Snow and Ice Control Policy Revisions; Stadler�
Public Works Department
CITY OF HOPKINS
Memorandum
To: Honorable Mayor and Council Members
Mike Mornson, City Manager
From: Steve Stadler, Public Works Director GZ�' "'
Date
Subject:
PURPOSE
Jay Strachota, Streets/Parks Superintendent
July 17, 2019
Snow & Ice Control Policy Revisions
To explain and discuss proposed revisions to the City's snow and ice control procedures,
including snow emergencies and on-street parking. The goal of any revisions to the current
policy/procedures are to improve the understanding, predictability and effectiveness of the
City's snow and ice control operations for all residents and business owners and to improve
Public Works efficiency while also meeting customers' expectations.
INFORMATION
I think that it's fair to state that we generally meet or exceed expectations regarding our winter
maintenance services on our streets, alleys, parking lots and pedestrian ways. Each snow
season we get many more compliments than complaints regarding our response to winter
storms. The vast majority of our complaints are due to plow-arounds in the few areas with
heavy on-street parking and adjacent, impacted driveways. Nonetheless, we believe that we
may be able to improve resident compliance of the "no parking on city streets" policy and the
overall quality of our services by instituting the recommendations listed on the attachment. We
have met twice with the Hopkins Police leadership and they have agreed to partner with Public
Works to provide for the daytime snow emergency towing operations and the enforcement
necessary if the Central Business District parking restrictions become seasonal instead of year-
round. The only city-wide change isn't a policy change, it's simply adding the ability to call and
enforce a daytime snow emergency, in addition to the evening snow emergencies.
FUTURE ACTIONS
If approved, we would communicate the revisions via direct mailings to properties near the new
seasonal on-street parking restriction areas, windshield notices in the areas where there are the
most vehicle tows during snow emergencies, September/October Hopkins Highlights, City
Website front page notices this fall, info sheets to HAMA, etc. We will be recommending
revisions to Legislative Policy 8-F, Snow and Ice Control Policies and Procedures, to reflect
current operations and any approved changes.
ATTACH M E NTS
1. Snow and Ice Control Recommendations
2. Legislative Policy 8-F
SNOW AND ICE CONTROL POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS July 23, 2019
1. More seasona) parking restrictions for certain streets
• We recommend seasonal parking restrictions, no parking on one side of
the street from Nov 15 — Apr 15, on the following street segments:
0 14th Ave N from Mainstreet to 15t St N, east side of the street
0 13t" Ave S from 1st St S to 2"d St S, east side of the street
0 2nd St S east of 12th Ave, no parking in the dead end section
2. Ticketing only or ticketing and towing after the initial plowing
• This would be done as needed and/or complaint-based to obvious on-
street parking violators, less stringent late in the winter season
3. More focused education in problem areas
• Direct mailings, windshield notices, boulevard signs, HAMA coordination
4. Continue with the late afternoon snow emergencies, evening
tagging/towing with city volunteer employees & Bobby & Steve's towing
services with plowing in the early morning hours, typically a 2 am start
5. Add the ability to call Snow emergency in early morning hours with towing
of on-street vehicles occurring in late morning/early afternoon prior to mid-
day plowing
• Snow line likely updated the previous evening to warn of probability of
snow emergency the following day
• Code Red message several hours before towing starts, on/about 7-8 am
• Police Officers and/or reserve officers would be used to accompany the
tow trucks, record license plates, authorize towing
• Used for those snowstorms that end late morning/early afternoon
• Plowing would start at/near end of snowfall, completed about 6 pm
• 2+ inch trigger snow depth at time of Code Red message
• The time of season and short term forecast would play a factor on
whether or not to call a snow emergency, i.e. less likely in late March
6. Add parking lot 750 as a snow emergency lot
7. Relax Central Business District parking restrictions, no parking 2-5 am, to
, winter season only, Nov 1— May 1, for the avenues only. Currently, the
CBD parking restrictions are year-round. Mainstreet would stay as-is with
year-round no parking 2-5 am parking restriction. The Police Dept has
committed to the necessary enforcement for this new policy.
POLICY 8-F
SNO�W AND ICE CONTROL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
1. PU�RPOSE
1.01 The City of Hopkins bel:ieves that it is in. the �best interest of the resid.ents for the city to
assume basic responsibility for control of snow aud ice on city streets, Reasonable ice and
snow control is necessaty for routine travel and emergen:cy services. The city will provide
such control in a safe and cost effective manner, keeping in m:ind safety, budget, personnel
a»d environmental concerns. The city wi]] use ci.ty employees, equipment and/or private
contractors to provide this service.
2. CITY CODES
2.01 Hopkins City Codes 1305.31 and 1305.33 are referenced and provide the basis for this
policy.
3. POLICY
3.01 The Hopkins Public Works Department sllall endeavor to �naintain the city's street systein in
a safe and tra�elable condition. Snowplowing and sanding operations will be accoinplished
by subdividing the city's transportation system into a number of snowplowing routes equal
to the number of snowplowing vehicles available.
Within each of the areas, the collector and thoroughfare streets are c�efined as well as areas
of steep grades and hazardous alignments that need extra care. Ec�uipment is assigned to
these zones based oil the amount of effort required.
The call out of equipment is dependent upon the time and severity of the snowfall. The most
critical times are mo.rnin� and evening rush hour periods. The plail is designed, it at al1
feasible, to have the snow removed from collectors, thoroughfares, and hazardous areas
prior to the beginning of these rusll hour periods. Subsequent to the priorities of the rush
hour period, the remaining streets in residential anci coi�nmercial areas are plowed.
Snow and ice control operations are expensive and involve the use of limited personnel and
equipment. Consequently, snowplowing operations will not generally be conducted for
snowfall of less than two inches.
4. SN�OW EMERGEN�CIES
4.01 Hopkins City Code prohibits �arking on any public street or parking lot, including the
parking ra�np, after a snowfall of two (2) inches or more until the street has been plowed t�
the curb or removed from the street. The depth of the snow is detennined by city
monitoring device(s).
4.02 Cars normally parked on the street should be relocated to a parking area off the street when
there is a snowfall of two (2) iuches or more. The city offers two locations for parking
during this time: 1) Lot 300 north of Downtown Park, and 2) Railroad right-of-way
between 9th and 20th Avenues. Cars parked on th. e street or i�1 a municipal parki»g lot
(other than the two mentioned above) nlay be ticketed ai�d towed to allow for efficieni
snowplowing.
Le�islative Policy Manual -- Chaptcr �-F
4.03 Snow emergencies may be declared by the Public Works Departi�nent r�vhenever a snow
accumulation is two inches or greater. Snow emergencies declared after 10 p.m. will result
in towing operations beginning at $ a.m. on the following day.
4.04 If a snow emergency is de�lared, the Police Department will initiate notification procedures
and w.ill coordinate with public works on the removal of ill,egally parked vehicles.
4.Q5 Natification of s�ow einergencies will be accomplished 'm two �vays:
a. Police Department will place a recorded message on the Police Department's "SNOW
LINE" detailing local snow plowing/towing regulations, whether �r not a"snow
emergency" has been declared, and procedures to follow when claiming a vehicle that
has been towed. The snow line may be accessed by dialing 939-1399.
b. Police Department will notify WCCO AM radio and WCCO TV to renuest public
notification of a snow einergency and to outl'ule the regulations stated in Section 4.01
and 4.02.
4.06 Coordination of the towing and retrievu�g of vehicles shall be the responsibility of the Police
Department.
5. PROCEDURE
5.01 How sno�v will be plowed. Snow will be plowed in a manner so as to nunimize any traffic
obstructions. In most situations, the center of the roadway will be plowed first. The snow
shall then be pushed from left to right. The discharge shall go onto the boulevard area of the
street. When a plow goes on a bridge, the driver shall slow down so that snow does not go
over the bridge if possible. In times of extreme snowfall, streets will not always immediately
be able to be completely cleared of snow.
5.02 5now Removal. The Public Works Department will determine when snow will be removed
by truck from an area. Such. sn.ow removal will. occur in areas where there is no room on the
boulevard for snow storage and in areas where accumulated piles of snow create a
hazardous condition. Snow removal operations wi11 not commence until other snowplowing
operations b.ave been completed. Snow removal operations rnay also be delayed depending
on weat}ier conditions, personnel and budget availability. The snow will be removed aiid
liauled to a snow storage area. The snow storage area wi11 be located so as to minimize
environmental problems.
5.03 Priorities and schedule for which streets will be plowed. The city has classified city
streets based on tlle street function, traffic volume, and importance to the welfare of the
community. Those streets having high priority will be plowed first. These are h.igh volume
streets which connect major sections of the city and provide access for enlergency fire,
police and medical sei�vices.
The second priority streets are those streets providing access to schools and commercial
businesses. Tlie third priority streets are low volume residential stxeets. The fourth priority
area are alleys and city parkillg lots. As :mentioned in the policy statement, the snowplawin�
and sanding operations will be accoinplished by subdivi,ding tlie city's transportation system
into a number of snowplowing routes equal to the number of sn. owplowing vehicles
available.
Legislarive Policy Manual -- Chapter 8-F 2
5.04 Work sehedule for snowplow operators. Snowplow operators will be expected to work
eight-hour shifts. In severe snow emergencies, operators sometimes have to work in excess
of eight-hour shifts. However, because of budget and safery concerns, the city will try not
to work operators more than 12 hours in any 24-hour period.
5.05 VVeather conditions. Snow and ice control operations will be conducted only wlien
weather conditions do not endan�er the safety of eity employees an�d equipment. Factors
that inay delay snow and ice control operations include: severe cold, s.ignificant winds and
limited visibility.
5.06 Use of sand, salt and other chemieals. The city will use sand, salt, and other chemicals
when there are hazardous ice or slippery conditions. The city is concerned about the effect
of such cheinicals on the envuoiunent and will liinit its use for that reason.
6. SIDEWALKS
6,01 Sidewalks - Hopkins City Code requires an owner or the occupant of any property adjacent
to a public sidewallc to remove snow or ice within 12 hours of its deposit. If this is not
done, the city may remove the snow or ice and. bill the property owner. Compliance with
fhis ordinance requirement will help ensure the safety of all.
7. REFUSE CONTAINERS
7.01 Hopkins legislative pol.icies require that reii,tse containers be accessible for pick-up and
placed off street or alley to allow snow removal. This container may have to be placed 'm
the driveway to mee�t both of these requirements. It is the responsibility of the reside�nt to
see tl�at the container is not in the way of the snowplow and is also in a spot accessible to
the garbage truck. Whenever possible, the Publ:ic Works Departinent will attempt to plow
the refuse pick-up route early.
8. MAILBOX�S
8.01 Mailboxes damaged during snow removal will not be replaced by the city, unless there is
physical evidenee that the snow removal vehicle actually hi,t the mailbox. If, due to snow
build-up on the boulevards, mailboxes are tipped or knocked over from fhe wei�ht of the
snow, it shall be the responsibility of the property own.er to repair or replace the mailbox. If
the city is responsible, the mailbox will be replaced with comparable quality items. Residents
are responsible for keeping the mailbox cleared for Post Office deliveries.
9. FIRE HYDRANTS
9.01 Fire hydrants are critical to minimize the poten�tial losses involved in any fire. The �Public
Works and Fire Departments a�ttetnpt to clear �access to hydrants as quickly as possible after
a storm.
Residents are encouraged to assist the city by clearing hydrants near their property. If
possible, they should be cleared five feet on each side to allow Fire Department access.
10. SAFETY
].0.1 Minnesota statute and Hopkins City Code prohibit plowing, shoveling, blowing, or placing
snow onto publ.ic roadways and boulevards. Placing s�-�ow on a public roadway can subject a
person to civil liability if a road hazard, such as a slippery area, frozen rut, or bump occurs
and causes a traffic acciden.t.
�stablishad ,l0/17/9(
City of H.opkins
Le�islative Policy Manual -- Chapter 8-P