HomeMy WebLinkAboutOPD-008-12 Clarington REPORT
OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT
Meeting: GENERAL PURPOSE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE
Date: September 24, 2012 Resolution#: By-law#: N/A
Report#: OPD-008-12 File#:
Subject: SENIOR CITIZENS AND THE PHYSICALLY DISABLED SIDEWALK AND
DRIVEWAY WINDROW SNOW CLEARING PROGRAM
RECOMMENDATIONS:
It is respectfully recommended that the General Purpose and Administration Committee
recommend to Council the following:
1. THAT Report OPD-008-12 be received; and
2. THAT the fee for resident participation in the Senior Citizens And The Physically
Disabled Sidewalk And Driveway Windrow Snow Clearing Program be increased
to $70 + HST per registered address.
Submitted by: Reviewed by:
F deri k J. Horvath Franklin Wu,
A., b.M.R., R.R.F.A. Chief Administrative Officer
Director of Operations
FH/sh
September 17, 2012
CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF CLARINGTON
40 TEMPERANCE STREET, BOWMANVILLE, ONTARIO L1C 3A6 T 905-623-3379
REPORT NO.: OPD-008-12 PAGE 2
1.0 BACKGROUND
On October 13, 1992 the Council for the Town of Newcastle passed Resolution
#C-667-92 which stated:
"THAT, in accordance with Council's direction, removal of snow
and ice from sidewalks and driveway windrows be provided for
senior citizens and the physically disabled..."
The Senior Citizens and Physically Disabled Sidewalk and Driveway Windrow
Snow Clearing Program has been offered each winter season since. Over time
the program was expanded to include Bowmanville and Courtice as well as the
surrounding hamlet areas. In 1993 Council approved a motion to include the
remaining hamlet areas.
Official statistics on participation in the years prior to 1999 were not available at
the writing of this report however, recent statistics show that from 2000 to 2008
participation fluctuated slightly with an average of 638. The 2008/2009 season
saw an increase to over 700. The introduction of a fee in late 2009 brought a
dramatic reduction in participants.
Eligibility
For residents to be eligible for this service, applicants must be 65 years of age or
older or be physically disabled, occupy a single family dwelling which fronts a
Municipal street in the specified urban areas or the urbanized areas of the
specified hamlet's, and have no able bodied persons under the age of 65 years
residing on the property. Senior citizens must provide a copy of a birth certificate
or Senior Citizens Number; physically disabled applicants must provide a doctor's
certificate.
Service
The sidewalk snow clearing service for participants starts when a snowfall ends
and only when there is more than two centimeters of snow on sidewalks. The
driveway windrow snow clearing will not begin until such time as snow plowing
on all municipal streets has been completed.
Call Out
During the winter season Staff monitor weather and conditions to ensure that the
contractor is called out to perform clearing of sidewalks and windrows to meet
both the policy set by Operations Department and the expectation of our
residents. Due to weather variations not all areas require clearing at every call
out. Winter events that encompass the whole municipality are deemed to be "full
call outs".
Participation Fee
In August of 2009 the economic climate caused a budget shortfall requiring
Council to take remedial action. At that time Resolution C-575-09 was passed
REPORT NO.: OPD-008-12 PAGE 3
resulting in the cancellation of the Senior Citizens and Physically Disabled
Sidewalk and Driveway Windrow Snow Clearing Program.
On November 9, 2009 in response to residents, Council passed Resolution #C-
664-09 stating:
"THAT, the annual administrative fee for the 2009/2010
Senior and physically disabled Sidewalk/Windrow Snow
Clearing Service be set at$60 per registered property."
Council has maintained the initial administrative cost for the program at $60 plus
HST over the past three years.
2.0 STATISTICAL DATA
This chart shows a breakdown of the number of times contractors are called out
to remove sidewalk snow/windrow.
January February March Aril November December Total
2010 6 8 0 0 1 8 23
2011 8 12 4 0 0 6 30
2012 8 5 1 - - - 14
Participation:
Year Number of Sidewalk Windrow
Participants metres metres
2007-2008 664 13,136 3,924
2008-2009 781 14,042 4,303
2009-2010 293 5,535 1,634
2010-2011 276 5,245 1,570
2011-2012 234 6,488 1,369
The introduction of a fee (2009) for service base to this program has led to a
significant decrease in participation.
3.0 PROGRAM FUTURE
The Senior Citizens and Physically Disabled Sidewalk and Driveway Windrow
Snow Clearing Program is offered as an added service to area residents and is
not, nor was it ever intended to be, a core service.
REPORT NO.: OPD-008-12 PAGE 4
The following chart details the cost associated with the Senior Citizens and
Physically Disabled Sidewalk and Driveway Windrow Snow Clearing Program for
the last 5 years:
Year Cost Fees Pd
2007 $80,966 0
2008 $87,379 0
2009 $26,452 0
2010** $6,196 $17,580
2010-2011 $52,104 $16,560
2011 -2012* $44,405 $14,040
**Program started late, and light snow
*Cost for Jan to April 2012
It is important to note that the above figures do not include the costs associated
with support staff and administrative costs of this program.
The winter of 2011-2012 (October 30, 2011 to April 30, 2012) saw temperatures
above normal and snow fall well below the seasonal average for this area.
Subsequently there were fewer "full" call outs for snow removal which kept the
cost of the program down for the season. Based on previous years responses
staff estimate the cost of the season from October 30, 2012 to April 30, 2013 to
be $52,388.96 (+ HST) ($2,014.96 X 26 call outs).
4.0 CONCURRENCE
This report has been reviewed by Nancy Taylor, Director of Finance who concurs
with the recommendations.
5.0 CONCLUSION
Operations Department respectfully recommends that Council authorize the
increase of the fee for the Senior Citizens and Physically Disabled Sidewalk and
Driveway Windrow Snow Clearing Program of $70 + HST per registered property
to assist with offsetting the cost of delivering this non-essential service.
CONFORMITY WITH STRATEGIC PLAN — Not Applicable
Staff Contact: Susan Hajnik, Operations Technician
Interested Parties - None