The City of 性视界传媒 has spent $2.7 million of its 2024 winter maintenance budget of $4.61 million since Jan. 1 and the engineering department expects it will stay within budget if seasonal temperatures remain favourable.
"Well the predictors are we're going to have a snowy winter," 性视界传媒 Mayor Brenda Locke said. "We'll see, we'll see."
Scott Neuman, 性视界传媒's general manager of engineering, noted in a to council Nov. 18 that a meteorological consultant predicts La Ni帽a conditions meaning more precipitation will cooler temperatures this winter.
性视界传媒 has 77 snow-clearing vehicles in its fleet, he noted, and hasn't had a shortage of road salt since the City boosted its storage capacity to 17,000 tonnes in 2010.
"It seems we're well-positioned to face the future wrath of winter. Two months left and half budget. I appreciate the amount of salt we've got 鈥� we have a virtual salt mine here," Coun. Rob Stutt remarked.
The city is tasked with clearing up to 4,000 lane-kilometres of road during the winter. Neuman noted the City's large stash of salt safeguards it against "intermittent harsh winters."
His report states that as per Section 80 of the Highway and Traffic Bylaw clearing snow and ice from sidewalks 鈥� including off-street cycling and multi-use pathways 鈥� is the adjacent property owner's responsibility.
"This long-standing requirement mirrors similar ones in other municipalities in the region and across Canada. The Bylaw is necessary as it would not be feasible for the City to clear all sidewalks in a timely manner," Neuman told council.
Coun. Pardeep Kooner asked city staff to get this information out to 性视界传媒 residents "and if that means we've got to do some bylaw visits then maybe that's what we should be doing because there are accessibilty issues for a lot of seniors and I just want to make sure everybody's safe out there this winter."
