VIDEO: Kelowna's snow removal program aims to do better

In the snow removal business, there are two certainties.

It will snow.

And there will be complaints.

But this winter, Kelowna residents can count on a city team that enters the season vowing to do better.

"We've analyzed a whole bunch of snow events and we think people will notice a difference," said Public Works Manager Geert Bos.

A major weather event on February 27 exposed some weaknesses in the city's response and played a major role in changing things up for this year.

"In total, there were seven areas for improvement," said Bos.

An organization that gets it's share of criticism during the snowy season, has spent part of the off-season critiquing itself.

"It's okay for us to be self-critical," said Bos.

Sidewalks have been a sore spot.

"We really could do a better job," he admits.

So the city has shifted responsibility for sidewalks to the parks department.

"For the first time in a long time we have this program fully staffed," explained Bos.

Instead of four contracted units, there will be five on the roads.

And instead of considering 19 different zones for snow removal, the city has now been divided into 21.

There have even been tweaks in how weather forecasts are assessed.

Every effort has been made to improve performance this winter, but Bos's only guarantee is that his crews will do their best.

"As with every snow event it's always about how much snow did we get," he said, "and what were the circumstances that we get the snow in."

He also promised to have us back, and all of the news media, before the first big snowstorm arrives.

"We'll be seeing you around when the snow hits the fan."