SPOKANE -- When the snow does start flying the City of Spokane has a new “plow plan” to get rid of it. The new pilot program was devised in the wake of two straight winters of record snow fall.

In the new plan a level-one snow emergency will be declared after two inches of snow or more is forecasted for the near future. After that happens all cars parked on arterials and STA fixed routes must be moved off the street.

A level-two snow emergency will be declared after six inches of snow or more is expected, which will trigger an “all city” plow. The old plan called for an all-city plow after four inches of snowfall. During a level-two emergency, all cars parked on city streets must be moved to the odd numbered side of the street.

“From citizen input we noticed we needed a change,” City worker Mark Serbousek said. “What we did was survey a number of cities throughout the nation, found out what their snow plans are and what we came up with is middle of the road. It's not the worst and most extreme and not the easiest. It's a middle-of-the-road approach.”

The city also purchased 11 new plows and has promised to improve the shoveling of city-owned property.