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Snow Removal

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Who is Responsible for Snow Removal?
The City of St. Cloud, through its Public Works Department, provides snow and ice control services to the City. Utilizing City employees and private contractors, the City plows and removes snow from streets, alleys, City/State-owned sidewalks and municipal parking lots.

Policies and Procedures
The City Council of St. Cloud adopted a Snow and Ice Removal Policy in December of 1996. Generally, with a normal snowfall of 2 inches or more, the City plows all streets and alleys, parking lots and affected sidewalks in the system. A normal call-out occurs at 12:00 midnight or 1:00 a.m. The snow and ice removal procedures, in order of priority, are as follows:

1. Streets classified or functioning as arterial streets and streets and alleys in the Central Business District are plowed first. These are high volume streets that connect major sections of the City and provide access for emergency services.
2. All residential streets and City parking lots are plowed.
3. All alleys outside the Central Business District are plowed only after snowfall has stopped or the snow depth has reached 4 inches or more.
4. Sidewalks, pedestrian bridges, steps and sidewalks that abut City property are plowed after the streets have been plowed and other snow and ice control functions of higher priority have been completed.
5. The City applies salt or salt/sand when hazardous ice or slippery conditions exist. Priority in sanding operations shall be as follows:
1. Portions of arterial streets and streets in the Central Business District.
2. Steep grade streets and alleys.
3. Parking lots.
4. Portions of all residential streets.
6. Hauling of snow occurs in those areas listed below, and only after all snow and ice control functions have been completed.
1. Central Business District.
2. Parking lots.
3. Arterial streets that have sidewalks adjacent to the curb.
4. Arterial streets where snow must be moved to make room for more snow storage.

When a larger snowfall occurs, the same procedures apply except that crews may need to work longer shifts and/or back-to-back shifts. City safety policy requires that equipment operators not work beyond 14-hour shifts unless emergency circumstances exist. Furthermore, when weather conditions are so severe as to endanger City work crews and equipment, snow and ice control operations may not be started, or if started, they may be stopped.

The Strategy
The strategy used to plow streets, sidewalks and other City facilities depends on the interaction of several factors:

• Time the snow began
• Duration of snowfall
• Type of snow – light/dry or wet/heavy
• Temperature before and after snowfall
• High winds – drifting
• Snow accumulation
• Available equipment – breakdowns
• Available staff

Despite what can seem like a complex process, the goal of the City’s plowing efforts is simple: to maintain safe travel for pedestrians and vehicles throughout St. Cloud.

Sidewalks
The City is responsible for all sidewalks that abut City/State-owned property. Property owners or occupants are responsible for the sidewalks adjacent to their property and must be clear of ice and snow 24 hours after the snow/ice has subsided. To report any unshoveled sidewalks after the 24-hour time frame, you may call 650-2900.

Mailboxes
Where mailboxes are installed on City-owned right-of-way, and in the event a mailbox is damaged due to the force of snow generated by the snow removal operations, the City will assume no responsibility.

Lawn Sprinklers and Lighting Systems
The City will assume no responsibility for damage to underground lawn sprinkling systems, exterior lighting systems and similar landscaping installed in City-owned right-of-way.

Winter Parking Restrictions
Winter parking restrictions go into effect November 1st each year and remain in effect until April 1st. The following restrictions apply:

If you live south of 22nd Street South or north and west of the Sauk River
No vehicles may be parked on any street between the hours of 1 a.m. and 7 a.m. No vehicles may be parked on any street at any time until and unless the entire area of the street has been cleared of snow and ice No vehicles may be parked on any street that has a paved surface less than 32 feet in width. (Note: most streets that have curbing are 32 feet or more in width, while most streets that do not have curbin are less than 32 feet in width)

College Area
The area having boundaries from 4th Street South to 16th Street South, and from the east boundary of 9th Avenue South/Clearwater Road to the Mississippi River, and including 1st and 2nd Avenues South from 4th Street South north to the end of the cul-de-sacs is not included in the odd-even parking restrictions. This area is posted year round. Park according to the posted signs.

Elsewhere in the City
Odd-even parking restrictions are enforced between 1:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. During that period of time, park your car on the even-numbered side of the street on odd-numbered days. Park on the odd-numbered side of the street on even-numbered days. Remember, since the date changes at midnight, park with that in mind!

If a snow emergency is declared and you are parked in violation of the ordinances, your vehicle can be towed to facilitate plowing. Snow emergencies will be announced on local radio stations.

Please remember to notify out-of-town guests of these winter parking restrictions. If you have questions, contact Parking Violations at 255-7209.

Interesting Snow Facts
Plowing all of St. Cloud means clearing snow from:

• 695 lane miles of roads
• 42 miles of alleys
• 150 cul-de-sacs
• 13 miles of sidewalks
• 15 City-owned parking lots

The average snowfall for the City of St. Cloud is 45 inches