Mayor defends snow‑removal operations; city cites $65,000 emergency costs and loss of FEMA reimbursement eligibility

Mayor and administration defended the city's response to recent heavy snow and outlined the fiscal impact of emergency operations.

Operational summary: Administration said alternate‑side enforcement is suspended on streets not being cleaned, described focused clearing of main arteries and hospital access routes, and named DPW head Fred Colbert as leading operations. Officials explained operational constraints — including the time it takes to clear a block and the need to rotate crews to avoid unsafe continuous shifts — and noted that contracted equipment was used to supplement city crews.

Costs and funding: The business administrator reported that seven contractors working over three days cost about $65,000. He warned that extending contractor usage (for weeks) would significantly increase costs (estimates given in the hearing ranged from tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars for prolonged deployment). He also said federal FEMA guidance changed this year; the threshold for reimbursement of snow‑removal expenses now effectively requires storms above 21 inches, so the recent storm does not qualify for federal reimbursement and the city must absorb the costs.

Procurement and transparency questions: A public commenter criticized the city's bid process and accessibility to bid documents; the mayor and staff responded that procurement is governed by state law, that emergency vendor use followed emergency procedures, and that the administration would explain any budget reallocations to the council in coming weeks.

Next steps: Administration said it will return to the council in roughly two weeks with details on redirected funds and post‑storm budget adjustments. Council members urged clearer communication to residents about alternate‑side rules and enforcement decisions during cleanup operations.