City prepares for winter months ahead

Bramptonguardian.com
Jan. 6, 2015
By Rachael Williams

Barring an unprecedented winter ice storm, the City of Mississauga says it’s ready for winter.

The workload for winter maintenance staff has been pretty light so far, but as soon as the snow piles up and ice wreaks havoc on vehicles and roadways, the City says it will be prepared. Waiting for the inclement weather are 153 snowplows, 400 workers and more than 70 tonnes of salt.

What it’s not ready for is an ice storm worse than the one in 2013.

“We haven’t yet established any kind of emergency reserve or allocation for significant events. It’s something we need to turn our mind to,” said Janice Baker, City CAO.

With the record-setting temperatures in December in the Greater Golden Horseshoe, it’s hard to fathom an ice storm as bad as the one that left 9,000 homes powerless two years ago.

Geoff Coulson, meteorologist for Environment Canada, said the average temperature in December at Toronto Pearson International Airport was 4.1 degrees Celsius, compared to the average temperature of years prior, which was -2.2 C.

But, a massive storm is “certainly possible” when considering climate trends in the Greater Toronto Area, he said.

“It’s still relatively rare, but something like that can happen from time to time,” commented Coulson.

The City’s 2016 winter maintenance budget is $22.1 million.

Baker said Mississauga doesn’t have a dedicated fund for dealing with emergency storms, but there is a reserve fund, valued at almost 50 per cent of the City’s annual spending on winter maintenance.

Based on the Jan. 1, 2015 balance sheet, that reserve fund is just over $8 million.

Queen’s Park is also currently reviewing its role in emergency response and funding for major storms, noted Baker.

“A larger conversation needs to be had around the capacity for us to be able to respond to unplanned events.  We currently don’t have provision in place. We would be dealing with it by asking for help (from higher levels of government),” said Baker.

Scott Holmes, manager of the City’s works operations, said, even with the 2013 ice storm, they didn’t go over its winter maintenance budget, which was around $20 million. Damage incurred was roughly $12.6 million, with Mississauga managing to recover $8,307,061 from the Province’s $190 million Ice Storm Assistance Program.

Weather predictions for January are expected to be much cooler than December, but, according to Coulson, it will be a mix of snow, rain, ice pellets and back-and-forth temperatures.

“The next real shot of messy weather is with the storm system coming this weekend (Jan. 8 to 10),” he said, adding temperatures will dip below freezing with rain turning into snow across Southern Ontario.

“So no one can put away their toques and boots and mitts.”

Although winter maintenance workers haven’t been put to the test yet in Mississauga, Holmes said poor weather can extend into April, “so still a long way to go.”

Snow season parking is enforced by the city from November to March to ensure roads are clear for emergency vehicles and snowplows. He said it’s difficult for drivers to go down some of the residential streets when cars are parked on the road illegally.

Any damages to vehicles or homes as a result of snowplows would go through the City’s Risk Management Office, but they say, for the most part, calls are minimal.