TIS 2021-02-22 Item 3 - Handout to Be Distributed at Meeting - Februrary 2021 Snow Removal Update

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City of Tuk - ila Allan Ekberg, Mayor Public Works Department - Hari Ponnekanti, Director/City Engineer INFORMATIONAL MEMORANDUM TO: Transportation and Infrastructure Services Committee FROM: Hari Ponnekanti, Public Works Director/City Engineer BY: Cyndy Knighton, Senior Program Manager Bryan Still, Operations Manager CC: Mayor Ekberg DATE: February 19, 2021 SUBJECT: February 2021 Snow Removal Update ISSUE Update the Committee on snow removal efforts and responsibilities associated with the February 2021 snowstorm. BACKGROUND Beginning at 6 p.m. Friday, February 12, 2021, snowfall accumulation began to occur in Tukwila associated with the forecasted regional snow event. Snowfall continued into the weekend, tapering off on Sunday afternoon with rain and warmer temperatures. Overall, approximately 8 inches were on the ground at peak accumulation and by mid -week most of the snowfall had melted. In anticipation of the snowfall, the City's street crew applied deicer to streets on Thursday and Friday during regular business hours. Trucks with snowplows and deicing equipment were deployed beginning Friday evening at 6 p.m. as snow started to fall. By 8 p.m. crews began plowing City streets on 12 -hour shifts throughout the weekend, concluding Sunday evening at 7 p.m. Nine bus shelters along Tukwila International Boulevard are maintained by City crews and had salt applied in advance of the snow. King County Metro is responsible for maintaining all other bus shelters, including snow removal, within the City limits. DISCUSSION Questions arose over snow removal responsibilities, especially on International Boulevard over SR 518 and in front of bus stops. International Boulevard where it crosses over SR 518 is within the SeaTac City limits. According to RCW 47.24.020(6), WAC 468-18-050 and further clarified in the WSDOT Local Agency Guidelines, both SeaTac and Tukwila are responsible for snow removal on state highways functioning as city streets. Snow removal is defined within these guiding documents as removal on the portion of the roadway functioning as a highway. Sidewalks on state highways functioning as city streets are fully controlled and maintained by the city, never by WSDOT. Removal of snow on sidewalks is not required under state law and would be governed by applicable city laws. Many jurisdictions assign responsibility for sidewalk maintenance, including snow and ice removal, to the owner or occupant of the abutting property. Some jurisdictions further require snow and ice removal to be completed within a certain time period — either by a set time of day or by a certain number of hours after snow has stopped falling, or a combination of the two. In this instance, snow removal on International Boulevard would be SeaTac responsibility for the travel lanes. SeaTac laws would govern the snow removal and responsibility party for the sidewalks along International Boulevard. Tukwila's maintenance crews did an excellent job of snow removal on the roadways. A specific Tukwila code requirement does not exist which specifically assigns snow/ice removal of sidewalks, pathways, and walking trails responsibility; however, TMC 11.04.070 could apply. That section of the TMC addresses Hazardous Conditions on Public Right -of -Way and could be interpreted to require all adjacent property owners (residential and commercial) remove any accumulated snow and ice. If Council desires, the TMC could be improved with amendments to make it clearer that the City places the responsibility on all adjacent property owners/occupants to clear sidewalks of snow and ice within a certain time period. This is a valid exercise of a city's powers. Even if the City does not have adequate staffing to enforce such responsibilities, the public duty doctrine would still apply and shield the City from any liability that could be argued in the event of a claim. RECOMMENDATION Information Only.