Report to: General Committee Report
Date:
SUBJECT: Winter
Maintenance Level of Service Review
PREPARED BY: Paul
Ingham, General Manager,
RECOMMENDATION:
That the report
entitled ‘Winter
And that the
And that the qualification
criteria for residents making application for the Town’s windrow removal
program be reduced from 65 years of age to 60 years of age as outlined in
Attachment ‘A’ of this report.
And that the 2008
And that a working
group, consisting of members of Council and staff, be established to review
current winter maintenance levels of service and report back to Council in the
spring of 2008 on opportunities and action items for service level
improvements.
And that Staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to
give effect to this resolution.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
Not applicable
PURPOSE:
To recommend opportunities to enhance winter maintenance service levels
on local roads throughout the Town of Markham and to reduce the age limit
qualification criteria for the Town’s windrow clearing assistance program, as
outlined in Attachment ‘A’ of this report.
BACKGROUND:
On
The
OPTIONS/
DISCUSSION:
Revised level of service for local road plowing
Throughout the winter season the Town experiences several snowfall
events where accumulations do not meet the Town’s 7.5 cm threshold for local
road plowing. During the early onset of
winter these snowfalls generally do not cause undue difficulty for traffic on
local roads as favourable weather conditions usually prevail and the snow melts
off within one or two days. During
January and February, when temperatures are much colder for extended periods of
time, these smaller snowfall accumulations result in a hard-packed snow and ice
on local roads.
The
Revised criteria for windrow removal program
The snow windrow is defined as the portion of snow that is left at the
end of the driveway after road clearing equipment has plowed the municipal
road.
The
Winter Maintenance Service Standards
In December 2006,
Council identified the need to establish their four year mandate and priority
plans for the Town. Council and senior town staff held several in-house
workshops between January 2007 and March 2007 to identify a broad range of
strategic areas of focus that would guide the Town. Council and senior staff identified six areas
of strategic focus– growth, environment, transportation, diversity,
core/essential services, parks, recreation, libraries and public safety - along
with action plans.
The Core/Essential
Services issues identified by Council and senior staff recognized a need to
identify the service levels at which the Town should deliver services; measure
the actual levels at which they are delivered; and, revise policies and/or
programs to reduce the gap.
Following the
FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS AND TEMPLATE: (external link)
Revised level of service for local road plowing
Based on average snowfall events over the past five years, the
The potential cost increase to provide two additional local road
plowings is $160,000 per year, based on the current estimated cost of
approximately $80,000 per occurrence. By
eliminating the ice/snow-packed conditions on local roads, additional savings
of approximately $100,000 may be realized through reduced frequency of local
road sanding/salting. The estimated net
cost to provide for two additional local road plowing occurrences is $60,000
per year.
Revised criteria for windrow removal program
During the 2006/2007 winter season the
Based on the current windrow removal contract price of $6.50 per
driveway per occurrence, the
The total estimated net cost, to both reduce the age threshold criteria
from 65 to 60 years of age and to increase the frequency of providing the
service from approximately five times per season to seven times per season,
will be approximately $30,000.
The
RECOMMENDED
BY: ________________________ ________________________
Paul Ingham
General
Manager,
Community
& Fire Services
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment ‘A’ – Snow Windrow Removal Program (revised)
ATTACHMENT ‘A’
SNOW WINDROW REMOVAL PROGRAM
Definition: The snow windrow is defined as the portion of snow that is left at the
end of the driveway after road clearing equipment has plowed the municipal
road.
Level of Service: The Town of Markham will clear the windrow of snow placed across the end of the driveway
by snow plow equipment, for residents
approved for the program, within a reasonable time after the snow plow has
passed the driveway (generally less than 6hrs).
Qualifications: To qualify for the program all
individuals residing in the household who are 60 years of age or older must
provide proof of age. All individuals
residing in the household under 60 years of age umst provide a current and
valid doctor’s certificate confirming that they are physically unable to clear
snow.
Important
Information for Homeowners:
·
The
Town reserves the right to decide when snow windrow removal service will take
place. Generally, crews will be dispatched
to clear windrows fo snow (one car width only) on primary roads following a 5
cm (2”) snowfall and on local roads following a 7.5 cm (3”) snowfall.
·
This
service does not include the windrow of snow left by the sidewalk plow.
·
The
·
Any
obstruction at the end of individual’s driveways must be removed.
·
The
Town is not responsible for any damage to individual’s driveways or landscaping
features located within the road allowance.
·
Please
ensure your house number is visible and illuminated.
·
Please
notify the Town if you move from the address on file or if an any time a
resident not covered by the qualification criteria moves into the home on a
permanent and/or temporary basis.
·
Failure
to comply with the conditions to qualify for this service and/or
misrepresentation of information may result in the immediate termination of the
service.