Ottawa's snow threshold held firm at 7 centimetres

Ottawa city council hasapproved changes to the city's snowremoval operationsthat are expected to save the city $2.7 million annually.

But after hearing from an angry public, councilstopped short of rolling back the snow-clearingthreshold the amount of snow allowed to accumulate before plows head out to clear roadsfrom seven to 10 centimetres, a measure that could have saved an additional $1 million.

• Snow-clearing threshold to stay at 7 centimetres, city committee decides

The changes were passed without any discussionor questionsfrom councillors, but at a recent transportation committee meetingCoun. Keith Eglisaid he heard loud and clear from residents that the three-centimetre difference would be a burden, especially for peoplewith mobility issues.

"Staff had a job to do and that was to provide options," saidEgli, who chairs thecommittee.

The committee chose not to change the snow-clearning threshold, a decision upheld by council Wednesday.

A report prepared by consultant KPMGalso suggestedthe city could save another $1.2million annually by adjusting salting and plowing routes, or"beat optimization," and a further $1.5million by relying more heavily on outside contractors.