(Photo: City of Lethbridge)

By Justin Goulet

Committee recommends changes to snow, ice and street sweeping service levels in Lethbridge

Jun 9, 2022 | 8:49 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Some changes could be coming to snow and ice control and street sweeping services in Lethbridge.

In 2020, the KPMG report recommended that the City of Lethbridge modify service levels for both snow and ice control, and street sweeping.

On March 4, 2021, members of the City Transportation department presented several suggestions to the Civic Works Standing Policy Committee. One of the suggestions was to gather feedback from the public on possible service level changes.

Feedback was received via virtual open houses, stakeholder meetings and online surveys. The City has since used that feedback to help determine recommendations to City Council.

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On Wednesday, June 8, 2022, members of the Civic Standing Policy Committee were provided detailed reports on the matters. The committee then voted to recommend that City Council approve the following service level changes:

• Starting in winter of 2022/23, Phase 1 declaration of snow routes and implementation of plowing to the right on approximately 25 km of selected roadways;
• Starting in winter of 2023/24 and continuing into winter of 2024/25, begin Phase 2 implement the provision of more residential plowing, less snow removal (snow removal only in the hospital area, downtown and around school zones) in combination with declaring snow routes more frequently city-wide and provide enforcement during snow events;
• Administration report back to Civic Works Standing Policy Committee in the spring of 2025 about operating budget and resource impacts;
• Maintain current service levels for all sweeping programs and to enhance enforcement action.

Acting Mayor Belinda Crowson, who is also the chair of the Civic Works Standing Policy Committee, said, “public engagement is about considering the input, ideas and perspectives of residents who are interested or impacted by decisions before they are made.”

“Throughout the phases, the department will collect feedback from the public and that feedback will help determine how this all moves forward.”

Darwin Juell, General Manager of Transportation added, “we are aware that some of these proposed changes may have significant impact to residents, so we have held thorough public engagement to hear their concerns and make the appropriate recommendations.”

The proposed items and Standing Policy Committee recommendations will now head to a future City Council meeting for potential approval.

Changes to the service levels will be noted to residents once a decision is made by City Council.