Port Moody council to discuss plans to manage snow and ice on local roads

Port Moody Council will review an updated winter maintenance plan outlining how Port Moody will manage snow and ice on local roads and sidewalks during the 2025–2026 season. The plan, prepared by the City’s Engineering and Operations Department, will be presented at the November 12, regular council meeting at 7 p.m.

According to the report submitted to the council, the Winter Road Maintenance Plan details the City’s priorities for plowing, anti-icing, and enforcement under the corporate Winter Road Maintenance Policy.  The policy, first adopted in 2022, aims to balance public safety, resource availability, and operational budgets while maintaining safe passage for vehicles and pedestrians.

Road and pedestrian priorities

Staff recommend that council endorse the updated Roads Priority Map and Winter Pedestrian Route Maintenance Priorities Map, which define how winter maintenance is allocated across the city. The current priority system categorizes roads and sidewalks by importance to the transportation network and access to key facilities.

City staff noted that these classifications have been effective since their implementation, with minor adjustments each year to improve service delivery. Priorities are treated as general guidelines and may vary based on weather conditions, emergencies, or operational needs.

The report outlines several operational updates, including seasonal parking restrictions that apply to sections of April Road, Burrard Crescent, Sycamore Drive, and View Street during snowfall events. Parking is otherwise permitted when no active winter maintenance is underway.

To strengthen the City’s snow and ice response, a multi-function tractor for pedestrian and cycling facility maintenance was approved in the 2025 capital budget and is expected to arrive in early 2026. The equipment will add capacity to clear sidewalks and bike routes more efficiently.

The City has also expanded its fleet with a side-by-side utility terrain vehicle (UTV), funded through the $450,000 Growing Communities Fund allocation approved by Council in May 2023. The funding also supported construction of a brine-making facility at the City Works Yard, which became operational in 2023.

Meanwhile, the City’s Building, Bylaws, and Licensing division will continue to enforce Sidewalk and Boulevard Maintenance Bylaw No. 2426, which requires property owners to clear adjacent sidewalks by 10 a.m. after snowfall.

To improve enforcement capacity during storms, staff scheduling may be adjusted, and additional employees from the Engineering and Operations Department may assist with inspections and issuing warnings or tickets.

According to the report, implementing the winter maintenance plan will not require new funding. The City’s two existing reserves—Local Road Network Snow Removal and Major Road Network Snow Clearing—will continue to cover expenses, using annual operating surpluses or offsetting deficits as needed.

Information about winter road maintenance, sidewalk clearing rules, and volunteer initiatives is available on the City’s Snow and Ice webpage and through the Snow Stars program, which recognizes residents who help clear sidewalks for neighbours.