11-13-23 CC WS Agenda Packet
CITY OF SHOREWOOD 5755 COUNTRY CLUB ROAD
CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION COUNCIL CHAMBERS
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2023 5:15 P.M.
AGENDA
1. CONVENE CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION
A. Roll Call
Mayor Labadie _____
Callies _____
Maddy _____
Sanschagrin _____
Zerby_____
B. Review Agenda
ATTACHMENTS
2. ENTERPRISE FUNDS DISCUSSION Finance Director Memo
3. WINTER MAINTENANCE PRACTICES/PLANS Public Works Director Memo
4. ADJOURN
City Council Work Session Item
ITEM
Title/Subject: Winter Operations Policy and Operations
3
Meeting Date: November 13, 2023
Prepared by: Matt Morreim, Public Works Director
Reviewed by: Marc Nevinski, City Administrator
Attachments: MPCA Smart Salting Tool (SST) Assessment Results
Winter Maintenance Policy
Background:
Public works performs critical winter maintenance services for Shorewood’s city streets, sidewalks,
trails, parking lots and city and emergency facilities. While public works staff provide a high level of
service for the community, we are always looking for continual improvement.
Over the past year, public works has evaluated the city’s winter operations using MPCA’s Smart
Salting Tool (see attached) and identified areas of improvement that public works will implement in
the 2023/2024 winter season. While many of these operational improvements will go unnoticed to
most individuals, we would like to highlight the most significant improvements in 2023 and 2024.
MPCA’s Smart Salting Tool (SST) Assessment (attached)
o The SST is a resource to learn about all known salt saving BMPs in winter maintenance.
It will be used to public works determine where opportunities exist to improve
practices, make reductions in salt, and track progress.
o Chris Heitz, Lead Field Supervisor, completed the smart salting assessment for past,
current, and future winter maintenance best management practices (BMPs)
Attend MPCA’s Smart Salting Training
o Smart Salting training helps improve operator effectiveness and reduce chloride
pollution while keeping roads, parking lots, and pedestrian facilities safe. Participating
organizations have been able to reduce their salt use by 30 to 70%. And the training
has been shown to prevent chloride contamination in bodies of water.
o All public works maintenance staff attended the training over the past 2 months.
Attend APWA Winter Maintenance Supervisor Certificate
o The certification class’s goal is to expand knowledge of planning and preparation,
increase understanding of winter weather and how it affects operations, identify how
to better use traditional and alternative chemicals, consider what equipment is
available and how to maintain it, expand understanding of snow & ice control
techniques, and stress responsible material application.
o Chris Heitz, Lead Field Supervisor, and Matt Morreim, Public Works Director, attended
the training in fall of 2023.
Change in winter maintenance materials.
o Public works historically used a sand/treated salt/aggregate mix to treat roads and
parking lots in Shorewood.
Mission Statement: The City of Shorewood is committed to providing residents quality public
services, a healthy environment, a variety of attractive amenities, a sustainable tax base, and sound
financial management through effective, efficient, and visionary leadership. Page 1
o In late 2022, staff stopped using the aggregate additive in the winter mix due to cost
of the material and significant cleanup of streets, storm structures and other storm
water facilities in the spring.
o Moving forward, public works will be using treated salt and regular salt to treat roads
and parking lots. Transitioning away from using granular material in road maintenance
is being made due to the added costs of granular material, and significant cleanup of
streets, storms structures and other storm water facilities in the spring. While
maintaining a high level of service, it is anticipated that there will be a reduction in the
total salt amount of salt applied due to operator training and new application rates.
o Granular materials may be used in the future during extremely cold temperatures
when salt is ineffective.
Drafting Winter Operations Policy (attached)
o Winter maintenance policies are a best management practice for government
agencies to uniformly communicate winter maintenance policies, responsibilities, and
operations on roads, sidewalks and trails to employees, city leaders and the public.
o Staff will provide the council with an annual end-of-season operational update in the
spring and winter operations update in the fall.
Mapping winter maintenance routes (included in the Winter Operations Policy)
o Public works historically used an overall city map to identify all routes.
o Upon a suggestion from a new public works employee, new route maps were created
for both roads, sidewalks, and trails.
o A route map book will be distributed to all public works employees. Employees are
typically assigned to a street route or sidewalk/trail route. Maps will allow employees
to efficiently fill in when employees are absent or help finish routes when needed.
Implement additional winter maintenance BMPs and equipment:
o Utilize salt brine for facility maintenance. Manually mix salt brine and apply on facility
pedestrian facilities using manual liquid sprayers.
o Retrofit and install 300-gallon tote with a spray bar on an existing one-ton plow truck.
Brine will be applied on the islands during winter operations and prior to winter
events on high priority areas.
o Purchase a multi-use water truck with a removable tank that will allow the city to
utilize liquids during winter operations. Additional attachments will allow staff to
utilize the truck for other operations like pothole patching, hauling, etc.
o Utilize pavement and weather information from MnDOT. Utilizing pavement
temperature readings and other weather information available through MnDOT
allows staff to have an enhanced situational awareness before, during and after
winter events. Staff is researching weather services that have pavement temperature
forecasts that are specific to Shorewood that will provide specific weather information
for the area.
o Implement new segmented cutting edges with rubber inserts as plow cutting edges
need to be replaced. Currently, public works use steel cutting edges with carbide
inserts. New segmented cutting edges with rubber inserts are more beneficial as they
last longer, adjust to the pavement surface, are less abrasive to the road surface and
are quieter for the snowplow operator.
o Public works welcomes council members and the mayor to tour the public works
facility or perform a ride-a-long during winter operations.
Staff will continue to evaluate, enhance, and improve winter operations with the goal of efficient,
effective and environmentally responsible operations.
Financial or Budget Considerations:
There are no new financial considerations. All equipment purchases, equipment modifications, etc.
are funded through the City’s capital program and the department’s operating budget.
Action Requested:
Discussion regarding winter operations and draft Winter Operations Policy and the schedule for the
final approval of the Winter Operations Policy.