Friday, December 19, 2008

Snow Update - Trash Pick-up Suspended

Hey Neighbors,

Here is the latest from the city...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE



December 19, 2008 - 7 a.m.



Contact:        Marlene Feist

Public Affairs Officer

(509) 625-6740



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CREWS MAKE PROGRESS OVERNIGHT

City garbage pickup suspended for another day

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City snow removal crews made solid progress overnight.  They have completed their emergency snow routes and are continuing to work on major and secondary arterials.  Many arterials are in good shape.

Additionally, work in the residential neighborhoods also is continuing.  Crews have finished residential hill section 23, which includes part of Indian Trail; are wrapping up section 24, in southwest Spokane; have proceeded into 22, which includes Five Mile and other parts of far northwest Spokane, and have just begun work in 20, which includes the west side of the South Hill.  (See residential snow route map at www.spokanestreetdepartment.org/snowplow.htm to look at the routes.)

Eleven private graders, up from seven last night, are now in the residential roads, along with 10 City graders.  Residents should wait until the second grader passes their house before shoveling out their driveways.

Work also is proceeding downtown.  Crews have "racked" the snow to the center of the street, creating large berms.  Motorists should not attempt to cross the berms; they will get stuck. Crews will begin to haul away those berms this morning, starting on Second and Third avenues. Parking lanes in all areas are not yet clear.

Meanwhile, the City is suspending garbage pickup and curbside recycling for business and residential customers again today, Friday, Dec. 19.   Thursday and Friday customers can put out twice their normal garbage amount next week.  However, because of the Christmas holiday next week, Thursday customers will put out their garbage on Friday, Dec. 26, and Friday customers will put out their garbage on Saturday, Dec. 27.

Here is a list of other City-related closures for Friday:

*    Spokane City Hall.
*    Spokane Public Library branches
*    Riverfront Park attractions, including the IMAX.
*    Holiday Lights Floral Display at Manito Park Gaiser Conservatory.
*    All City of Spokane Parks and Recreation Classes are cancelled.
*    Northeast Youth Center.
*    Hillyard, Sinto, Corbin, and Southside senior centers.
*    Corbin Art Center.
*    Peaceful Valley Community Center.



"We know this record snowfall is causing hardships for many people, and we want to thank our citizens for their patience and assistance today," says Mayor Mary Verner.   "We've deployed all of our snow removal equipment and are calling in more from the private sector to efficiently and effectively open our streets.  This is our priority; it is my priority.  The City of Spokane is the heart of this region, and we will get the community moving."

We remain in a "Condition Red" snow emergency, which means City crews will continue plowing snow 24 hours a day, seven days a week until they can complete a full City plow, which includes removing snow from 967 miles of arterial and residential streets.  When they complete the major arterials and emergency snow routes, crews will move to the secondary arterials, bus routes, residential hills, and residential streets.



Police are asking residents to stay home, if at all possible.  If you must drive, the City is asking motorists to slow down, be patient, and drive according to the conditions.  The Spokane Police Department reports many, many collisions in the last two days in the City and County, and City police are not responding to non-injury, non-blocking collisions. 



Don't follow plows closely, and please do not try to pass these trucks; it is very dangerous.  Police also are asking citizens not to walk down the middle of streets.  If people must walk in the street because the sidewalk is blocked, stay single file and walk as close to the curb as possible. 



Updated information on the plowing schedule, including plowing maps, is available on the City's web site at www.spokanestreetdepartment.org/snowplow.htm ; citizens also can call our Snow Removal Hotline at 456-2666.  CityCable 5 will cablecast images from the community's traffic cameras for much of the day, interrupting that information only for a replay of the City Council meeting starting at 10 a.m.



Residents are asked to move vehicles from the street when plows are expected. Also, remember, the City uses truck plows, which will leave berms in front of residential driveways. We ask that residents assist their neighbors who may need help removing snow from their driveways and sidewalks.  Also, please check on neighbors who are elderly or otherwise vulnerable.

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