Spokane residents asked to weigh in on city’s snowplow plan

City Hall is seeking guidance from the public about what should change in Spokane’s snow removal plan following a particularly brutal winter.

After collecting answers from representatives to the city’s neighborhoods and downtown interests last week about what should change with plowing, the city’s Streets Department has posted an online 16-question survey asking respondents to rank their priorities in a snow removal plan. Following public outcry over the snow response this winter, the City Council last month unanimously voted to revise the plowing plan in time for next season.

Scott Simmons, the city’s director of Public Works, told council members in a meeting Monday that some of the requests from the public conflict with each other. While some residents want the city to tow all cars that don’t adhere to the city’s rules for parking during a full-city plow, others wanted the restrictions removed entirely.

“We’re trying to say, here are some of the things that are priorities, but some of them will require trade-offs,” Simmons said.

Gary Kaesemeyer, the city’s streets director, has said he’s exploring adding additional plowing equipment to Spokane’s fleet. Council members have also asked if Spokane can partner with entities such as Fairchild Air Force Base and Airway Heights to plow during heavy winter events.

The survey asks respondents to rank, on a five-point scale, how they prioritize practices like downtown plowing, removing sidewalk snow, eliminating berms and whether the city should call out a full plow with less snow on the ground.

Answers to the online survey will be accepted through April 25.

Monday’s half-inch of snow at Spokane International Airport pushed the seasonal total to 61.5 inches, or just a little over 5 feet. That’s 17 inches more than normal, according to the National Weather Service.