At its meeting on March 16, City Council unanimously approved a new Snow and Ice Control Policy, which includes the newly developed Extreme Weather Response Plan for dealing with extreme weather events like the snow storm that hit Airdrie in December 2013.
The Extreme Weather Response Plan allows the City to declare an Extreme Weather Event Emergency and supplement existing resources – equipment and crews – with contracted services.
According to information included in the plan, the level of funding required to hire additional crews and equipment is dependent on the severity of the weather event. For instance, a storm that results in a snow pack of at least 12 cm and/or excessive accumulations on 50 per cent of roads with some residential roads impassable, would trigger extra funding of up to $200,000.
Funding of $1.3 million would be made available in the case of a more severe storm, one that results in a snow pack of at least 25 cm and/or excessive accumulations on 90 per cent of city roads with all residential roadways affected.
Increasing the Snow and Ice Reserve Fund will be done each year to help fund any extreme weather events, subject to the annual budget process. An additional $250,000 was included in the 2015 General Operating Budget for the reserve fund.
Director of Community Infrastructure Lorne Stevens said the new Snow and Ice Control Policy will maintain the current level of service for residents, add in service on some rural roads that have not been covered by the policy previously but that are now part of Airdrie after the 2012 annexation, and include the Extreme Weather Response Plan.
A milder winter has meant that the City has spent less on snow and ice control this year than in 2013/2014, according to Roads Team Leader Mike Avramenko.
“Where we’re definitely going to see the savings is we haven’t had to use any contracted services,” he said. “There’s probably $400,000 in savings there over the year before.”
“I know you guys do a great job and I know how challenging it is with all the things you have to go through,” said Alderman Allan Hunter.
