Residents, council and city manager spar over snow-plowing coverage and sidewalks

Council members and public commenters pressed city staff on Feb. 10 about snow removal after a major storm, showing photographs and describing streets and alleys that residents say were not cleared.

"So these are all images taken on Saturday, this past Saturday," Council member Heather Hoover told colleagues while presenting a set of neighborhood photos she said documented missed plowing on LaBelle, Oregon Avenue, Belleview Boulevard and Oxford. Hoover said some motorists and an elderly resident with health issues reported that an ambulance or fire truck could not have reached them during the storm.

City Manager Jim Mavromatis described the city's fleet and routing approach: "We have four one towns, one ton pickup trucks here, which one goes the North end, South End, Pleasant heights, LaBelle, Brady East. Then we have our tandem vehicles which take care of our main routes," he said, explaining that neighborhood units handle side streets while tandems focus on primary corridors. Council members discussed operating changes including temporary no-parking signage, targeted return passes through business districts and route adjustments to better reach residential alleys.

Public forum speakers reiterated concerns. Marc Gregory said sidewalks remained uncleared, forcing pedestrians into the street, and Jeffrey Hawkins urged attention to long-term infrastructure needs while noting the council's recent efforts. Council asked staff to consider tactical adjustments and to report back with options for improving coverage.