The purpose of this Snow Management Plan is to define responsibilities and procedures to effectively deal with the winter conditions of snow and ice.

The objective of this Snow Plan is to insure that procedures are defined and followed to maintain safe driving conditions for the motorist or to return the City streets to a safe, usable condition in as short a time period as possible during a major storm event.

As ice and snow directly affect the safety and health of our community, mobilizing and fighting snow/ice is considered an emergency situation requiring Public Works management staff to exercise prudent judgment and make decisions that may extend beyond normal City policies and procedures.

Show Low’s average annual snowfall is approximately 40 inches. The majority of storms in Show Low fall into the six- to eight-inch range and the Snow Management Plan is designed for storms of this size. Alternate plans are also in place for storms that exceed the usual.

Initial response will depend on the time of day of the storm’s onset as well as the expected storm event conditions. If the onset occurs during non-work hours, close coordination between the City’s Police Department and Public Works Streets Division supervisors should insure timely initial response. Refer to the emergency callout procedures (shown as the next item).

After hours, the police dispatcher will notify the Streets Supervisor or his designee of the need for ice control.

The Supervisor will determine the need for additional manpower/equipment due to additional public safety requirements.

In the event of the need for additional manpower/equipment, the Streets Division will react as first responders on limited/full City snow plowing.

In the event of full City snow plowing, Public Works personnel will split into two crews, with additional manpower from other divisions in Public Works.

Four levels of response are defined in the Snow Plan. These are:

Level 1 -Limited ice control 0.5 to 2 inches Two trucks/spreaders

Level 2 -Limited plowing 2+ inches (Less than full City) equipment as needed. This will include removing snow from City parking lots and sidewalks at City buildings.

Level 3 -Full City plowing 3+ inches 9 pieces of equipment, sustained operations

Level 4 -Snow haul-off Loaders plus dump trucks

City-owned parking lots will be plowed by the Parks Maintenance and Facility Maintenance Departments. Parking lots will typically be plowed at two inches+ of accumulation. Hauling away parking lot snow, when required, will be accomplished by the Streets Division.

Sidewalks in front of or abutting City property (buildings, parking lots, parks) will be plowed and shoveled by Parks Maintenance and Facility Maintenance Departments. Jogging and walking trails are plowed by the Parks Department. Plowing sidewalks along state routes are the Streets Division’s responsibility.

The Airport will begin plowing at three inches with a three-man crew and continue 24 hours a day until all runways taxi-lanes and ramps are clear.

For Levels 3 and 4 operations, the mechanics will report to the Public Works shop to repair equipment that breaks. For sustained operations, the mechanics will split into two shifts to provide continuous coverage. The mechanics may be utilized in the plowing effort if it becomes necessary.

During any snow event there is a major increase in phone calls by residents and property owners identifying problems and inquiring when streets will be plowed. Phones will be manned between 7:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. At all other hours the incoming line has voicemail/voice messaging capabilities. Those choosing to leave a message will receive a return call as quickly as possible.

For round-the-clock operations (Levels 3 and 4), a total of 9 pieces of equipment, 18 plow operators, and two mechanics are needed. Additionally, seven operators and four pieces of equipment are needed for the City parking lots and sidewalks. To achieve sustained operations, two shifts will be created, drawing from Public Works, Parks Maintenance, and Facility Maintenance, supplemented with Engineering personnel, as needed.

The Public Works Department fully recognizes the emergency conditions presented by snow and ice. Procedurally, the Snow Management Plan provides an organized approach to combating these emergency conditions. With resident and property owner cooperation, the Public Works Department is ready and able to keep the streets and parking lots safe and drivable during most storm events and, when major snow accumulation occurs, to return the City streets to a safe and drivable condition quickly following the storm event’s cessation

                    10-Wheel Dump w/Plow & Spreader

                    10-Wheel Dump w/Plow & Spreader

                    10-Wheel Dump w/Plow & Spreader

                    6-Wheel Dump w/Plow & Spreader

                    6-Wheel Dump w/Plow & Spreader

                    6 Loader w/Plow

                    7 Loader w/Plow

                    8 Loader w/Plow

                    9 Grader w/Plow

Snow removal operations will be accomplished by operation levels in the sequence listed below. Resources permitting some lower-priority snow removal may be accomplished concurrently with higher priorities as long as public safety requirements are not jeopardized. Strict control will be exercised so snow removal operations are optimized.

            0.5 to 2 inches

             Priority 1 Spot ice control as needed per road conditions

            2 to 3 inches

Priority 1 Limited plowing. Problem areas monitored. Hills, curves, and intersections plowed and abrasives applied as needed. School bus routes, collector roads, and transit routes will be closely monitored, plowed, and/or abrasives applied as needed. City-owned parking lots and sidewalks at City buildings will be cleared.

            3+ inches

Full callout of snow-fighting equipment. Twelve-hour shifts will operate around the clock until storms have passed and all City streets are open and passable. After snowfall has ceased, crews will begin street widening to provide access to mail boxes, and, finally, snow berm removal for citizens with a medically approved berm removal request.

Whenever possible, all routes will be plowed. In the event of overwhelming snowfall, the priority will be as follows.

                               Priority 2 Collector streets

                               Priority 3 Subdivision streets

Haul off snow piled in center of plowed streets.

Haul off snow in parking lots.

Contractor support called in pending weather or need.

Snow will be hauled to a predesignated area.