Mayor looks for ideas to improve storm response
The city will conduct a review of how it responds to major winter storms, with the possibility of reworking road clearance schedules and the way parking enforcement gives out tickets.
Mayor Michael Fougere announced the move Monday at city hall. He said he’s asked administration to come back with a list of proposals in the wake of the more than 30 centimetres of snowfall that hit Regina earlier this month. He signalled a wide range of ideas he wants staff to consider.
“We may or may not have to change our road clearing system,” Fougere said. “We want to look at how quickly we clear streets where there are hospitals, seniors’ homes, bus routes and schools.”
Under existing policy, residential streets are cleared after 25 centimetres of snowfall. Fougere said staff should examine whether that’s a good number and evaluate how many days should elapse before the work is set for completion.
He also floated the idea of clearing snow ridges left in front of driveways, saying that’s one of the most frequent concerns he’s heard from residents.
But the most significant outcry after this month’s storm came over parking tickets, with public pressure prompting the city to cancel more than 100 tickets after vehicles were stuck in the snow. Fougere said he wants to ensure the city comes up with a policy that combines safety and “compassion” to ensure he doesn’t have to declare another ticket amnesty.
“We need to look at how parking enforcement is done during the storms,” he said. “We don’t want to be in a position where we forgive tickets again. That simply cannot happen again.”
The mayor said that the proposals he’s expecting might well have budget implications, something city council will have to weigh in on. It could require additional equipment or staffing costs, he speculated.
We want to look at how quickly we clear streets where there are hospitals, seniors’ homes, bus routes and schools.
Fougere said he wants the proposals to be ready quickly, and hopes that any changes can be made in time for next winter.
He said the review will absolutely not rehash any of the proposals first raised by Couns. Lori Bresciani and Andrew Stevens to make sidewalk shovelling mandatory under the possible penalty of fines. That idea was rejected by council last month.