HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-07-18 MINUTESPUBLIC SAFETY, HEALTH AND WELFARE COMMISSION
MINUTES OF MEETING
July 18, 2006
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 July 18, 2006 meeting of the Cottage Grove Public
Safety, Health and Welfare Commission was called to order
at 7:00 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
MEMBERS ABSENT:
STAFF PRESENT:
Kris Mienert, Brian Hagen, Dave Wick, Ben Franczok
Jeff Rothecker, Justin Olsen
Director of Public Safety Craig Woolery, Deputy Fire Chief AI
Beasley
Approval of minutes:
Chairperson Kris Mienert presented the June 20, 2006 minutes for review. On a motion
by Commission member Brian Hagen, seconded by Commission member Dave Wick, the
June 20, 2006 minutes were approved as submitted. Motion carried.
Approval of aqenda:
Chairperson Kris Mienert presented the July 18, 2006 agenda of the Pubiic Safety, Health
and Welfare Commission for review. On a motion by Commission member Dave Wick,
seconded by Commission member Brian Hagen, the July 18, 2006 agenda was accepted
and approved by the Commission. Motion carried.
OPEN FORUM
Chairperson Mienert invited citizens present to address the Commission regarding any
matters that were not on the approved agenda.
There being no presentations, Chairperson Mienert closed the Open Forum segment of
the meeting.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
The Public Safety, Health and Weifare Commission reviewed the tentative agenda for
the July 24` Planning Commission.
Case CUP06-028 — Stewart Dog Kennel was approved by the Commission. The
concerns of Chairperson Mienert regarding the removal of animal waste via the septic
system were answered. There were concerns raised by the Commission regarding the
overall noise that potentially could occur from barking animals affecting adjacent
properties. Chief Woolery did advise that the current ordinance for dog barking would
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July 18, 2006
apply and that the applicant wouid make efforts to use landscaping in attempts to curb
any potential barking problems that may occur.
Case CUP06-037 — Gaalswyk Barn. No information was included in the packet,
therefore no comment was made.
Case CUP06-046 and V06-047 — American Motor Sports Bar and Grill. The conditional
use permit to expand the restaurant with liquor and 55 seats and a variance for the
parking requirements was passed by the Commission. There was no additional
comment on this case.
Case SP06-042 — Ichor Stone (Creative Stone). The Commission reviewed and passed
this item. Chairperson Mienert asked about the ability to mow the Iandscaped berm;
that slope was change from a 4-1 to a 3-1 slope and was asking if this would be able to
be mowed and maintained. In looking at the staff report from planning, it was not ciear
whether the berms would be landscaped or would require any sort of mowing at all.
There were no other comments on this item.
Cases CP06-038, ZA06-039, PP06-040 — The Commission ultimately passed the Oak
Cove plan to expand the musa boundary and to change the land use designation to
8.63 acres of land from rural residential to low density residential which created the 12
single family lots in this site area. The Commission inquired if there would be tree
replacement as far as the city's tree mitigation plan, which Chief Woolery
acknowledged that the plan wouid be in effect and that limited trees would be removed
and a maximum number of trees would be kept to enhance the value and aesthetics of
the lots. The Commission asked if city park land would be lost as a resuit of this
development and he advised that the "Camels Hump" area is directly south of this site
plan and is currently publicly owned. The Commission also asked if there were letters of
the potential development sent to adjacent property owners. Chief Woolery did advise
that there was a public hearing and that other mailings would occur as a result of the
public hearing for the development.
Case TA06-027 — Driveway setbacks. This matter was reviewed by the Commission
and ultimately passed. It was explained to the Commission that language needed to be
clarified as what an improved surface was to encourage asphalt, cement or paving
bricks to enhance storage areas for accessory use purposes. One question from the
Commission was if the language under Title 11.3-9E under surfacing appiied to all
properties in the musa boundaries or not and appears to the language that it did apply.
The Commission also asked if the language reviews were approved by the city attorney,
which Chief Woolery responded that he believed at this point, that the city attorney
would have been involved in recommendations and change to the code.
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July 18, 2006
There being no further discussion regarding the Planning Commission cases, this portion
of the meeting was closed.
OLD BUSINESS
Case 05-02-01 Hinton Avenue Speed Study
At the July 18, 2006 Public Safety, Health and Welfare Commission meeting, the
Commission took public comment regarding the MNDOT's engineering stud�
proposal to increase the speed limit on Hinton Avenue between 70 and 80
Streets, from 30 mph to 40 mph. The options presented to them were relating to
the speed limit change and also the piacement of the sidewalk on the east side
of Hinton Avenue.
The Commission took comment from 7 citizens who all spoke against raising the
speed limit and placement of the sidewalk on the east side of Hinton Avenue.
The Public Safety, Health and Welfare Commission was also reminded by Chief
Woolery that on April 9, 2002, the Commission had approved to change the
speed limit from 30 to 40 mph. At the time, citizens at the meeting who were
opposed to the increase in speed, felt that if sidewalks could be completed on
both sides of Hinton Avenue, that they would approve a 40 mph speed limit. This
Commission provided their comments to the City Council on April 17, 2002. The
City Council elected to table the 1996 MNDOT study and wait until the Hinton-
Tower connection was done and the another traffic study be authorized to re-
evaluate current conditions. Another addition to the timeline presented to the
Commission was that on February 15, 2005, the Public Safety, Health and
Welfare Commission approved the MNDOT speed study at that time. There were
no additional comments made regarding the sidewalks.
After receiving considerable public opinion and comment, on a motion by Ben
Franczok, seconded by Dave Wick to keep the speed limit to 30 mph; not
complete the sidewalk on the east side of Hinton Avenue and on a motion by
Brian Hagen, seconded by Kris Mienert, added a third request to consider re-
striping Hinton Avenue to single north and south bound lanes with a center turn
Iane. All motions carried.
Also as a side note, the citizens who attended from the Hidden Valley and
surrounding Hinton Avenue neighborhoods requested that Connie Jackson be
the point of contact for the group at 7704 74 Street, phone 651-458-0731, email
is coniack@familink.com for any future public hearings or processes regarding
the Hinton Avenue speed limit and sidewalk issue.
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July 18, 2006
NEW BUSINESS
None at this time.
RESPONSE TO PREVIOUSLY RAISED COMMISSION COMMENTS AND
REQUESTS
None at this time.
COMMISSION COMMENTS AND REQUESTS
Commission member Brian Hagen stated that a concerned citizen called him and
stated the response time for officers to a call had increased from 10-12 minutes to 15-
20 minutes and asked why. Chief Woolery advised that since the transition of dispatch
to the county, because our squads do not have computer aided dispatch (CAD)
features, calls are radioed to the officers rather than over the mobile data terminals,
which are installed in all other squads that are dispatched from the county. Our squads
will be getting them installed and asked the public to be patient during this transition.
He went on to say that if there are any questions or concerns the public might have to
call our Police Administration number at 458-2850 and ask to speak with him or any
other supervisor.
STAFF REPORTS
POLICE - Chief Woolery advised the Commission that two new Captains wili be
sworn in at the July 19 council meeting and that two new Sergeants will be
sworn in at the August 9 council meeting.
He went on to say that there are two Community Service Officer
vacancies which we will be looking to fill very soon
He also advised that National Night Out will be on August 1, 2006 and will
be held this year at Kingston Park and invited everyone to attend. He said
that more neighborhood National Night Out block parties will be taking
place this year as well and encouraged neighborhoods to hold one and
meet your neighbors.
Chief Wooiery also said summer has been very busy and he wanted to
send a big thank you to ali police, fire and EMS personnel for doing a
great job.
He advised that the 3 day Safety Camp started today and has 80
participants who are in grades 3, 4 and 5. It looks to be a good start and
will end on Thursday with graduation.
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FIRE - AI Beasley said that the department has hired 5 new EMTs and that they
will be done with training in a few weeks.
He went on to say that the EMS Coordinator will be starting the first week
of August.
COUNCIL - No council comments.
' � • � ►�
Motion by Commission member Dave Wick, seconded by Commission member Brian
Hagen to adjourn the meeting at 8:13 p.m. Motion carried.
Respectfully submitted,
Cyndee Engfer—Administrative Secretary
Public Safety Department