Policies & 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, alleys, parking lots, and affected sidewalks in the system. A normal call-out occurs at midnight or 1 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:
   • Portions of arterial streets and streets in the Central Business District
   • Steep grade streets and alleys
   • Parking lots
   • 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.
   • Central Business District
   • Parking lots
   • Arterial streets that have sidewalks adjacent to the curb
   • 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.

Mailboxes

Where mailboxes are installed on a 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 & Lighting Systems

The city will assume no responsibility for damage to underground lawn sprinkling systems, exterior lighting systems and similar landscaping installed in a city-owned right-of-way.