I agree with Annie. Snow plowing is something Minneapolis does very well.
Although the full snow emergency is a three day process, I am always impressed
at how fast the plows are out for a first pass before they do the full curb to
curb snow emergency plow. Kudos to the drivers and City staff responsible.
I don't fully understand why we have a three day process while St. Paul seems
to manage to comfortably get the whole thing done in one day. Is it a lack of
equipment, reluctance to pay overtime to the drivers or something else? I seem
to recall that reducing the duration of a snow emergency was a Rybak campaign
promise in 2001, but that the bill for the conversion was too high (something
about new signage?) and it was quietly dropped. Anyone remember the specifics?
As to communication, I give the City very high marks. The rules are online and
are sent out in hard copy to every household in the fall every year. If you
have a computer, you can sign up to receive an email, a twitter, check the
City's website or the City's snow emergency Facebook page. If you have a
phone, you can sign up (at no cost) to get an automated phone call and/or you
can call the City's snow hotline number. If you have a TV, the news of a snow
emergency constantly crawls across the screen on the City cable channel and is
reported by all of the local newscasts on Channels 4, 5, 9 and 11. Snow
emergencies are also widely reported on local broadcast radio. If you get or
have access to the Star Tribune or the Pioneer Press, a snow emergency is
reported as soon as it is announced.
There might be a few people who own a car but don't own a computer, don't have
a phone or even access to a phone, don't have a TV, don't have a radio, and
don't read the paper, but I doubt that many of the 1500 or so folks whose cars
get towed in the average snow emergency have that excuse. If all else fails,
you would think people would figure out that, if you walk outside and the snow
comes over the top of your shoes and your socks get wet, you better think about
moving the car.
Barry Clegg
Nicollet Island