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Riverside public works reports 341 man‑hours and 533 tons of salt used in recent storm; staff flag facility constraints
Summary
Public service staff briefed council on the city’s snow response after a large storm, reporting 341 man‑hours, use of 533 tons of salt, and an estimated event cost of about $96,000; staff said storage and facility limits constrain future responses.
City staff told Riverside City Council that crews logged roughly 341 man‑hours and used about 533 tons of salt responding to the recent major snow event, and that the effort’s direct operating costs were roughly $96,000.
Miss Moore, who presented the report during the Jan. 9 meeting, described the city’s plowing strategy—opening main thoroughfares first, then curb‑to‑curb on arterials and single passes through residential streets—and noted the fleet composition: five large dump trucks and five pickup trucks with plows (three of those with salt‑box inserts). Moore said the crew used 56 pounds of salt per lane‑mile on the event, that the city burned through on‑hand supplies but had a Monday delivery to restock, and that the salt barn capacity is 550 tons.
Moore and the city manager emphasized that the city tracked equipment usage at FEMA equipment rates to document operating costs and support potential reimbursement in declared disasters. Staff said the city’s snow response data is now maintained in the work‑order system to support future financial decisions and grant or reimbursement opportunities.
Council members praised the public works crew and asked about staffing, salt inventories and facility constraints. The city manager and staff said the public works facility is limited in space—salt and brine storage is constrained in the current location and the facility sits in a well‑protection area that restricts potential expansion. Staff warned those constraints limit brine production and storage of additional materials and described the cost consequences of repeated small deliveries versus consolidated storage.
The presentation also noted operational details: crews operated long shifts during the event (staff cited 16‑hour duty periods), visibility and equipment complexity slowed some operations, and the work included ensuring school bus routes were clear; staff said the school superintendent reported no buses stuck the morning schools resumed. Council thanked the crews, the police and fire departments for supporting public safety during and after the storm.
Staff next steps include maintaining documentation for FEMA or other reimbursement processes, tracking equipment and labor costs in the work‑order system, and returning to council with further analysis of street condition data and any facility or storage options that could improve long‑term readiness.
