\u201cThe city declares a citywide winter parking restriction when it needs to plow snow. Fewer parked cars on the road ensure crews can clear snow safely and efficiently,\u201d said Noehammer.<\/p>\n
She also noted that residents should keep the lower part of their driveways clear of parked cars, bins and other obstacles when it snows. Otherwise, the snowplows may be unable to clear the windrows.<\/p>\n
Mississauga earned provincial award<\/p>\n
Mississauga\u2019s new winter maintenance plan that clears the windrows, in addition to other services, earned a provincial award<\/a> earlier this year.<\/p>\n The new initiative<\/a>, which also saw maintenance crews clear snow from all residential sidewalks last winter, was recognized in June with the Project of the Year Award in Management Innovation from the Ontario Public Works Association.<\/p>\n The award, presented to the city\u2019s works operations and maintenance division for delivering the expanded winter service, was one of two received by the city.<\/p>\n The OPWA also recognized Noehammer as Top Public Works Leader of the Year.<\/p>\n Awards presented by the provincial association honour outstanding projects, programs and professionals across Ontario\u2019s public works community.<\/p>\n Helen Noehammer, the city\u2019s director of works operations and maintenance.<\/p>\n Under its new plan, the city said it cleared at least a three-metre-wide opening in 134,000 driveway windrows when roads were plowed last winter.<\/p>\n The enhanced service was especially welcomed by residents \u201cduring a winter of historic snowfall, including a storm that brought up to 55 centimetres of snow,\u201d the city said earlier, adding the new services \u201cmade a difference for residents.\u201d<\/p>\n In past years, city officials noted, \u201cmany residents were left with heavy piles of snow at the end of their driveways after their street was cleared. By clearing a space in residents\u2019 windrows (last winter), it was easier and safer for residents to leave their homes to get to work, school and appointments.\u201d<\/p>\n The new citywide initiative replaced the previous limited windrow-clearing service that was available for older adults and those with mobility challenges.<\/p>\n Council approved new snow-clearing plan in 2024<\/p>\n In November 2024, city council approved a plan to clear windrows from all homes in Mississauga<\/a> starting the winter of 2025-26. A $224 increase on the 2025 residential property tax bill for the average homeowner included $21 per household for citywide windrow removal.<\/p>\n Secondary sidewalk snow clearing (at an additional $7 per household) and enhanced snow removal for bike lanes ($1) were also part of the city\u2019s updated winter maintenance plan that went into effect last year.<\/p>\n Mississauga joined several other Greater Toronto Area municipalities last winter in providing windrow clearing to all residents<\/a>. Toronto, Richmond Hill and Vaughan already offered the snow- and ice-clearing service.<\/p>\n The matter of windrows became a big issue during winter 2022-23 when several major storms left numbers of people in Mississauga trapped in their homes, unable to clear the heavy snow and ice themselves.<\/p>\n More windrow complaints than ever before<\/p>\n Mississauga councillors said at the time they fielded more windrow complaints from residents than ever before.<\/p>\n Windrows had also become a significant source of growing public frustration in recent years that hit new heights in early 2023, culminating in several isolated incidents in which angry residents attacked Mississauga snow plow drivers<\/a> and their machines.<\/p>\n In response, city councillors at that time discussed adopting a Mississauga-wide program.<\/p>\n In May 2023, faced with a staff report that showed it would cost $11.6 million a year to run a citywide windrow-clearing service, council decided against the move<\/a> at that time.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Helen-Noehammer-city-of-missy-director-at-june-10-2026-council.jpg\")
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