Don’t forget to keep those all-important fire hydrants clear of snow.

By David R. Smith

With the snow comes a list of policies and procedures residents need to know to help keep the streets clean, clear and safe. The city’s policies include regulations for snow plowing, property owner and city responsibilities both before and after snowstorms, parking restrictions during snow emergencies and more. Residents are encouraged to sign up for phone, email and/or text notifications through the city’s alert system by visiting http://www.somervillema.gov/.

“As we work to keep our city safe, clean and accessible, we ask you to please help us do our part by following our snow removal and snow emergency regulations and shoveling out fire hydrants in your neighborhood if possible,” Mayor Joseph Curtatone said in a press release.

The Somerville Department of Public Works and its contractors are responsible for clearing public streets, sidewalks abutting public property, walkways in municipal parks and open spaces throughout the city. Streets will be treated with salt and sand prior to or during snowfall as appropriate. Snow will be plowed to the curb (where possible).

Owners, tenants or other occupants of any building abutting a public way must shovel the sidewalk and accessible ramps in front of their property. Once snowfall has ended, residents and property owners will have six hours between sunrise and sunset to clear snow and ice from sidewalks. Per federal ADA requirements, sidewalks must be shoveled to a minimum of 42 inches wide where possible. Failure to comply with this ordinance will result in fines, which may be issued on a daily basis in increasing amounts. Residents may not shovel snow onto city streets.

A snow emergency may be declared whenever four or more inches of snow is predicted. City officials closely monitor storm forecasts through various means and will use all available information to make an informed decision as swiftly as possible.

Residents will be informed of snow emergencies through citywide alerts issued by phone, email and text message to subscribed users of the city’s alert system. Announcements will also be made via cable access on Channel 22 (Comcast) and Channel 13 (RCN), notification on all major broadcast channels, radio stations and local media, as well as  postings to social media including Facebook (www.facebook.com/311Somerville, www.facebook.com/SomervilleCity) and Twitter (@somervillecity, @311somerville) and alerts on the city’s homepage, http://www.somervillema.gov/. In addition, Somerville police will make loudspeaker announcements from their vehicles warning residents to move their cars. Flashing blue lights at major intersections will be activated at soon as an emergency is declared and will remain flashing until the emergency is over.

Residents may call 311 or the 24-hour Snow Line at 617-628-SNOW (7669) to find out when an emergency is in effect.

“Winter weather has its challenges,” Curtatone said, “but we take pride in the safety and appearance of our city year-round, so we hope we can work together again this winter to achieve that goal as efficiently as possible.”

Parking, ticketing and towing information during a snow emergency

• Parking is allowed on the odd-numbered side of the street only unless otherwise posted. Residents with cars on the even side of the street must either move their cars to the odd side or, if they cannot find a space, move to another location.

• Ticketing of cars parked on the even-numbered side of the street will commence on all streets four hours after the emergency is declared

• Towing of cars parked on the even-numbered side of the street will also commence four hours after the emergency is declared. If your car is towed, you may retrieve it from Pat’s Towing (617-776-5810). Fines are $100 and can be issued for failure to move the car to the proper side of the street, obstructing a snow plow or parking in a tow zone, parking within 10 feet of a hydrant or designated fire lane or within 20 feet of an intersection. Visit the town’s website for a map of available off-street parking locations.

Parking, ticketing and towing information after a snow emergency

• Permit-parking enforcement resumes 24 hours after the snow emergency has been lifted. It is the responsibility of residents to clean off their vehicles and ensure their residential/visitor parking permit is visible. Parking control officers are not authorized to remove snow from any vehicle. If the permit is not visible, the vehicle will be ticketed for a permit-parking violation.

• City ordinance restricts any vehicle from remaining in the same space on any street for a period exceeding 48 hours. This violation will be strictly enforced on both the odd and even sides of the street 48 hours after the snow emergency has been lifted. Failure to comply will result in the ticketing and potential towing of the vehicle.

• Residents may not put objects on the street to reserve parking spaces.

Plowing procedures

• The streets will be treated with salt and sand once the snow begins.

• Plowing will begin after two inches of snow has fallen.

• Main roads, cross streets, bus routes and the “hospital hills” will be plowed first

• Plows will be sent out in tandem, where applicable, to plow to the curb on the even side on the street.

Homeowners’ responsibilities for sidewalks

• Homeowners must shovel, salt or sand their sidewalks when it snows.

• Homeowners have six hours between sunrise and sunset after the snow stops to shovel sidewalks.

• Homeowners are not allowed to shovel snow into the street.

• Not complying with these provisions could result in a $25 fine for the first offense, $50 for the second and $100 for each subsequent offense.

Help your neighbors this winter

The city is seeking residents who would be willing to volunteer to assist elderly and disabled residents who may not be able to shovel sidewalks during snow storms this winter. Interested residents will be added to a contact list for residents in need of assistance, with priority given to senior citizens and residents with disabilities. To sign up for this service, click on “constituent services” under the “departments” tab on the city’s homepage.