City council was presented with an updated snow and ice control policy for 2012 during its regular meeting on Monday night.

The report, which is updated annually, proposes yearly regulations for dealing with snow and ice removal.

The report includes roads which will be given priority status as well as things like the regulation of parking bans for snow removal, snow hauling and dumping sites.

This year, five new roadways would be added to the city's list of top priority roads for snow removal.

"There have been some minor revisions to the snow clearing priorities to reflect some of the recent developments and re-prioritization of streets,” said Brian Crist, the city's director of operations.

Priority 1 roads are the top priority status granted to pedestrian and traffic routes within city limits.

The new proposed roads would include all four of the city's roundabouts, as well as the new Whistle Bend Way, which is expecting major growth with the development of the Whistle Bend subdivision.

The five roads would join a current list of 16 roadways, including Mountainview Drive, Two Mile Hill, Robert Service Way and Hamilton Boulevard.

Sidewalk clearing and snow removal at bus stops were also an issue in the new report, with concern for Main Street businesses as a priority for council.

As it stands, store owners are required to clear their own snow from the curb outside their businesses.

"I am never quite sure what businesses are supposed to do with the snow that is on their sidewalk,” said Coun. Dave Stockdale.

"They are not supposed to put it on the street, but there is nowhere else to put it, and if some concern could be taken to look at trying to clear the snow on the curb near those places. It's pretty difficult even for able-bodied people to get over the snow that builds up.”

An informal agreement already exists between the city and downtown businesses, where snow can be piled on the street for when the street is plowed, said Crist. The city will continue to look into the situation, he added.

Another issue is the plowing of some of the city's trail systems.

Several will not be plowed again this coming winter, including the Millennium Trail, which had been considered in the past for clearing due to concerns about people with disabilities accessing the trail.

"There has been questions raised to the city and some people would like to have that trail plowed on a regular basis,” said Crist.

"This is a winter city, and if the trail can be maintained as a packed surface, for most of the population that serves quite well, albeit persons with disabilities could find it somewhat awkward on a packed trail ... the conditions deteriorate in springtime, and as soon as possible in springtime, Public Works does go in and just clear the whole trail off.”

The Parks and Recreation department and the Klondike Snowmobile Association already take an active role in maintaining the trail, helping keep the pathways packed for skiers and hikers, said Crist.

Snowmobiling is not allowed on the trail.

Other unplowed trails would include the Robert Service Way river walk, the airport and Puckett's Gulch trail, as well as the Riverfront Trail.

The 2012 snow and ice control policy will be considered by council and voted on during its regular meeting next Monday night.