Snow pushes city road costs over 2013 budget

This winters biggest snowstorm cost the City of Ottawa almost $12 million, contributing to a $24million deficit in its snow clearance budget.

The information was revealed Wednesday morning at city hall as the citys transportation committee heard a staff report on the road maintenancebudget during 2013 and early in 2014.

Kevin Wylie, the city manager for traffic management and operational support, said there were 49 centimetres of snow on the ground on Dec. 22 and little has melted since.

That snowfall, lasting from Dec. 21 to 23, cost the city $11.7 million, Wylie told councillors. It cost $7 million just to remove snow.

That was the tip of the iceberg, though, as the city spent $69.9 million on snow clearancein 2013, $24.4million over budget.The city budgeted for a normal year for snow but didnt get it, said Marian Simuluk, the citys treasurer.

Its never good news when you have to send the treasurer to deliver the news, she said.

Other departments and reserves will cover the costs, but the snow budget will not rise because that would burden taxpayers, Simuluk added.Simuluk also said that though its early, the citys snow budget looks sound for 2014 with a comfortable cushion.

Parking ban changes possible

Wylie said he has spoken with the city's legal and bylaw departments about changing the parking ban policy during snowfall.

Coun. David Chernushenko, who represents the Capital Ward, raised the issue when he askedabout "non-revenue" overnight car-parking areas during on-street bans.

Nothing will change this winter, Wylie said, but the bans have to be "more dynamic" and "in line with our operations."

That means the bans would not necessarily be only overnight, Wylie added.

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