Sidewalk Snow Clearing

The Works Committee recommends the adoption of the report dated September 17, 1999, from the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services.

The Works Committee reports, for the information of Council, having requested:

(1)the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services, in consultation with the Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism, to submit a report directly to Council for its meeting on October 26, 27 and 28, 1999, on the steps that would be taken to protect in-ground trees in sidewalks to be cleared of snow by mechanized equipment; and

(2)the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services to report to the Committee on options for a policy to provide snow removal on private property, including the financial implications of providing such a service at no cost to seniors and those with physical disabilities, and also reporting on snow removal in the York community area under the Sno-Link program, and the option to extend that program City-wide.

The Works Committee submits the following report (September 17, 1999) from the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services:

Purpose:

City Council requested a report be submitted with a proposal and financial plan to implement a four-year phase-in of all sidewalk snow clearing across the City.

Funding Sources:

Funds in the amount of $2.05 million will be identified in the Department's Year 2000 Current Budget Estimates.

Recommendations:

It is recommended that:

(1)approval, in principle, be granted to implement a phase-in plan for sidewalk snow clearing as outlined in this report, at an annual total estimated cost of $8.3 million after four years;

(2)the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services provide an annual report on the status of the sidewalk snow clearing program during the phase-in period; and

(3)this report and Committee recommendations be forwarded to the Policy and Finance Committee and be referred to the Budget Advisory Committee for consideration with the Year 2000 Operating Budget.

Council Reference:

At its meeting held on April 20, 1999, Council directed that:

(i)a four-year phase-in of all sidewalk clearing across the City, at an estimated cost of $7.7 million at the end of the phase-in, begin as follows: that the areas of the City currently provided with sidewalk snow clearing be maintained in 1999 at a level of eight clearings per winter season (North York from 14 to eight; East York from six to eight; Scarborough and York unchanged), and that additional funding in the amount of $250 thousand, be recommended in order to provide the year one of four increases; and

(ii)the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services, in consultation with the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, report back to the Budget Committee by September 30, 1999, with a proposal and financial plan to achieve this within four years, beginning in winter 1999/2000; specifically providing the cost for the year 2000, so that pre-budget approval can be given, if necessary; addressing the possible redeployment of City staff that are currently part of snow clearing programs, or may be available to assist in snow clearing programs, to increase efficiencies and reduce costs; and giving priority to arterial roads with transit, as the program is phased in.

Comments:

During the 1999 Current Budget review process, Council directed that public sidewalk snow clearing be provided for all senior citizens. Furthermore, Council instructed the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services to develop a four-year plan for clearing of snow from all City sidewalks and report back to the Budget Committee. Since this report is recommending level of service implications, it has been sent to the Works Committee for consideration.

Last winter, the City had a budget of approximately $4.3 million for sidewalk snow clearing. The level of service varied greatly across the City, from clearing all sidewalks in the North York area to very limited service in the Etobicoke and City core areas. Scarborough and York basically cleared only main roads, and East York provided a limited service depending on the amount of snowfall.

It is proposed that the basis of the new sidewalk plan be the continuation of all existing sidewalk snow clearing programs at a level of eight cleanings per winter season, including the senior citizen snow removal program. The augmentation of existing services to include all City sidewalks over a four-year period is proposed as follows:

Phase I-1999-2000 Winter Season:

-in addition to the existing sidewalk clearing programs in place across the City, sidewalks on arterial roads and street car routes be cleared.

Phase II-2000-2001 Winter Season:

-all collector road sidewalks would be cleared.

Phase III-Local road sidewalks which act as school routes, senior citizen routes, or are adjacent to commercial areas would also be cleared.

Phase IV-The remainder of local road sidewalks would be cleared.

The budget increases required to expand the sidewalk clearing program are as follows:

The amount of the funding is based on providing eight clearings per winter season. The amount of expenditure incurred could vary significantly depending on the severity of the winter season. In addition, an allowance has been made for sanding sidewalks if icy conditions exist.

The clearing of snow from the sidewalks would be done primarily by a small tractor or similar type of unit. In certain areas where the sidewalks are narrow, hand clearing or the use of small snow blower units will be required. This type of operation will be labour intensive and relatively expensive. During the past winter, the former City of Toronto area had at times over 300 personnel hand shovelling sidewalks. The personnel was made up of a combination of City staff and hired casual labourers. In the future, when all the sidewalks are cleared, the amount of hand shovelling is expected to decrease significantly, and the number of casual staff employed will decrease accordingly.

Transportation Services staff have reviewed the need to redeploy staff from other divisions/departments to assist in the snow clearing effort. Our review has concluded that in a typical winter storm of 8 to 15 cms, the Transportation Services Division has sufficient forces (staff and contractor) to clear the snow within a reasonable time period. In addition, the City is continuing to provide regular municipal services (i.e., solid waste collection, watermain and sewer repairs, etc.) hence any staff that may be of an assistance are continuing to work on their regular duties which, in most cases, would not be temporarily suspended.

In developing the sidewalk snow clearing program, staff have made assumptions concerning costs and productivity levels based on the existing sidewalk programs, plus allowance for hand shovelling. The clearing of sidewalks in the downtown core of the City will be encumbered because of the narrow size of the sidewalks, plus the many encroachments which currently exist. It is recommended that during the phase-in period, an annual report be submitted providing a status of the program and proposing any required modifications.

Finance staff have reviewed this report and are in concurrence with the recommendations and conclusions.

Conclusion:

The sidewalk clearing program is intended to be expanded over a four-year period to include the clearing of all municipal sidewalks. It is proposed to initially be expanded to include all arterial roads, plus streetcar routes. It is estimated that the additional funds required will be approximately $8.3 million annually. It is proposed that the program and funding be reviewed annually over the phase-in period to determine if any appropriate modifications are required.

Contact Name:

Gary H. Welsh, P. Eng.

Director, District 4

Transportation Services

Telephone: 396-7842; Fax: 396-5681

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The following persons appeared before the Works Committee in connection with the foregoing matter:

-Councillor John Adams, Midtown;

-Councillor George Mammoliti, North York Humber; and

-Councillor Joe Pantalone, Trinity Niagara.