Roadway snow plowing typically leaves a “berm” or row of snow at the end of the plow after it passes by. As berms in front of driveways thaw and refreeze, they can be difficult to remove and/or drive over.

The City of Walla Walla strives to provide equal access to all residents, and has instituted a Berm Reduction Program as a reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. The program's goal is to reduce snow berms across driveways of qualified people with disabilities in the City of Walla Walla who have physical challenges that make it difficult for them to clear the berm for access to and from their residence, in accordance with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

How will the berm be reduced?

As the City’s snowplow passes by a qualified applicant’s driveway, the plow operator will reduce speed and turn the plow blade to capture the snow that otherwise would have formed the berm. As the plow continues past the driveway, the plow blade will be turned to disperse the captured snow downstream of the qualified person’s driveway.

How do I qualify/request service?

To qualify/request this service, a resident must:

• Complete the City’s standard Persons with Disabilities Berm Reduction Request Form;
• Provide a copy of their temporary or permanent State of Washington Department of Licensing, Individual with Disabilities Parking Privilege card; and
• Provide proof the person lives at the property where the service is requested. The property must be a single‐family or duplex dwelling with a driveway directly served by a public roadway maintained by the City of Walla Walla. Only one driveway will be serviced per Individual with Disabilities Permit Privilege card.

Download the request form as a PDF by clicking the following button, or fill out and submit the online form at the end of this web page.

Download the form

Descargar el formulario en español

Printed copies of the forms are available in English and Spanish at:

• Blue Mountain Action Council, 8 E. Cherry St.;
• City of Walla Walla Service Center, 55 E. Moore St.;
• Lillie Rice Center, 2616 E. Isaacs Ave.;
• Norco, 1439 The Dalles Military Road;
• Valley Residential Services, 240 Bush St.
• Walla Walla City Hall, 15 N. 3rd Ave.;
• Walla Walla Public Library, 238 E. Alder St.; and
• Walla Walla Senior Center, 720 Sprague St.

Berm Reduction Requests/Applications must be submitted:

• In writing to the City of Walla Walla, Public Works Department, Street Division, at 55 E. Moore Street, Walla Walla WA 99362; or
• Via email to pwinfo@wallawallawa.gov; or
• Via the online submission form at the end of this page.

Residents requesting this service must submit a Persons with Disabilities Berm Reduction Request Form to the City before Oct. 1 each year to allow sufficient time for the City to create a list of qualified service locations. Residents requesting service must submit a new application each year. The City will notify all applicants by phone or email within two weeks of receiving a request to confirm eligibility of berm reduction services. Requests submitted during the course of the winter will receive service as soon as possible, but, depending on the severity and frequency of snowfall, may not be eligible for berm reduction services until subsequent snowstorms.

Notice of the program will be issued annually and registration renewal notices shall also be sent to the prior year’s registrants.

The City of Walla Walla commits to nondiscrimination on the basis of disability in all of its programs and activities. This material can be made available in an alternate format by emailing ada‐titlevi@wallawallawa.gov or calling 509.527.4540.

The City of Walla Walla complies with the ADA, and other applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, religion, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or sex.

Contact

For more information, please contact the Street Division office at 509.527.4363.

Por favor llame a este número 509.524.4685 si necesita más información o para recibir esta información en español.

Service/Temporary Suspension Due to Emergencies

Except in cases of emergency approved by the City Manager, this service will be provided
concurrent with the City’s routine snow plowing operations.

Should an emergency occur where temporary suspension is necessary, notification will be emailed to the list of approved individuals with disabilities, notifying them of the suspension, the cause of the suspension, and when service is expected to resume. The City will then notify individuals on the list when service has been reinstated. Normal rates of snowfall by themselves are not considered grounds for declaring an emergency.

Why doesn’t the City’s routine snow plowing services include prevention of berms?

The highest priority purpose for snow plowing is to maintain access for emergency vehicles throughout the city’s roadway system. Preventing berms in front of all of Walla Walla's 8,500 driveways would be prohibitively time consuming, expensive, and would negatively impact the City’s ability to plow roadways in a reasonable amount of time. If other residents need assistance, the City maintains a list of individuals and agencies that can assist those who are unable to remove snow from their property.