Warmer weather is expected to turn snow banks into slushy pools. (CBC)

A Calgary alderman said he and other councillors have been inundated with complaints about the slow pace of snow removal in the city.

Since heavy snowfalls in December, snow banks are piled high on residential curbs and some vehicles are snowed in. With warmer weather in the forecast, the snow will turn into slushy pools.

Ald. Andre Chabot asked the administration on Monday about alternate methods of clearing so much snow.

Hiring private contractors on contract to clear residential streets has been shunned in the past because of the high price tag.

"I think it's time to review that policy," said Chabot on Monday. "We don't have a bare road policy, but maybe we need to have at least something that's a little less, I guess, challenging for the average commuter."

John Hubble, general manager for the transportation manager, said December saw the worst snowfall in eight years for the city, so to require a private operator to keep the men and equipment on hand to handle a snowfall that happens that often would be cost-prohibitive.

Some vehicles in Calgary have been snowed in. (CBC)

He also said most commercial snow-removal companies in Calgary focus on parking lots and sidewalks, and don't have the type of equipment needed to plow roads.

But Chabot said not clearing side roads has other costs.

"It's kind of like a deferred tax in that they may not be paying through their property tax but they're paying it through increased insurance rates, repair bills for their automobiles because of poor road conditions," he said.

Chabot proposed the idea of snow insurance to city council, where the city could pay insurance premiums through mild winters to avoid dramatic overruns on the snow removal budget after severe snowfalls.

"I was also advised that had we pursued that option over the course of about eight years, we would probably end up in a cost recovery position. We may end up paying for eight years but at the end of that eight years, the insurance would actually end up benefiting the city."