Council member Burrows sponsored CB-12-2025, which would add a new section (26-157.02) to Subtitle 26 (Vehicles and Traffic) to require the Department of Public Works and Transportation (DPWT) to report on snow removal operations and communications strategies. The committee discussed the measure on March 13, 2025, then voted to hold the bill for additional edits negotiated with the administration.

The proposed section defines operational levels by snowfall: modified operations for 2–4 inches, full operations for more than 4 inches (multi-day plowing), and a blizzard level requiring heavy equipment. It also defines primary county roadways (major highways), secondary roadways (connecting roads) and residential roadways. DPWT would be required to produce a report within 24 hours of notice of anticipated snowfall meeting any operation level or ice-related weather; reports would include deployment strategies for primary, secondary and residential routes, lists of supplies used during pretreatment (county or vendor), and communications strategies for updates to the council and the county's 311 system.

Alex Hertel, legislative policy analyst, said enactment would probably have a modest adverse fiscal impact because departmental staff would need to create and release the operational reports, though DPWT did not provide specific data during the hearing. Sponsor Burrows said the bill grew out of constituent concerns during a January 6 storm when council offices had little information to share about snow operations. Burrows and DPWT Director Johnson said they held a collaborative meeting and expected to reconcile language; Burrows said he would hold the bill for a week to receive suggested amendments by email.

DPWT Director Johnson told the committee the department already generates situation reports during storms and that communication can be challenging because storm behavior can change and weather forecasts can be uncertain. Assistant Director Skinner said DPWT’s public information officer would coordinate delivery of situational awareness reports to the legislative branch and that the administration would work with the sponsor to incorporate existing situational report content into the bill language.

Council member Fisher, explaining her aye vote to hold, asked that staff look at the county’s online portal so posted clearing status matches actual street conditions; she said residents are frustrated when a street appears cleared in one place but not in the county portal. The committee moved to hold CB-12-2025 to allow Burrows and the administration to finalize agreed amendments; the motion to hold passed 5–0.

The committee scheduled the bill for further review; DPWT and council staff plan to incorporate existing situational report language and address communication and portal accuracy before the next meeting.