Vancouver sees snow for first time this winter winter, snow, first, Vancouver, sees

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Vancouver sees snow for first time this winter; shovel your walk or face a fine, city says


Devi Pabla clears snow off her car at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby on Thursday

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METRO VANCOUVER — The City of Vancouver is expecting residents and businesses to shovel the snow off their sidewalks this winter. If they don’t, they may be slapped with $250 fines.


Vancouver’s manager of street operations, Murray Wightman, said Thursday the city was hoping for a better public response than it got after a record snowfall in 2008, when many pedestrians — especially the elderly and the disabled — complained they were trapped in their homes because of impassable sidewalks.


The city brought in a new bylaw last year, requiring homeowners to clear their sidewalks before 10 a.m. after a snowfall.


Assistant city engineer Neal Carley told city council Thursday the city will start with gentle reminders and a public information and advertising campaign to educate residents about their new responsibilities.


But he said if the city encounters resistant residents, it can issue fines on the spot worth $250.


“Just the sight of the ticket … will be enough to incite action, we think,” Carley said.


Wightman said Vancouver has bought more snowblowers and is putting more equipment on standby. He told council the city has budgeted $750,000 for snow removal, but has access to more funds if necessary.


The city wasn’t much affected by the first snow of the season Thursday, which fell mainly at higher elevations in Burnaby and on the North Shore. More is forecast in the coming days.


The early snow backs up predictions that La Nina, the cold sister of El Niño, will dominate our weather in the coming months.

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A slow-moving low-pressure system off Vancouver Island mixed with cold Arctic air from B.C.’s Interior will produce snow.


Up to two centimetres was expected to fall by this morning [Note] fri [/NOTE] and up to four centimetres by Saturday morning, Environment Canada said.


The forecast for the next five days shows chances of wet snow flurries for Metro with temperatures dipping below zero overnight.


A mixture of cloud and sun was expected Saturday and Sunday with overnight lows of minus 2 C.


The forecast called for mostly sun Monday and Tuesday with overnight temperatures dipping to minus 6 C.


Wightman said that in addition to its regular stable of trucks converted to sanders and salters, Vancouver has bought two new snowblowers and has 17 front-end loaders and other equipment it can put to work.


He said he has told the Vancouver school board and TransLink that they’re responsible for cleaning their own properties, although the city will do extra plowing in front of schools that have large populations of children with disabilities.

tiffiant

what do you expect?
snow like winter 2008 or what?