OPS-06 Snow Removal & Ice Control Policy (2024, amended 2026) — full text, Houston, British Columbia

This is the exact embedded text of the captured official document. Snapshot 0f56a7934a73 · verified 2026-10-19 · original document · archived snapshot · unofficial consolidation, the official version is held by the municipal clerk.

DISTRICT OF HOUSTON SNOW REMOVAL & ICE CONTROL POLICY OPS-06 APPROVED BY: Council EFFECTIVE: November 19, 2024 UPDATED: September 22, 2026 RESOLUTION: ***0239-2024, ***0184-2026 (amendment) REPLACES: Snow Removal & Ice Control Policy OPS-01 (December 07, 2021) SUBJECT: OPS-06 Snow Removal & Ice Control Policy CERTIFIED TRUE COPY 1. PURPOSE & APPLICATION WHEREAS the Council of the District of Houston seeks to ensure safe passage for vehicles and pedestrians by conducting timely snow and ice control operations on roads and sidewalks, as prioritized by Council and outlined in Schedules A and B of this policy. AND WHEREAS the Council believes that the snow and ice control system established by this policy represents a reasonable allocation of budgetary resources, personnel, and equipment while considering other social and financial priorities. BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Council of the District of Houston adopts the following Snow and Ice Control Policy: 2. DEFINITIONS a. Roads: Asphalt roads and lanes within the district. b. Minimum Snow Event: Snowfall accumulation of less than 7.7 centimeters (3 inches). c. Snow Plowing: The operation of moving snow from roadways using equipment such as graders, loaders, and plow trucks. Snow may not be cleared to bare pavement. d. Snow Removal: The process of removing snow piles from around town to disposal sites. Plowing snow into windrows, loading it onto trucks, and transporting it to disposal sites. e. Ice Control: Operations to prevent the buildup of packed snow or ice on roads using equipment and a mix of salt and road sand. f. De-Icing sidewalks: Using sand, treated sand or ice melt to de-ice the sidewalks. g. Sanding: The application of treated or dry sand to roadways for improved vehicle traction. h. Passable Condition: Roads are deemed passable for vehicles equipped with proper winter tires, even if snow or ice accumulations remain. This condition does not imply bare pavement. i. Compacted Snow Surface: Snow compacted on roadways by traffic or levelled by plowing operations. 3. SNOW CONTROL: ROADS 1. Director's Responsibility: The Director of Operations or his designate(s) will direct the initiation of Snow Plowing operations after snow accumulation of 3 inches (7.7 cm) or more. 2. Priority Routes: Snow Plowing priorities are categorized as: o Priority 1 Roads (high priority), o Priority 2 Roads (secondary priority), o Priority 3 Roads (tertiary priority). o Priority routes are defined in Appendix A. POLICY OPS-06 Snow Removal & Ice Control Policy Page 2 of 5 3. Emergency Snow Plowing: During Major Snow Events, the director may allocate resources to maintain emergency routes in a Passable Condition. 4. Plowing Standards: Snow Plowing shall ensure: o Passable Condition on Priority 1, followed by Priority 2 and 3 zones. 5. Initial Focus on Priority 1 Roads: Clearing operations will begin after 7.7 cm (approximately 3 inches) of snow accumulates. Private contractors may be dispatched to ensure public safety if Priority 1 roads cannot be cleared within 6 to 10 hours. Priority 1 Roads will be plowed and maintained to a Passable Condition throughout a snow event before addressing lower-priority roads. 6. Sequential Clearing: Once Priority 1 Roads are passable, Priority 2 Roads will be plowed to a Passable Condition. Clearing operations will begin after snow accumulates 10.16 cm (approximately 4 inches). If priority 2 roads cannot be cleared within 24 to 48 hours, private contractors may be dispatched to ensure public safety. Additionally, staff on call-out routes will only be assigned to clear Priority 1 and 2 roads. This is followed by Priority 3 Roads, where clearing operations will begin after 15.24 cm. (approximately 6 inches) of snow accumulates. If priority three roads cannot be cleared within 72 to 120 hours, private contractors may be dispatched to ensure public safety. At the discretion of the Director of Operations, snowboards may be done with priority areas 1 and 2 scheduled to facilitate better use of the equipment. 7. Snow Removal: Snow Removal will occur when snow storage capacity is exceeded, preventing safe vehicle or pedestrian movement. It will follow the priority routes in Appendix A. 8. Temporary Road Closures: When resources are insufficient to maintain safe conditions, the Director of Operations or his designate(s) may temporarily close roads until resources become available. 4. ROAD SANDING 1. Priority for Ice Control: The same routes used for Snow Removal (Appendix A) will apply for Ice Control and Sanding. The District will not use chemical ice control on roads other than that affected by salt mixed with road sand. 2. Priority 1 Roads: Ice Control and Sanding will begin on Priority 1 Roads, maintaining them in a Passable Condition. 3. Priority 2 Roads: Ice Control and Sanding will commence on Priority 2 Roads after Priority 1 Roads are in a Passable Condition. 4. Priority 3: Ice Control and Sanding will commence on Priority 3 Roads after Priority 2 Roads are in a Passable Condition. 5. Sanding Specifics: Sanding will be applied on: o Hills, o Curves, o School zones, o Bus stops, o 30 meters before signalized intersections, 4. SNOW/ICE CONTROL: SIDEWALKS POLICY OPS-06 Snow Removal & Ice Control Policy Page 3 of 5 1. Responsibility of Property Owners: Snow Plowing and Ice Control of sidewalks is the responsibility of the adjacent resident or business. 2. Municipal Responsibility: The District will be responsible for Snow Plowing and Ice Control on sidewalks bordering municipal properties and will follow a priority system defined in Appendix B. 3. Initiating Sidewalk Snow Control: The Director of Operations or designate(s) will direct Snow Plowing and Ice Control after 7.7 centimetres (3 inches) of snowfall. 4. Sidewalk Priority: Sidewalks will be prioritized as follows: o Priority 1: High-priority sidewalks cleared within 6-10 hours of snowfall termination, o Priority 2: Cleared within 24-48 hours of snowfall termination, o Priority 3: Cleared within 72-120 hrs of snowfall termination. 5. THAT Snow Plowing and Ice Control conducted on Priority 1 and 2 sidewalks by the District of Houston shall not absolve the resident or business of which the sidewalk fronts. 6. THAT costs for Snow Plowing and Ice Control on Priority 1 and 2 sidewalks by the District of Houston may be invoiced to the resident or business of which the sidewalk fronts. 5. ROAD MAINTENANCE TRANSFER AGREEMENT 1. The District of Houston and Lakes District Maintenance (LDM) agree to exchange specific road maintenance responsibilities within and around the municipal boundary of Houston, BC. 2. Specific details of the agreement are attached as Appendix C. 6. RECORD KEEPING The Director of Operations or their designate(s) shall maintain documentation, including: 1. Daily weather forecasts, 2. Records of Snow Plowing, Removal, Ice Control, and Sanding operations, noting equipment used and operators involved, 3. GPS records of equipment, 4. Public complaints and responses. POLICY OPS-06 Snow Removal & Ice Control Policy Page 4 of 5 APPENDIX A 1) Priority 1 roads and sidewalks are as follows: I) Roads: I.I) West of Buck Creek - From Shop to West 5th Tweedie to Mountainview Drive to Walker (turn around at school) - W14th Street (Clinic Road) - Caledonia Avenue to the Christian School - Hagman Cres to Pearson to Olsson to Goold to Kanata to Hamblin Frontage - Gushwa Crescent - Estates Drive Houston I.II) East of Buck Creek - Copeland from Highway 16 to 14th Street to Butler Avene - Butler Avenue from Highway 16th to 14th - Poulton from 9th Street to 14th Street - 11th, 12th, 13th Streets - 9th and 10th Street - Loader only - Butler Avenue from Highway 16 to Riverbank Drive - Riverbank Drive from Butler Avenue to Omineca Way/Poplar Street/Equity Mine Road - Avalon Avenue to East Valley Road 2) Priority 2 area will include all other District roads and SLDM trade-off roads and: Parking lots - Senior Citizen's Home (Cottonwood Manor) - Municipal Office and Fire Hall - Public Works Yard - Community Hall - Arena& Leisure Facility - Walking Bridge - Pathway from Cottonwood Manor to Mall - 9th Street Parking at Highway 16 - 10th Street Parking lot at 3448 10th Street 3) Priority 3 areas will include: - Only windrows caused by a grader in residential and commercial driveways, - Snowboards - Private property as follows: i) Seniors' Activity Centre ii) Specific requests regarding health and safety, iii) Removal of compacted snow and ice and shoulder widening POLICY OPS-06 Snow Removal & Ice Control Policy Page 5 of 5 Snow and Ice Control Sidewalk areas: 1. Priority 1: - W Copeland Avenue from Highway 16 to 14th Street - N 9th Street from Highway 16 to Butler Avenue - S 99th Street from Highway 16 to Butler Avenue - N 10th Street from Copeland to Butler Avenue - S 10th Street from Copeland to Butler Avenue - N 11th Street from Copeland to Senior Centre - W Butler Avenue from Highway 16 to 11th Street - W Poulton Av from 9th Street to 11th Street - E Poulton Av from 9th Street to 11th Street - SW 14th Street - E Mountainview Drive from 14th Street to Hangman Crescent - N Hangman Crescent from Mountainview Drive to Pearson Road 2. Priority 2: All sidewalks adjacent to municipal properties and fire hydrants. The order followed will be: - N Highway 16 from Buck Creek to Butler Avenue - S Highway 16f from Buck Creek to Butler Avenue - All other sidewalks that are adjacent to municipal properties. 3. Priority 3: Other sidewalks not specified in previous zones if resources and personnel are available. APPENDIX B H N LDM Maintained Roads LDM Maintained Roads Road Centrelines 6 D Parcels Rivers & Streams Lakes/Rivers Wetlands ' d;-;:; I -...,,,__...., ,.. ,{11"'.- .... _-_--:_--_-_-_-:::::::,.--- -,·.. 3 Ok; J ' l--------s-ca "'" 1e_:_1,..:1:-:2c:s-::,oc:o"'o---------j · z 2,000 4,000 Meters ,,.wM,,O,,n <e:;:,oo:::oc;:::oo!,:- =""::,;R;;::- :;oo:!-',:;:ois::!trict>-:_:e,:::ra?::;:-;:;:e@::;G ;:::oo:;::-,:,.- ____ .,;'.,;'°'', ocA:'.:l:OaB 0 ·?·.·.:- ··:·· .. ··:-: J Appendix C