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Photo by Curtis Galbraith
By Curtis Galbraith
City Hall

City Hall to look at adding to snow removal budget at 2023 budget talks

Oct 4, 2022 | 6:00 AM

City council will discuss adding some money to the snow removal budget at 2023 budget talks later this fall.

At Monday’s meeting, council approved looking at the possibility of increasing funding for contracted snow removal in residential areas by $250,000.

Mayor Jackie Clayton says council does not think residential areas get cleared enough during heavy snowfalls.

“This additional budget amount, if approved at fall budget deliberations, would see snow removal equipment in the residential areas up to six times. Last winter we saw up to four times in neighbourhoods.

Council will also discuss adding $75,000 to clear transit stops within one business day of a heavy snowfall ending and within two days for Priority 2 stops.

Clayton says these ideas came from feedback from residents gathered during a public consultation process conducted earlier this year.

“They’re not finalized for sure yet. They’ll come with the cost implications to the fall budget discussion for consideration and be finalized at that point.”

Two other motions, both from Councillor Dylan Bressey, were also approved.

One would see $55,000 added to the 2023 budget to clear trails and pathways.

“We’re going to be talking about enhancing snow removal for people that are travelling by car or by bus, so I think we should also be talking about how to make it better for people who are walking or biking or pushing a stroller. We should be talking about all modes of transportation, not just cars and buses.”

Another motion from Bressey asked administration “to take all reasonable steps” to clear Priority 1 and 2 transit stops within one and two days respectively for the rest of 2022.

Administration says it is working on identifying Priority 1 stops and has given about 30 this designation so far. They are located near things like seniors’ homes and health care facilities.

Budget discussions are tentatively set for November 15 to 17.

by Curtis Galbraith