HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-02-03 PACKET 09.A.REQUEST OF CITY COUNCIL ACTION COUNCIL AGENDA
MEETING ITEM #
DATE 2/3/10
PREPARED BY Public Works Les Burshten
ORIGINATING DEPARTMENT STAFF AUTHOR
COUNCIL ACTION REQUEST:
Respond to request by City Council to evaluate plowing and maintaining the Highlands Park
storm sewer pond throughout the winter months for ice skating.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Receive response to City Council request to plow and maintain the Highlands Park storm
sewer pond throughout the winter months for ice skating.
BUDGET IMPLICATION $
BUDGETED AMOUNT ACTUAL AMOUNT FUNDING SOURCE
ADVISORY COMMISSION ACTION
❑ PLANNING
❑ PUBLIC SAFETY
❑ PUBLIC WORKS
❑ PARKS AND RECREATION
❑ HUMAN SERVICES /RIGHTS
❑ ECONOMIC DEV. AUTHORITY
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SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS
DATE REVIEWED
APPROVED
DENIED
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® MEMO /LETTER: Brian Voelker, January 28, 2010
❑ RESOLUTION:
❑ ORDINANCE:
❑ ENGINEERING RECOMMENDATION:
❑ LEGAL RECOMMENDATION:
ADMINISTRATORS COMMENTS
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City Administrator Date
CITY OF
MINNESOTA
COTTAGE GROVE
To:
Les Burshten, Public Works Director
From:
Brian Voelker, Management Analyst
Date:
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Subject:
Response to Council Concerns
Council Request
At the January 20, 2010 City Council meeting there was a request for the Public Works staff to look
into plowing and maintaining the Highlands Park storm sewer pond throughout the winter months for
ice skating.
Background
For the past two years the Public Works Department has plowed an area of the Highlands Pond for
the Recreation Department's annual Highlands Park skating and sledding party in mid - January. The
event has been a huge success because of the marketing and advertising by the Recreation
Department.
Staff Response
The Public Works and Recreation staff have reviewed the option of plowing and maintaining the
storm water pond throughout the skating season and have recommended that the Highlands Pond
should not be plowed annually due to safety concerns of staff and residents. All streets between 65'
Street and 70 Street drain thru the 42" storm sewer outlet into the Highlands Pond and the Public
Works staff feels that safe ice conditions may not be manageable for maintaining the pond for
skating. The ice on this small of a pond may be too unstable to maintain during small rain events
similar to one the City of Cottage Grove had on January 22nd and 23rd. Staff also had concerns
about consistently putting heavy equipment such as a pickup truck or a tractor with a broom on the
pond to clear the ice off if the ice conditions deteriorated.
Staff Recommendation
The Public Works Department is recommending that we continue to clean off the pond for the
Highlands skating and sledding party in mid - January in the future but not maintain it throughout the
skating season because of uncertainty of ice conditions.