Mayor opened a city video briefing describing Kent’s winter weather plan and touring priority routes, the Department Operations Center and public works equipment.

The city framed why some steep or long hills are closed during heavy snow, explained how priority 1, 2 and 3 streets are sequenced, and demonstrated plows, sanders and GPS/AVL tracking used to coordinate round-the-clock crews.

The briefing said priority 1 routes — the city’s “lifelines” — are the first roads crews attempt to keep open. Brent Collins, street maintenance supervisor, said examples on the East Hill include James Street and long, steep routes such as 277th; priority 2 routes include generally flat north–south streets such as 116th and Benson; priority 3 roads are the smaller connectors that feed neighborhoods. Collins said, “When we open [the DOC], it’s open 24 hours a day,” and that crews work 12-hour shifts during events to maintain coverage.

Why it matters: the city said steep grades and long hills can become unsafe even with plowing and sanding. Officials emphasized road closures are for public and crew safety and asked drivers to obey closure signs and stay well clear of city vehicles.

Collins and a public works employee identified as Marcus demonstrated a dump truck fitted with a front plow and a rear sander. Marcus said the plow can lift and angle to push snow to the curb and that the truck clears an approximately 11-foot-wide swath. He described a typical sander as a 7-yard model holding about 5–6 yards of sand/salt; crews use straight salt on the first pass and then a 1:1 salt-and-sand mix for traction. Marcus warned residents to keep roughly 100 feet from active spreaders because material can fling from the unit.

The video showed the city’s AVL/GPS tracking on trucks. Marcus explained the system reports whether a plow is up or down and whether sand is being applied, allowing dispatchers in the DOC to see which roads have been treated and where crews should be redeployed.

Officials reminded residents that large dump trucks and plows have blind spots and can slip on ice. Collins said the vehicles “are big trucks on skates sometimes,” and the mayor reiterated that the equipment is not invincible and that neighborhood streets are not routinely plowed because tight streets, parked cars and driveways create safety risks and windrows that can block exits.

The briefing also described the DOC’s activation criteria: Collins listed winter storms, heavy rain, major flooding, significant wind events and other widespread emergencies such as earthquakes or events that trigger statewide responses. When activated, the DOC centralizes calls, requests and operational coordination for the duration of the event.

The video concluded at the Kent East Hill Operations Center (KeyHawk), which officials said is under construction and will house public works equipment, sand-and-salt supplies, and related operations. City leaders closed by urging residents to avoid driving when conditions are unsafe, carry winter emergency supplies in vehicles and give crews room to work.