If the Lower Mainland gets walloped with snow storms this winter like it did the last one, Coquitlam wants to be ready.
Monday, city council approved a $115,000 order for two small brine tanks ($40,000) and four plows and salters ($75,000) capable of being mounted on city trucks.
"Given that severe, persistent winter conditions typically occur at only six- to 10-year intervals in our region, it would be difficult to justify a similar level of investment in snow removal equipment as in some eastern Canadian communities," staff said in a report. "However, we are recommending some enhancements to our fleet by equipping four more large pickup trucks with plows and salters at a relatively low cost."
In the event of a major snow storm, the city's priority is to clear arterial and collector routes. After that, trucks will plow bus routes, hills, and roads next to schools and care facilities before finishing the remaining roads, said a staff report.
The document noted that the new plows will increase the city's snow removal capacity and help clear smaller cul-de-sacs and narrow lanes that were difficult to reach during last season's snow storms. The report added that clearer roads will make it easier for garbage trucks to access certain parts of the city.
Meanwhile, the brine tanks will be used to de-ice civic parking areas, particularly the park-and-ride lots serving the Evergreen Extension, according to city staff.
Starting this fall, the city will also be looking at increasing the number of plough operators it has on hand.
The report to council noted that there are currently 92 qualified operators but new training opportunities will be made available in both the parks and engineering departments to ensure more employees know how to drive the plows "to improve scheduling flexibility."
Last year, the city received 40 to 80 cm of snow accumulation, a dramatic increase from the 2 to 3 cm from the year before. Removal of snow and ice, which is typically budgeted at $900,000 per year, ended up costing $1.5 million in 2016, with another $1.7 million committed for 2017, according to the staff report.
The city maintains a $2-million snow removal fund but after last year's stormy winter, it has been reduced to $450,000. The city uses the money left over from its annual snow removal budget of $900,000 to build the reserve backup.
