Snow Removal

SNOW EMERGENCY

FOLLOWING IS AN EXCERPT FROM ROBINS' MUNICIPAL CODE, CHAPTER 69, SECTION 10

69.10 SNOW EMERGENCY.

All of the streets within the City are deemed snow routes. When conditions of snow or ice exist on the traffic surface of a designated snow route, it is unlawful for the driver of a vehicle to impede or block traffic.
When predictions or occurrences indicate the need, the Mayor shall proclaim a snow emergency and shall inform the news media to publicize the proclamation and the parking rules under the emergency. The proclamation may ban all on street parking during the emergency or may prohibit parking on one designated side of the street. The designation may be an alternating designation. A snow emergency parking ban shall begin at the time stated in the snow emergency and shall continue until announcement of its termination.
No person shall park, abandon, or leave unattended any vehicle on a designated snow route during any snow emergency parking ban declared by the Mayor unless in conformance with the parking rules under the emergency.

RESOLUTION NO. 1199-1

SNOW REMOVAL POLICY FOR THE CITY OF ROBINS

WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the motoring public, to establish the policy and level of service, with respect to clearance of snow or ice, and maintenance of the City of Robins’ streets during the winter months,

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Robins meeting in regular session hereby adopts the following policy:

SECTION 1 – PURPOSE

The purpose of this resolution is to establish this City’s policy and level of service in respect to clearance of snow or ice, and maintenance of its street system, during the winter months, as provided in HF 2487, Section 10(2), Acts of the 63^rd G.A., Second Session, and pursuant to the provisions of Section 309-67, Code of Iowa. This policy and level of service are to be implemented within the amount of money budgeted for this service, and as contained in this city’s Road Use budget as adopted by the City Council.

SECTION 2 – LEVEL OF SERVICE

Clearance of snow, ice, or compacted snow, and maintenance of the street system during the winter months, is primarily for the benefit of the local residents of this City. Each storm has individual characteristics and must be dealt with accordingly. From time to time the portion of the roadway improved for travel will have upon it snow and ice in a compacted condition. These conditions may be continuous, or they may be more concentrated on hills, in valleys, curves, and/or intersections. All clearance of snow or ice, sanding, salting, and other maintenance, respecting winter conditions, shall be accomplished within the amount of money budgeted for this service. The City’s or city contractor’s existing snow removal equipment will be utilized for this purpose. The entire width of that portion of the road improved for travel may not be cleared of snow, ice, compacted snow and ice, or frost. Snow cleared from that part of the roadway improved for travel shall be placed on, or in the adjacent shoulder, ditch, or right-of-way. Snow can be expected to accumulate adjacent to the traveled portion to the extent that a motorist’s sight distance to both the left and right may be greatly reduced or impaired. The snow removal from intersections may be piled in its corners in piles of unequal height. The line of sight, sight distance, or visibility of motorists approaching these intersections may be greatly reduced or impaired. The City shall not be responsible for snow pushed or otherwise placed on the roadway or shoulders by others. Motorists shall drive their vehicles during these conditions with additional caution and watchfulness, especially in respect to the surface of the roadway, and reduced or impaired visibility, and are advised to reduce their speed at least 25 miles per hour below that legally permitted or advised under normal conditions. In respect to roadways that have only one lane open, further extreme watchfulness and caution should be exercised by the motorist, and their speed should not exceed 10 miles per hour. During these conditions no additional warning or regulatory signs will be placed warning of impaired sight distances, visibility at intersections, road blockages, one-lane conditions, or that the road surface is slick or slippery, or what the advised speed should be.

SECTION 3 – SEQUENCE OF SERVICE

In the implementation of snow and ice removal and other maintenance of the City’s street system during the winter months, the Superintendent of Public Works shall select the actual sequence of streets to be cleared as provided for in this Section of this Resolution, and shall determine when drifting, wind velocity, and additional snow or snowstorms require that the snow removal equipment be removed from the roadway, or that additional clearance of arterial routes be accomplished prior to the clearance of area service streets. The Superintendent of Public Works’ professional judgment shall prevail unless it is clearly erroneous.

ARTERIAL AND TRUNK COLLECTOR STREETS

The initial effort will be to get routes open to one-lane traffic as soon as possible.

After one-lane travel is possible, subsequent snow removal will be carried on during normal daylight hours.

The truck mounted snowplows, spreaders and motor graders will not normally be in operation between the hours of 4:40 P.M. to 5:00 A.M. The trucks may be called off the road if snow and blowing reduces visibility to hazardous working conditions, in the professional judgment of the Superintendent of Public Works or his delegate representative.

When required, due to drifting snow, motor graders may be used to keep the arterial streets open and the opening of area service streets may be delayed.

It is not the policy of the City to provide a "dry" pavement condition.

After streets have been plowed, as provided in this section, intersections, hills, and curves may have placed on them salt, sand, or other abrasives. This sequence of service shall be performed only during daylight hours each day, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays observed by City employees.

SUBDIVISION AND AREA SERVICE STREETS

The initial effort will be to get routes opened to one-lane traffic for residences as soon as possible after a storm has passed.

After one-lane travel is possible, subsequent snow removal will be carried on during normal daylight hours.

Motor graders and/or truck plows will not normally be in operation between the hours of 4:30 P.M. to 7:00 A.M. Subdivision and area service streets will not be plowed if the wind is causing continual drifting.

GENERAL STATEMENTS

The City will not clear snow and/or ice from private drives. Normal snow removal operations may result in snow being deposited in private drives. Snow from private drives shall not be placed on the roadway or shoulders.

The City will not be responsible for damage to mailboxes, fences, or other private structures on or within the City right-of-way.

There is no set length of time after a snowstorm in which the roadways, cleared of snow, on paved or unpaved roads, can be guaranteed.

SECTION 4 – LIMITATION ON SERVICE

The policy and level of service provided for in the Resolution shall not include, and the following service shall not be performed:

Sanding, salting, or placing of other abrasives upon the roadway that are slick, slippery, and dangerous due to the formation of frost.

Placing of additional warning or regulatory signs warning of impaired sight distances, visibility at intersections, road blockages, one-lane conditions, or that the road surface is slick or slippery, or what the advised speed should be.

SECTION 5 – CLARIFICATION ON PORTIONS OF CITY CODE

This Section shall clarify portions of Chapter 12, Section 91.1.e, of the Robins City Code. This clarification may pertain to any of the previous sections of this Resolution.

City of Robins Code, Chapter 12, Section 91.1.e states:

"The Town Marshal may remove or direct the removal of a vehicle from as street or other public property to the nearest garage other place of safety, or to a garage designated and maintained by the town, under the following circumstances:

e. When a vehicle is parked as to interfere with the prompt and orderly removal of snow from the streets. …"

Owners of vehicles parked on residential streets are encouraged to park their vehicles in their driveways when weather conditions require plowing snow from streets by the City of the City’s contractor. When parked vehicles impede or interfere with the removal of snow, the Superintendent of Public Works, or his/her delegate representative, is authorized to issue a warning notice to the owner of the vehicle. The warning will require the vehicle owner to move the vehicle immediately. The vehicle owner shall move the vehicle so the street may be plowed and snow removed from the traveled portion of the roadway. If the vehicle is not moved so as to allow for the removal of snow, the City Police may remove or direct the removal of the vehicle (as outlined in Chapter 12, Section 91.1).

SECTION 5 – EMERGENCY

The sequence of service may be suspended during "Emergency" conditions. As "Emergency" condition shall be considered as one where a loss of life is probable, where a serious injury has occurred, or where extensive loss of property is imminent. These conditions should be verified through a physician’s or sheriff’s office. The City will respond to all "Emergency" conditions, either during or after a snowstorm.

The provisions of the Resolution shall be further suspended in the event the Governor, by proclamation, implements the State or County disaster plan, or the city’s Mayor, by proclamation, implements a City Disaster plan. If such occurs, the City personnel and equipment shall be immediately subject to the direction of the Mayor and Superintendent of Public Works.

PASSED AND APPROVED this 1^st day of November, 1999.

signed, James G. Arneal

Mayor

ATTEST:

signed, Marilyn P. Cook

City Clerk