Frequently Asked Questions - Administration
Snow Storm Info
Q: Who decides if City facilities are going to close because of the weather?A: The City Administrator will close City Hall due to inclement weather when circumstances require. This can be triggered by current weather conditions, forecasts for severe weather and hazardous conditions, road closures, but is ultimately at the discretion of the City Administrator.
Managers of individual facilities (for instance, the Library or Recreation Center) have the power to determine when it is appropriate to close their specific facilities due to inclement weather.
Employees who work in positions that are essential for snow or other emergencies (emergency preparedness, street crews, some office staff, maintenance supervisors, and police, for example) will be required to work.
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Q: If City facilities are closed, how will I find out?A: When City facilities are closed due to weather, the City’s Public Information Officer will contact the local TV news stations with information on closures. When a storm is big these news stations cannot always be relied upon to list Lafayette's information. The best way for the public to get information about closures, program cancellations and snow removal plans in Lafayette is to visit the City’s website. Information will be updated regularly on the homepage throughout snow emergencies.
You can also call 303-665-5588 to see if City facilities have been closed.
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Q: When will the City plow my street?A: The City of Lafayette’s Snow and Ice Control program is based on a comprehensive priority system designed to maximize safety and minimize winter travel hassles. Public safety is our primary concern.
The State Highways that run through Lafayette are plowed by the Colorado Department of Transportation. This includes Highway 287, Highway 7 (Baseline Road, east of Highway 287 or Arapahoe Road) and Highway 42.
The first streets plowed in a snow storm are designated Priority 1. These are streets that serve multiple areas of the city and are major arterial roads. Streets where public schools are located are also designated Priority 1. Examples of Priority 1 streets are Public Road, South Boulder Road and Emma Street.
The second set of streets that are plowed in a snow storm are designated Priority 2. These are streets that provide access to Priority 1 routes and these are plowed to insure emergency access to the Priority 1 streets. Examples of Priority 2 streets are Simpson Street, Indian Peaks Trail, Autumn Ridge Boulevard and Spaulding Street.
(See a map of the City’s Snow and Ice Removal Program Plow Routes for a complete list of Priority 1 & 2 Routes.)
Residential streets are usually not plowed or treated except after storms with 12” or more of snow fall. Residential streets will be plowed only after crews have completed service on Priority 1 and Priority 2 streets. In the very worst snow storms the City will make at least one snow plow pass on every street in town as soon as possible.
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Q: Why doesn’t the City do more plowing in residential neighborhoods?A: The City uses six dump trucks to plow and has many miles of streets to maintain. There just isn’t time or resources available to plow every street in town, so keeping the main roadways open and accessible has to be the priority.
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Q: How much does it cost the City to plow streets?A: It costs approximately $800 per lane mile per year to plow streets. A lane mile is one mile multiplied by the number of traffic lanes.
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Q: Why did the City block my driveway or bury my sidewalk when they plowed my street?A: Problems may arise for residents when snow piles up on sidewalks and driveways are blocked because of snowplow activities. We try very hard to plow so as not to block driveways, but this is not always possible. The most efficient method to plow snow is to push it to the side of the road.
Plowing to the center of the road would leave your driveway open, but it would not provide enough room for fire trucks and other emergency vehicles to operate.
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Q: Who is responsible for clearing parking lots of snow?A: The Parks Department is responsible for plowing parking lots at City facilities and at Lafayette parks. Parking lots for local businesses are plowed by the property owners or tenants.
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Q: What about sidewalks?A: Lafayette’s Municipal Code requires that the owner, occupant, or agent of any building shall maintain the sidewalks of that property. Snow and ice must be removed within twenty-four hours after each snowfall. Failure to remove snow and ice can result in a summons and a fine. This applies to all properties, residential and commercial.
Read this section of the Municipal Code.
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Q: How do I report someone who is not clearing their sidewalks of snow in a timely fashion?A: To report someone who is not clearing their sidewalks in a timely fasion, contact the Code Compliance Specialists. They handle complaints of this nature for both commercial and residential properties.
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Q: Is there any snow shoveling help available for residents who are not physically able to clear their sidewalks themselves?A: The Lafayette Senior Center offers a snow shoveling service for seniors who cannot maintain their sidewalks or driveway access. Call Lorna Beard at 303-665-9052 or send her an email to find out more about this service. Please note that this is not an emergency service and shoveling is scheduled as time permits during regular business hours.
The Fire Department, the Police and Community Life also all work together to assist senior or disabled citizens with problems they may encounter during a snow storm. Call the Fire Department at 303-665-9661 for more information.
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Q: My car got stuck in the snow and ended up getting towed away. What do I do now? A: Call the Lafayette Police Department at 303-665-5571.
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Q: Does the City have an emergency shelter for people displaced or stranded in a major snow storm? A: In an emergency the City can use the Bob L. Burger Recreation Center as a shelter, keeping it open for the duration of the emergency, staffed by Recreation Department employees, with assistance from the Police and Fire Departments. Exempla Good Samaritan Medical Center is also available for use as an emergency shelter.
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Q: What should citizens do in a snow storm?A: Everyone should be prepared to survive in their homes for at least three days, making sure they have emergency kits with food, water and medications to last during that time. It is also important that residents not use 911 for non-emergency situations.
In the event of a major snow storm, people are strongly urged to refrain from driving. Cars on the roads means snow plows can’t get through.
Once the snow has stopped falling, residents will need to shovel their own driveways and sidewalks, and are encouraged to help their neighbors and to check in with seniors who might need assistance.
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