Winnipeg councillor posts own maps to clear confusion over city snow clearing plan

A Winnipeg city councillor wants to clear any confusion residents in her ward may have about when snow is cleared in the area, so she has posted simplified, customized maps on her website.

South Winnipeg-St. Norbert Coun. Janice Lukes asked public works staff to draw up maps of her ward and highlight Know Your Zone parking ban zones, snow routes and priority roads in each neighbourhood.

She posted those maps on her website, as well as general information about the city's snow-clearing operations.

"I am here to serve the people in my ward, and I want to make it easy for them to understand and alleviate the phone calls and emails if they don't understand," she said.

Lukes, who describes herself as more of a "map person," said she knows the city has a database that allows users to find their snow-clearing zones by typing in an address, but there may be cases when it's easier to look at a map.

As well, she said the current maps and information posted on the city's website aren't very clear.

"I go on the city website; I want to know this inside and out," she said.

"Thirteen or 15 links — once you start going down that link path of linking to one page to another page to another page…. I just simplified it. It was a good exercise for myself, for my staff in the office."

Lukes said she is optimistic that everyone in Winnipeg will know their snow-clearing zone in the next couple months, provided that the city communicates that type of information clearly.