Following a flurry of complaints from Edmonton residents frustrated with last winter's snow removal system, city administration is sharing a new plan that aims to keep drivers moving when the white stuff hits.

Highlights from a new report include a five-day target for clearing all residential roadways after snowfall ends, and instituting overnight parking bans when more than 30 centimetres of precipitation falls.

During times of severe weather, city administration is also recommending residential roads be plowed to bare pavement. The shift comes after this past winter, when many side streets became impassable as thick snow packs thawed during a spat of above-zero temperatures.

"I guess sometimes it takes an extreme to show you your weaknesses in your system," said Bob Dunford, the city's Director of Roadway Maintenance.

Also new this season is a proposed parking ban on all collector/bus route roadways in residential areas, which will run year round. Previously, the city's policy would issue a warning before any bans were put in place.

"The kind of snowfalls we saw last year, we don't have time to do that," said transportation manager Bob Boutilier.

"Last winter was probably one of the worst winters we've had in two decades."

As of this year, anyone who leaves their vehicle parked on a street with a parking ban could face a $50 ticket, plus the cost of a tow.

"I think you need to enforce the policy to make sure that the machines can get through neighbourhoods and on streets effectively," said Mayor Stephen Mandel.

In the long term, the city hopes to extend the bans to include parking on one side of all roadways 8.8 metres or less in width. This change would also run year round rather than seasonally in order to address access issues for emergency vehicles as well as snow equipment.

The plan also calls for smarter neighbourhood design in the future, including building bigger boulevards and other spaces to store extra snow.

The impending policy changes complement council's approval to purchase $8 million in extra snow removal equipment. In March, administration was given the green light to buy 20 sander/plow trucks, two loaders and five blower attachments.

There are still no plans to haul away snow from cul-de-sacs.

City council will discuss the proposal at on September 6th.

With Files from Bill Fortier