City of Omaha Mayor’s Office

Today, Mayor Suttle and Public Works Director Bob Stubbe announced important information about the City’s snow removal operations for 2010-2011.   New this year, Omaha will implement an odd/even system for a residential parking ban in neighborhoods east of 72nd Street when a snow emergency is declared.  Read more about the snow emergency parking regulations. 

In order to prepare for the upcoming winter, the Public Works Department will offer two informational meetings for interested residents to learn about the City’s snow operations for 2010-2011.  These sessions will also offer tips for residents to prepare for the winter months and Public Works staff will be available to answer questions.

The following is an Executive Summary of the City’s snow operation procedures for 2010 -2011.

The City of Omaha is responsible for snow removal from all city streets, alleys, trails, park roads and city facilities.  The highest priority is given to major city streets that carry the large volumes of traffic at the highest speeds.  Residential streets are cleared as soon as possible but are generally done after major streets are cleared. 

The safety of pedestrians using city facilities such as libraries and community centers is a concern.  Snow removal from sidewalks, parking lots, and internal drives at these facilities is given a high priority.

In the winter of 2010 / 2011, Omaha is setting a goal to improve coordination between snow operations in the Parks Department and the Public Works Department.  Resources will be readily shared between Departments.

ALLEYS

• The city will plow paved alleys east of 72^nd Street.
• Some unimproved alleys may be plowed. Alley clearing will begin as plows finish work in residential areas. This would typically be 24 to 48 hours after a snowfall ends.

PARKING RESTRICTIONS IN A SNOW EMERGENCY

When conditions are appropriate, the city will declare a snow emergency.

• Parking restrictions unique to snow emergencies will go into effect. These restrictions ban parking on the emergency snow routes.
• The parking restrictions also include odd / even parking in residential areas east of 72^nd street.
• Cars must park on the odd side of the street on odd dates and the even side of the street on even dates. This will allow plows to clear residential streets more quickly and effectively.

SNOW REMOVAL RESOURCES

• Snow removal is done by city personnel and contractors.
• All City snow removal operations are coordinated to optimize the use of snow removal resources.
• Driving and walking during snow events in inherently hazardous. The City strives to minimize the risks to the public during these periods.
• Omaha’s use of contractors for snow removal is increasing. The number of residential contractors in 2010 / 2011 will be double that used in 2009 / 2010.

SNOW REMOVAL OPERATIONS

• The City applies deicing and anti-icing material when conditions warrant.
• The anti-icing agent is road salt or sodium chloride. Most of the City’s salting equipment is capable of pre-wetting the salt with a mixture of brine and de-sugared molasses. The pre-wetted material stays on the pavement better and is faster acting.
• At times, sand is applied, either alone or in combination with salt.
• On the vast majority of streets, snow removal crews plow snow to the curb.
• Some streets are designated for a snow pick up operation. These are areas with on-street parking and considerable pedestrian traffic. On these streets, snow is plowed to the center, picked up and hauled off. The snow may be stored in the center of the street for a day or two before pick up operations are complete.
• There are established Business Improvement Districts (BID’s) in Omaha. BID’s have priority needs in some areas and the City will work with the BID’s to meet these needs. Omaha strives to keep commercial districts open and operating during snow events.

SIDEWALK CLEARING

• Property owners are responsible for clearing public sidewalks in the right of way. These walks must be cleared within 24 hours after the City’s major streets are cleared.
• Property owners are responsible for clearing private walks and private parking lots - snow must not be placed in the street. This can be hazardous if it melts and refreezes on a previously cleared street.
• Snow plowed into the street can also restrict a travel lane. The city will remove these hazards and charge the removal cost back to the responsible party.

The City will continue to provide up-to-date and accurate information on the status of snow operations and street conditions.  In addition to broadcast and print media outlets, we will expand our use of the internet and social media as a means to share information.

Download additional information about the City’s snow operations:

Winter Preparedness and Snow Removal Operations Brochure

Snow Emergency Parking Regulations

Snow Operations Plan Executive Summary

Today, Mayor Jim Suttle and the City’s Chief Service Officer Kirsten Case launched Omaha Serves at Benson Park Pavilion, joined by many of the partners involved with the initiative.

The city of Omaha celebrates community service with Omaha Serves, a program designed to mobilize and channel volunteerism in the city. Omaha Serves promotes “Impact Volunteering,” or strategies that target community needs, use best practices and set clear goals to measure progress.  The Omaha Serves program is supported by private funding and generous community partners, not taxpayer funding.

The goals of the program are to implement a plan for service within the community and to engage and challenge citizens to volunteer and celebrate their efforts. Omaha Serves will call on all citizens, no matter their age, socioeconomic status or physical abilities, to do their part in making Omaha a better place to live, work and play.

Download the Omaha Serves Plan

Download a Summary of Omaha Serves

“Omaha Serves will build a stronger city through neighbors helping neighbors,” Mayor Jim Suttle said. “With this program, we hope to engage people of all ages from all backgrounds and encourage involvement from young people to instill in them the value of serving their community.”

Omaha was selected as one of 10 cities to receive a two-year Cities of Service Leadership Grant to implement Omaha Serves. Spearheading the program is Kirsten Case, the city’s Chief Service Officer who began work in March 2010. The position is funded solely by the grant.

Case’s first task was to develop initiatives targeting the community’s priority areas. These initiatives include:
• Increasing the number of positive adult role models in the lives of youth
• Providing job and life-skills training for youth
• Advancing neighbor participation in neighborhood restoration projects
• Recruiting skilled, long-term and diverse volunteers

Case will secure the resources necessary for the program’s success via grants, sponsorships and private donations.

By mobilizing community partners and volunteers to areas of the city in need, Case hopes to bring together the people of Omaha, not only within their own individual neighborhoods but also as part of a single, unified community where service knows no boundaries.

“Whether it’s a neighborhood beautification project, an effort to improve education or health, or just neighbors helping each other, everyone can get involved,” Case said. “Every person in Omaha has a skill or talent that can contribute to Omaha Serves. We want to better connect citizens to the diverse needs in our community and to promote service as a core part of what it means to be an Omahan, as well as an American.”

Omaha Serves is supported by a grant from the Rockefeller Foundation’s Cities of Service Program .