Watervliet Has Declared Snow Emergency Starting Wednesday Morning

THE CITY OF WATERVLIET HAS DECLARED A SNOW EMERGENCY STARTING AT 8:00 AM Wednesday  February 4 until 8:00 AM Thursday February 5.  ALL RESIDENTS MUST BE PREPARED TO MOVE THEIR VEHICALS FOR PLOWING.  ANY VEHICALS NOT MOVED FOR PLOWING WILL BE TOWED. 

Vehicles will be towed if not moved. 

Snow Removal policy:

Public Safety Services and Welfare

Policy #7 SNOW REMOVAL POLICY

Revised 10/16/08

Policy Scope:  Watervliet Snow removal policy provides for the planned systematic response by the Highway Department, Police Department and the General Manager's Office, based on the level of snowfall or road icing during both a emergency and non-emergency snow fall event.

Policy

A snow emergency will be declared in accordance to Ordinance NO. 1836 Once A continuous SNOW FALL EPISODE OF 4 TO 6 INCHES OR MORE AS MEASURED by THE ALBANY AIRPORT Authority occurs.  The declaration of the snow emergency ACTIVATES THE EMERGENCY SNOW REMOVAL POLICY.

1. DURING A SIGNIFICANT SNOW STORM, MAIN CITY STREETS ARE PLOWED, salted AND KEPT OPEN DURING THE STORM - STREETS INCLUDE NYS ROUTE 2, 32 AND 155.
2. SNOW Emergency- once a snow emergency is declared, all vehicles on city streets must move to allow access of plows and snow removal equipment.  The city will notify residents that a snow emergency has been declared by way of one or all of the following:

·         City web site

·         Wvlt local access TV channel 17

·         Local newspapers (city does not guarantee newspapers will publish)

·         Local TV and radio stations (city does not guarantee TV or radio will announce)

·         Localized announcements by way of mobile public address systems

3. The snow removal process begings with A SYSTEMATIC grid APPROACH. In the north section of the city Removal starts AT 2ND AVE AND WORKS THE AVENUES WEST TO 12TH AVE.  The same systematic grid approach is followed IN THE SOUTHern SECTION OF the city. BEGINNING at 9TH STREET, WORKING SNOW REMOVAL SOUTH to the city line. SPECIAL LOCATIONS, DEAD END STREETS AND SOME ALLEYS AND OTHER PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAYS ARE DONE LAST.
4. Once a snow emergency is declared, all vehicle owners must move or be prepared to move vehicles for the time period required to remove snow from an area.  If vehicles are not moved, in accordance with Ordinance # 1836, the vehicle will be ticketed and towed to Hudson Shores Park.  Towed vehicles will be held at the park until both TICKET FINE and tow charge are settled with the city finance department.  Ticket fee is $100, Towing charge is $150.  The City Finance Department will accept payment of the ticket and towing charge M-F between the hours of 8am and 4pm. OWNER OF TOWED VEHICLE WILL HAVE 14 CALENDER DAYS TO RETRIVE VEHICLE, AFTER SUCH TIME A IMPOUND CHARGE OF $30 PER DAY WILL BE CHARGED. 
5. Removal of Plowed/Banked Snow - When deemed necessary by the GM, plowed or banked snow will be removed to avoid obstructing view of entering/exiting traffic and/or inhibiting access of emergecny vehicles.  The snow will be consolidated and taken to the south end of Hudson Shores Park.  Removed snow may be taken to other locations only with approval of the GM or Mayor.  Note, this process may require declaring a snow emergency in order to move vehicles.  In this case, the same procedure outlined in item #4 of this policy will be followed.
6. A SNOW EMERGENCY WILL BE DECLARED BY THE MAYOR, THE general MANAGER OR THEIR DESIGNEE.