commence.
Equipment Resources:
At the present time, Salt Lake County Public Works has assigned 14 drivers for 9 designated snow plow routes within Cottonwood Heights. The routes are shown in the attached map and each is numbered for convenience of referencing.
The truck resources are:
(6) - 10-wheelers with salt spreaders
(8) – Bobtails with spreaders
Three of the 10-wheelers and one Bobtail split time in Cottonwood Heights, Holladay or unincorporated county plowing main roads.
In addition to the county resources, the following city resources are available:
(1) - F150 pickup truck with snowplow
(1) - Side by side ATV with snowplow
Parking on the Street:
City Code: 11.20.130 Parking prohibited when.
A. It is unlawful for any person who owns or has possession, custody or control of any vehicle to park or knowingly allow to be parked any vehicle on any street:
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After any snow accumulation, until 24 hours after the end of such accumulation;
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Upon any street or alley for longer than 24 consecutive hours; or
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For any period longer than that allowed by appropriate signs, markings or parking meters giving notice of such parking time limitation.
B. Whenever any police officer finds a vehicle upon a street or alley in violation of the provisions of this section, the officer may have the vehicle impounded or otherwise removed.
Sidewalk Maintenance:
City Code: 14.32.060 Snow removal—Required.
It is unlawful for the owner, occupant, lessor or agent of property abutting on a paved sidewalk to fail to remove or cause to be removed from such sidewalk and any existing pedestrian curb ramp all hail, snow or sleet within a reasonable time after the hail, snow or sleet has fallen. Such removal shall in any event occur not later than the same day in which the snow, hail or sleet has fallen; provided that snow, sleet and hail falling after 8:00 p.m. may be removed the following day by 10:00 a.m.
14.32.070 Snow and debris removal—Clogging gutter or depositing in public way prohibited.
It is unlawful for:
A. Any person removing snow or debris from a sidewalk or curb ramp to deposit snow, dirt or other material in a gutter so as to clog the same or prevent the free flow of water therein.
B. Any person to place, dump or push snow, dirt or other material onto public streets or sidewalks.
Public Relations:
Providing information to the public before, during and after a storm is a vital part of the snow removal process. Residents need to know how they can help facilitate snow removal and what they can expect in terms of a response to a winter storm. Information to the public can be found in articles in the Cottonwood Heights News Journal, the city web site, “Tweets” from @CHCity and messages on the city's Facebook page. Each year prior to the first snowfall, information will be distributed through these resources to inform residents of winter requirements for parking, snow removal on sidewalks, etc.
During snow events residents are encouraged to check the priority maps then call Cottonwood Heights Public Works if they feel their street has been overlooked or they have an issue with snowplowing on their street.
Snowplow operators have been trained to follow the priorities set in the policies and procedure section; it would be detrimental to respond to individual complaints before operators have responded in accordance with the Snow Removal Policy. Complaints will be logged and given to supervisors for review and action.
Claims from residents for property damage caused by snowplows should be reported to the city's Risk Manager.
