With another winter of deep freezes behind them, St. Paul council is reviewing how the town responds to extreme weather.

At the February 12 Committee as a Whole meeting, Chief Administrative Officer Steven Jeffery walked council through the town’s Extreme Weather Mobilization Policy.

The policy sets thresholds for suspending outdoor work:

• –35°C ambient temperature

• –40°C with windchill

• +37°C during extreme heat

“That seems to be the point of degradation for a lot of equipment,” Jeffery said. “And of course it’s about protecting staff.”

Jeffery noted the policy has already been enacted this year during extreme cold snaps.

Councillor David Fodness raised questions about clarifying which weather source is referenced in the policy, suggesting consistency helps avoid confusion among residents.

Council also agreed to broaden the term “smoky conditions” to “air quality conditions” to reflect more than just wildfire smoke.

Jeffery indicated further refinements may come back to council before final approval.