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Mount Rainier grapples with ice cleanup as small public-works crew works 24/7
Summary
City officials described an unprecedented ice-and-sleet storm that left narrow streets impassable and strained a six-person public-works crew; council debated towing, emergency-route enforcement, volunteer support and training for staff.
Mount Rainier officials spent much of their Feb. 3 legislative meeting focused on the aftermath of an intense ice-and-sleet storm that left streets coated in hard-packed ice and forced the public-works team into extended shifts.
Mayor Selena Benitez and City Manager Khourish Kamali told the council that the city's response has been constrained by limited staff and equipment. Kamali said the public-works crew currently numbers "six" and has worked "10 to 14 hours" a day to clear emergency routes and keep first-responder corridors passable. "We have 6 people in public works," he said, asking residents for patience as crews prioritize routes where police and ambulances must travel.
Council members and the manager discussed enforcement options for cars blocking emergency routes. Kamali warned that towing is costly and can move cars from one narrow block to another, noting past public outcry when towing was used. Councilmembers debated whether to declare a formal snow emergency that would allow stricter parking controls and towing. The mayor emphasized the high financial and political costs of towing and urged a careful policy decision.
Councilmember Danielle Carter highlighted neighborhood volunteer efforts, thanking the "snow angels" program for recruiting 21 volunteers who assisted more than 35 residents during the storm. Carter recommended training opportunities and proposed sending public-works staff to professional conferences; she suggested the APWA snow conference or the Maryland Public Works Association event to learn best practices such as alternative pretreatment agents.
The manager also updated several paused capital projects, including 31st Street construction and street-safety items, and said some items (high-visibility crosswalks, Newton Street work) remain on hold until sidewalks and roads are safe for contractors.
The council asked staff to return with options on communications (clearer emergency-route notices to residents), and with cost estimates and legal guidance on towing and citation enforcement before taking more stringent action. The meeting closed with a call for continued coordination across county and state partners as the city monitors weather and cleanup needs.
