Snow pushes city road costs over 2013 budget - Action News
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Ottawa

Snow pushes city road costs over 2013 budget

The City of Ottawa was more than $24 million over its snow clearance budget in 2013, with one storm in December costing the city almost $12 million.

Big December storm cost almost $12 million alone, city manager says

City millions over budget for snow removal

11 years ago
Duration 2:35
Snow dump filling up as Ottawa announces it's $24 million over budget for snow removal

This winters biggest snowstorm cost the City of Ottawa almost $12 million, contributing to a $24million deficit in its snow clearance budget.

2013 by the numbers

  • 272:Centimetres of snow in Ottawa.
  • 9:Overnight parking bans.
  • 130: Weather event days.
  • $24.4million: Amount over snow clearancebudget.
  • $9.7 million: Snow removal budget (more than doubled from 2012).

The information was revealed Wednesday morning at city hall as the citys transportation committee heard a staff report on the road maintenancebudget during 2013 and early in 2014.

Kevin Wylie, the city manager for traffic management and operational support, said there were 49 centimetres of snow on the ground on Dec. 22 and little has melted since.

That snowfall, lasting from Dec. 21 to 23, cost the city $11.7 million, Wylie told councillors. It cost $7 million just to remove snow.

That was the tip of the iceberg, though, as the city spent $69.9 million on snow clearancein 2013, $24.4million over budget.The city budgeted for a normal year for snow but didnt get it, said Marian Simuluk, the citys treasurer.

City crews were busy clearing slush, puddles, snow and ice off roads on Jan. 6, 2014 before the temperature dropped. (Sherry Aske/CBC)
Its never good news when you have to send the treasurer to deliver the news, she said.

Other departments and reserves will cover the costs, but the snow budget will not rise because that would burden taxpayers, Simuluk added.Simuluk also said that though its early, the citys snow budget looks sound for 2014 with a comfortable cushion.

Parking ban changes possible

Wylie said he has spoken with the city's legal and bylaw departments about changing the parking ban policy during snowfall.

Coun. David Chernushenko, who represents the Capital Ward, raised the issue when he askedabout "non-revenue" overnight car-parking areas during on-street bans.

Nothing will change this winter, Wylie said, but the bans have to be "more dynamic" and "in line with our operations."

That means the bans would not necessarily be only overnight, Wylie added.

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