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Regular City Council Meeting Monday, October 14,2013 Page 16 Mr. Brokke reviewed the current procedure in clearing snow on sidewalks, typi- cally performed by the Parks & Recreation Department with a 6' snow blower machine. Mr. Brokke admitted that it was a continual challenge and effort, espe- cially along County and City roads when snow plows threw snow onto those pathways and sidewalks from the roadways as well. Due to the school connec- tions, Mr. Brokke noted that County Road B-2 sidewalks would be on the higher priority list and one of the first pathways cleared. Mr. Brokke advised that the City's current policy would continue to remove snow initially, then go back to clean and re-clean as deemed necessary. Mr. Brokke clarified that the City did not sand or salt pathways as a general rule, unless in areas with hills where spot sanding or salting may be done. Mayor Roe opined that use of a snow blower rather than a plow should help to al- leviate piles from plowing/shoveling. Mr. Schwartz admitted that there were some areas lacking space to plow snow; and advised that the City worked with Ramsey County to monitor areas to haul snow piles when there were visibility issues or other concerns needing mitigation. At the request of Councilmember Laliberte, Mr. Brokke noted that those hilly are- as were a continual effort and more difficult to handle with freeze/thaw cycles. While the machines had V-blades that could help manipulate plowing, without use of chemicals, the freeze/thaw cycle was hard to address. Mayor Roe noted that he understood that the City concentrated follow-up in those spots where problems were most evident. At the request of Councilmember McGehee, Mr. Schwartz noted that permeable pathways may help in those freeze/thaw cycles. However, Mr. Schwartz noted that the most challenging area on pathways in the winter was with winter rain events, rather than snow events, with the pathway often becoming a reservoir and filtering under snow further complicated when the temperatures drop again but the water keeps drainage and refreezing. In sections where a typical section may indicate drainage may collect there, Mr. Schwartz noted that permeable pathways may be an option to consider and staff could continue to look at it for those areas. Mr. Schwartz reminded all that final drainage strategies had yet to be completed, but would be part of the final design process. Mayor Roe noted that silt deposits and vegetation growth along the edge of path- ways often exacerbated the drainage issues. Storm Water Drainage Design For the benefit of the listening audience, Mayor Roe asked staff to address water- shed district requirements that any improvements not make a situation worse, and the permitting and approval process before a project can proceed.