Council approved an updated policy Monday night that will allow two more centimetres of snow to accumulate on residential roads before the plows come along.
The city's snow and ice control policy now states residential streets will be cleared after 12 centimetres of snowfall versus the previous 10 centimetres.
"We have a growing number of residents who require motorized buggies and scooters for their accessibility, so during the winter months when they are using sidewalks or are outside crossing roadways will this recommended change have a significant impact on their accessibility?" asked Coun. Garth Frizzell.
Sidewalk clearing won't change under the updated policy, said operations superintendent Bill Gall. "Hopefully we actually will increase that," he said.
The change was triggered by the core services review process and approved by council in July with the intent of freeing up $180,000 for other snow clearing activities.
City crews aren't going to be out with rulers to check if the extra two centimetres have fallen, said Gall, explaining the city uses Environment Canada data to measure accumulation.
The policy was updated by an 8-1 vote with Coun. Brian Skakun voting in opposition.
Skakun said that even though the main arterial roads and sidewalks wouldn't be getting less attention, the feedback he has received indictes residents weren't supportive of the plan.
"I support the intent of administration with what they want to do with this, but at this point people have told me loud and clear they want their streets plowed more frequently instead of going backwards," he said.
