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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-02-17 PACKET 04.A.ii.REQUEST OF CITY COUNCIL ACTION COUNCIL AGENDA MEETING ITEM # ' DATE 02/17/10 �® PREPARED BY Public Safety Craig Woolery ORIGINATING DEPARTMENT STAFF AUTHOR COUNCIL ACTION REQUEST Pass a motion to accept and place on file the November 17, 2009 minutes of the Public Safety, Health and Welfare Commission. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Pass a motion to accept and place on file the November 17, 2009 minutes of the Public Safety, Health and Welfare Commission. ADVISORY COMMISSION ACTION ❑ PUBLIC SAFETY MEETING SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS DATE REVIEWED APPROVED DENIED 01 -19 -10 x x ® MINUTES: November 17, 2009 minutes of the Public Safety, Health and Welfare Commission COUNCIL ACTION TAKEN: APPROVED ❑ DENIED ❑ OTHER AND WELFARE COMMISSION ..)UBLIC SAFETY, HEALTH MINUTES OF November 17, ,,. Pursuant to due notice, a meeting of the Public Safety, Health and Welfare Commission was held at the City Hall Council Chambers and was telecast on local Government Cable Channel 12. CALL TO ORDER: The November 17, 2009 meeting of the Cottage Grove Public Safety, Health and Welfare Commission was called to order at 7:00 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT: Brian Hagen, Ben Franczok, Angela Chambliss, Todd Chambliss, Jim Neuenfeldt MEMBERS ABSENT: None STAFF PRESENT: Deputy Director of Public Safety Pete Koerner, Fire Chief Bob Byerly, City Engineer Jennifer Levitt Approval of minutes: Chairperson Hagen presented the March 17, 2009 minutes for review. On a motion by Commission Member Ben Franczok, seconded by Commission member Jim Neuenfeldt the March 17, 2009 minutes were approved as submitted. Motion carried. Approval of agenda: Chairperson Hagen presented the November 17, 2009 agenda of the Public Safety, Health and Welfare Commission for review. On a motion by Commission member Ben Franczok, seconded by Chairperson Brian Hagen, November 17, 2009 agenda was accepted and approved by the Commission. Motion carried. OPEN FORUM Chairperson Hagen invited citizens present to address the Commission regarding any matters that were not on the approved agenda. There being no added items, Chairperson Hagen closed the Open Forum segment of the meeting. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT The Planning Commission had no agenda items for the Commission to review. There being no comments by the Commission, this portion of the meeting was closed. OLD BUSINESS None at this time. Page 2 PSHWC Meeting November 17, 2009 NEW BUSINESS Case 09 -11 -01 Highway 61 median closures — City Engineer Jennifer Levitt City Engineer Jennifer Levitt made a brief presentation and overview to the Commission with regard to the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) re- paving TH 61 from just south of 70 Street to US10. The following is some information she provided in a memo to Council - The project was moved forward from 2013 because economic stimulus dollars from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) were made available for this $26 million project. She went on to say that the project will provide a concrete overlay over the old roadway and improvements will be made to shoulders and ramps from the mainline TH61 and that MnDOT is proposing to add three right turn lanes and close three median locations. The closures are as follows: 1) Remove median crossover and access to Point Douglas Road. Alternative access provided at Kimbro Avenue will remain in place. 2) Remove median crossover, residential drive to north and New Life Church drive to the south. Both would have right -in, right -outs and would need to make U -turns at adjoining median crossovers for those moves lost due to the removal of this crossover. 3) Remove median crossover. Resident/farm drive to north would have right - in, right -out only and would need to make U -turns at adjoining median crossovers for those moves lost due to the removal of the crossover. City Engineer Levitt also stated the addition of right turn lanes at Zyweic's Landscape, New Life Church and 61 Marine and Sports will provide a safer access to those facilities. By closing the medians and adding right -turn lanes will reduce conflict points on a high speed roadway. City Engineer Levitt also provided accident data for the segment of TH61 where the median closures are proposed and since 1998 there have been 184 accidents; two fatal, 6 incapacitating, 7 non - capacitating and 169 property damage. Letters from the city were sent to landowners directly affected by the proposed changes and advised residents they could address their concerns and comments to the Public Safety, Health and Welfare Commission prior to making a recommendation to the City Council. Concerns expressed by the individuals that spoke in opposition were centered on two main issues: one being farming concerns and the other around traffic issues with entering and exiting the church facility. Page 3 PSHWC Meeting November 17, 2009 After hearing the concerns and having a brief discussion, the Commission made the following recommendation to support the median closure at locations 1) and 3) and the installation of right turn lanes at these locations and that emphasis be made to MnDOT that acceleration lanes are needed and should be long enough to provide for a safe merging of traffic. Motion made by Todd Chambliss, seconded by Jim Neuenfeldt. Motion carried. The Commission also expressed concerns about snowmobiles crossing at median location #1 and the necessity of leaving an opening in the guardrail to allow a snowmobile to cross and gave several reasons to keep this open. City Engineer Levitt was thanked for her presentation. RESPONSE TO PREVIOUSLY RAISED COMMISSION COMMENTS AND REQUESTS Nothing at this time. COMMISSION COMMENTS AND REQUESTS Chair Brian Hagen advised that the Snowmobile Club will be holding the annual snowmobile safety class which will be held at Fire Station 2, 6 pm to 9 pm, on November 30, December 2 and December 4 (Monday, Wednesday, Friday). Go on line to the DNR website and contact him through that website. STAFF REPORTS POLICE - Captain Koerner advised the Commission that the Police Division is up to its allowable amount of police officers. He went on to say that recent hires include Nils Torning and Adam Pelton. Both were from within who were CSOs with the department. Captain Koerner informed the Commission that next month Sergeant Randy McAlister will make a presentation on the Snowmobile Patrol and on street parking ordinance. FIRE - Fire Chief Bob Byerly informed the Commission that the Fire Department used 800 MHz during the Carlos Avery edge fire and reported that their communications with command was crystal clear considering they were 50 -60 miles out of our territory. He also added that the squad cameras have been invaluable to the fire department because the police, being a 24 hour division, can be on scene 4 — 5 minutes before the arrival of fire personnel so it has been real Page 4 PSHWC Meeting November 17, 2009 helpful to see where the fire was, where it progressed, what color the smoke is, which can aid in their investigation. He went to say they currently have 5 fire personnel that are finishing Fire Fighting 1 after testing out they will take their Haz -Mat Ops and their Fire Fighter 2. They have been EMTs for 6 months and have been a big asset to the department. Calls for service up 11 % this year and will top out around 2100 total calls for service for 2009. The Public Safety Department participated in a table top exercise at the Marathon Refinery on October 21, 2009. He also added that we have been approved by the Feds to take 65 people from the entire county and do a large emergency management disaster drill in Emmetsburg, Maryland at the Fire Academy in July. He discussed the H1N1flu. We have calls for service for seasonal flu symptoms every year and have had an extra 10 calls for service for the flu symptoms, but do not know if it's for seasonal flu or H1 N1. Fire and EMS personnel have been sick here and there, but nothing major. Commission member Franczok inquired about chimney safety and inspection of chimneys. Fire Chief Byerly advised that chimneys need to be cleaned every couple years to prevent chimney fires. After 60 fires or so, homeowners should have a professional service come out and inspect the chimney. He also advised that carbon monoxide detectors need to be installed within 10 feet of every sleeping room and make sure to change batteries every 6 months, or at least once per year. COUNCIL - No council recaps. ADJOURN Motion by Commission member Ben Franczok, seconded by Commission member Todd Chambliss to adjourn the meeting at 7:58 p.m. Motion carried. Respectfully submitted, Cyndee Engfer —Administrative Secretary Public Safety Department