City plans for snow removal

SANDPOINT— Sandpoint officials have updated the city’s proactive response plan for winter weather and announced its priority network for snow removal.

Sandpoint experiences approximately 30 days of winter weather each year with an average annual snowfall of 58 inches. Winter weather conditions typically occur between November and March, said city staff.

Rate and accumulation of snowfall, temperature, time of day, visibility, wind, and traffic are among the variables that affect decisions made regarding each storm, said city staff. And so the city has to have a plan for unpredictable conditions.

City officials said that responding to winter weather conditions requires a collaboration between the city and its citizens. Sandpoint currently dedicates up to 12 operators to help tackle snow, ice, and slush. City officials said their mission is to provide the greatest level of service and safety to the traveling public.

The city monitors weather conditions 24 hours a day in order to provide a proactive response and strives to continuously improve operations to best serve citizens, said city officials.

Crews will plow all streets, including residential, when it snows two inches or more.

Response plan provides proactive pretreatment of priority one and two streets, proactive scheduling of crews for nearly 24 hour coverage, an emphasis on streets traveled most and seasonal parking rules.

Officials said crews will provide timely communication through the city’s Engage Sandpoint app and through its snow hotline at 208-920-SNOW.

Sandpoint has a priority network of streets because it is impractical physically and fiscally to give all streets an equal level of services and maintain near continuous coverage, said city staff. In being consistent with other municipalities, available resources focus on the streets most traveled and on those that provide access to essential services.

“Streets with higher intensity use have a higher priority for snow removal service,” said city staff.

Residential streets require proportionally more time for snow removal for the amount if traffic served and so have a lower priority. Updated for winter 2021/2022 Ella Avenue between Pine and Chestnut has been elevated to Priority 1. Lincoln Avenue between Pine and Ontario has also been elevated to Priority 1.

An updated version of the priority network map will be posted by the city on Nov. 22.

Street-parked vehicles negatively impact the city’s ability to perform snow removal services in a timely manner during snow and ice events, said city staff. Parked cars also can restrict access by snow removal equipment. In order to help crews complete operations safely and in a timely manner, officials asked residents to park on the even side of the street between Nov. 1 and March 1, unless posted otherwise.

The “even” side of the street are those with even numbered addresses. Once the snow event has ended and the odd side of the street has been plowed, residents should move their vehicles to the odd side of the street to allow for plowing. Once all priority routes are passable and resources become available then crews will plow the even side of the street.

Street parking downtown is not permitted between the hours of 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. Vehicles on the left side of the street, when not in accordance with the policy, are subject to being towed at the owner’s expense.

All street parked vehicles must be cleared of snow within 24 hours of any storm so plow operators can clearly see vehicles.

The city may issue a no-parking order that prohibits street parking when snowfall has accumulated or is expected to accumulate a sufficient amount to pose a hazard to health, safety and/or welfare, said city staff.

The order will detail which location of town and what times apply. Push notifications will be sent through the Engage Sandpoint app and the city’s Facebook Page regarding the order.

For the city snow hotline call 208-920-SNOW