HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-09-04 PACKET 04.A.i.R�QUEST O�' CITY COUNCIL. ACT(ON C�UNCIL AGENDA
MEETING 1TEM # �
DATE 9/�l13 • � !
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PREPARED BY Pubfic Worlcs Les Burshten
ORIGlNAT1NG DEPARTMENT STAFF AUTHOR
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CC}UNCf L ACTI�N REQUEST
Acc�pt and place on file the minutes of the July 15, 2013 Public Warks Commission meeting.
STA�F RECOMMENDATION
Approve ths July 15, 20�3 minutes of the Pub[ic Works Commission.
BUDGET 1MPLICATION $ $
BUDGET�D AMOUNT ACTUAL AMOUNT
ADVISORY COMMISSION ACTION
❑ P�ANN[NG
❑ PUBL[C SAFETY
� PUBLlC WORKS
❑ PARKS AND.R�CREATION
❑ HUMAN SERVICES/RIGHTS
❑ ECONOM[C DEV. AUTHORITY
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SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS
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8/19/13
REVI�WED
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�UNDING SOURCE
APPR�VED
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❑ MEMO/LETTER:
❑ RESOLUTION:
❑ ORDINANCE:
❑ ENGIN�ER[NG RECOMMENDATION:
[� I..EGAL R�COMMENDATION:
� UTHER: Approved minutes of the July 15, 2013 PWC Meeting
ADMINISTRATORS COMMENTS
DEN[ED
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C�UNCIL ACT10N TAKEN: [� APPROVED ❑ DENfED ❑ OTHER
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PU����'11V�RK� �C�1V�N�t��1��V
J u ly 15, 20'� 3
Pursuant to du� call and �iotice thereof, a meeting of the Public Works Commission of
�ottage Grove wa$ duly held at Cottage Grove Ci#y HaII, �2800 Ravine Parkway,
Cottage Grove, Minnesota on Monday, July 15, 2013 at 7:00 pm.
�I. CALL T4 OF�DER
Commission Chair Tony Jurgens called the meefiing fo arder a# 7:00 p.m.
2. ROLL CALL
Members Present:
Members Absent;
Membars Excused
Tony Jurgens, Jeff Podoil, Michael Smith, Andrea Clouti�r
Pefier Black, Matthew Forshee
Michael Edman
Staff Pr�sent: Les Burshten, Directar of Puhlic Works
Harry Taylor, Public Worlcs Supervisor
Rick Alt, Utility Department Foreman
Gary Orloff, Sfreet Deparfinenf Foremarr
3. APPROVE MINUTES
Motion made by Jeff Podall, seconded by Michaef Smifih, to approve the June 17, 2d'1�
minufies. Motion was unanimously carried,
4. ADDITIONAI� AGENDA ITEMS
None.
5, NEW BUS[NESS
A. Consider Expanding the Number of Solid Waste Haulers
Les Burshten explain�d fihe City Couneil requesfed the Public V1lorks Commission look
at the possibility of expanding the number of licensed residential solid wast� h�ulers.
There are curr�ntly three haulers in town -- Tennis, Ter�nis Brothers and Waste
Public Works Commission
July 95, 2013 — Page 2
Managem�nt. The City at on� time had six haulers in fiown and a number ofi years ago
a policy was put inta effect fihat allawed lust thr�e haulers. [n arder for a trash hauler to
be licansed in the City of Cottage Grave, they are required to have 200 acfiive accaunts.
This ordinance is sfiifl in existence today.
Burshten indicated the reasan the ordinance was put into effect a number of years ago
was to limifi the number of haulsrs in town. Generally speaking, most cities tried to
minimize the number of trash hauiers for a variety of reasans: Garbage trucks are
heavy and the fewer haulers, fihe b�tter off the City may be. That was the City Councif's
concept a few years ago. "Mr. Padoll was on the committee a number of years ago
and probabfy has much more knowledge about this issue th�n ( da."
Councif Member Justin 41sen stated, "l want to briefly add, for the purposes of this
conversation, it's probabfy worthwhile to note a number ofi communities are going to
single hauler environments. And the r�ason they are doing that is two-fo(d. First of al(,
as Les mentioned, less wear and fear on the raads. Secondly, it tends to be less
expensiv� far the residents when a City actually cantracts with a single haulsr to do
both trash and recycfing. When you look at the cammunifiies in Washington County that
we work with on our Environmenfal Cammission, you'll find that a numb�r of those cities
rec�nfily, within the last 4 fo 5 years, have gone to a singie hauler situation and they find
it to be much more effective. Th�y also find it to be much more cost effective. What
essential[y occurs is the billing wor{cs through the City and then the City bills the
resident. B�cause of confracted service, it tends to b� much less expensive. 1'm
cErtainly nat advocating for that, I'm simply giving you the information that is something
that seems to be a going trend. ln fact, the Mayor and one af aur s#afF people will be
attending a 1.eague of Minnesota Cifiies seminar wifihin the next few w�eks to #alk further
abou# that because of some changes in State law that actually bode we11 for future
movement to a single hauler environment and most communities within fhe State of
Minnesota.°
Cammission Chair Tony Jurgens stated, "Thank you, Jeff do you want to give us a little
background of your experi�nce on th�t committe�?"
Commission Member J�ff Podoll said, "First, 1've got a question for Council Member
Olsen: Why did you second Councilman Lehrke's motion to look at more than �ne
hauler after what you just said? 1 don't und�rsfiand that."
Olsen responded, "The motian was fia actt[ally have a conversafiion about th� issue and
1 always thinfc it's warfhwhile to have the conversation. l fry to be respectful o�F my
Council colleagues and if som�one has an issue they think is important and they want a
particular commission to have a conversation, Pm al[ in favor af that and 1 hope that my
Counci[ calleagues would repay that favar if I ever had samething 1 felt was important
enaugh to push down to a commission level and have the commission membars
Public 1Norks Commission
July 15, 2013 — Page 3
take a deeper look afi ifi. That was the reason that I supparfied it bu# certainfy Pm not
advocating one way or the other. I'm simply saying it's warthwhile to have the dialogue
and if the Commissian in fiheir wisdom se�s it's not necessary or votes fio make other
changes, f'm absolute[y supportive of that".
Jurgens commented, "For clarification, fihe infarmation we have reads that the motion
was to consider expanding the number of solid waste haulers and you're saying the
infient was more fia look at the whole situation, maybe expanding, maybe single haul,
maybe a variety of things." O[sen responded, "Yes, that's carrect. f think the intent was
#o simply have #he dialogue, are we happy wifih the way things are now, or do we,think
there's some sort of change thafi needs to take place � whether fhat means adding
haulers ar subtracting haulers, Again, I have my awn personaf opinion but that's not fior
me ta share at this point. I'll have my fime at the Council meeting".
Jeff Podoll explained, "1 was chair of th� Public Works Commission when we first
initiated recycling back in the [ate 80's. At that point in fiime we kind of delved into the
solid waste fiaulin� business so to speak, lt was our thought, and at that time, s#aff's
recommendation to limit the amount of trucks because of the damage they did to the
roads, Alsa at thafi poinf in time, we were just starting the pavem�nt rnanagamenf
program in the City af recfaiming and rebui(ding the streets as they need be. At that
paint in time, it only made sense to Iimit the number of (icenses that were available to
keep the amount of trucks down. About 'f 0 years ago, th� third license came up for
gra�s and Tennis Brothers got it at.that point in time and this was brought up. Da we
wanfi to keep it at fihree haulers? At thafi particular time there were some sfudies done
and some people from the Public Works contacted other cites to see if rates would gefi
any better i� we had a bigger pool ta pull frorri. At that point in time, we had realfy good
rafes, even �ett�r than Woodbury had and they were looking at single sort then. The
main thing I would be against is apening it up to more haulers and to go to single
haulers that would be by far the most perFect situation. As Les can tell you, we went
fhrough this a couple of decades ago. P�ople and their firash haulers are people you
don'f want to cross. They are so a�amanfi as to whom #hey have tiaul their trash it's
unbelievable. I woufd be apen to se� if Council tries to go fo a single hauler situation but
[ wouldn't want to be in their position to da it, that's for sure."
Tany Jurgens asked, "Would it be passible for us to get some numbers? Right now,
we've gat the three haulers with Tennis Brothers primarily in the� rural area and Tennis
Sanitafiion in fihe residential area and Waste Management in both. So right now we have
competitian. Resid�nts naw have a choice, at least betw�en the two haulers, or three,
d�pending on how you want to [ook afi it. How do we com�are, how do the rates we
have compare with ather cifiies? Could we maybe take a laok at that at a future meefiing
to get same comparisons? Because if w� already have competition and if we find ouf
we're still lower than other communitie� in our area, then maybe nothing is broken."
Burshten stated this topic can certainly be brought back to the next meeting.
Pubiic Works Commission
Jufy 15, 2013 — Page 4
Commission Memb�r Michael Smith had a questian, "If in the event there's a
delinquency of payment, if we were to go to a single hauier system, would ifi be similar
to a delinquent water bill in which the fe�s would be assessed to the homeown�rs'
property taxes or would the City have to coliect fihem fhrough a different mefihod?"
Bursht�n respand�d, "There woufd be a couple of options that could be reviewed. 1
would imagine if #he City w�re to do th� billing, I'm quite sure a non�payment coL�ld b�
assessed, put on. taxes. There's a process fh�y would have fio follow, but Pm quite
certain fhat could be accomplish�d".
Chair Jurgens indicated "if we are making any kind af recommendation, something else
we wauld want to find out is if we went �o single haul and the City took over the billing,
there wauld be a cost associated with that. What is that cost? So, my persanal opinion
is I like the fact we already hav� competi#ion. i think the serviCe is good, by having the
competition or at le�st the choice between a couple of haulers. lf, for whatever reasan, I
have a bad experi�nce with one, f have an apportunity to ga to the other on�. If we wen�
to a sing{e hauler, it might be cheaper but what if I have a personal problem with that
hauler? f don't have any ofiher choices, I have to just deal with who we have. So, i have
to be convinc�d if was enough of a savings ta mak� that worfihwhile. On fihe other hand
like you mentioned Les, with each h�uler, there's a potentia( af fhree trucks going up
and down th� roads. Starting at the very beginning af th� roufe wher� ( five, sfiarting at
6:00 in the marning 1've got trucks cnrning by my house. That's three haulers and thre�
tru�ks, regular garbage, recycling and then grass clippings. For any haulers we have, if
we are to expertd it, ifi's times three, three trucks for every hauler potentially. With the
wear and fiear on the roads, 1 don't know... I guess I woufd lik� fia s�e some more
informatiQn on that if we have it and what that does to th� roads. Do we have something
like that a[ready — some prior studies?"
Les replied, "There are studies fihaf wi11 show exactly what you are looking for and we
can certainly bring those and put together information so we can have a more in-depth
conv�rsation."
Jurgens indicafied a motion isn't necessary now, and this issue is for informafiion only.
He added thaf at the last Counci( meeting fihere was same discussion on code
enforcement and nofes had been [eft for residenfs who I�ave their trash bins out in the
op�n, and tha# this is against policy. He would Iike some feedback. ls thafi something we
shauld expand whil� we're looking at that part of the ordinance as well? Councif
Member Olsen, I would like to hear your feedback on that too."
Olsen stated, "My feedback is you're talking apples and oranges, you`re talkmg #wa
different things. With respect to trash hauling, I think that's one issue you wiIl wanfi ta
tackle, and if you feel ther�'s a n�ed to have a canvarsation about the code as it relates
Public Warks Commission
July 15, 2Q13 — Page 5
to having your trash cans visible. l thinK fihat's a worfihwhile conversation to have as
welL The way I look at it, this is my opinion only and 1'm ane person who sits on the
Council, you know we run a v�ry tight ship with respect to our City stafF and our budget.
V1te have a code enforcement ofiFicer, we don't hav� mulfiip(es_ Granted, some af our
inspectors can do code enforcement when they are not busy with ins�ections bu� we
contract our inspection services to other communities in addition to our own so they stay
pretty busy. We also have community service oifieers with our Police De�artmenfi who
can do some rudimentary code inspection if we need them to. Again, they are pretty
busy with their regular jobs. Emify works very hard a� doing a nice job with cocfe
inspecti�n. illly apinion is fih�re are bigger fish fio fry with people's tr�sh .cans out in front
of their garag�. [ think that's probably the direction she should go, you know, create a
hierarchy of whaYs most importanfi to what's least impor#ant and try to work on the
bigger issues. 1 think there are a lot of ways we can talk about home and yard
maintenance and maybe park of that conversati�n but 1 think ifi's a different
conversation. Bufi if it's something you want to talk about, piease make the
recommendation and bring it to the next meeting.
Jeff Podoll added, "As far as the garbage cans sitting out in plain view, this was brought
up by Kim Lindquisfi, former �ommunity Development Director. Thaf ordinance never
was brought before this commission at all."
Q�p BUSINESS
�
a, Snow Removal Winter P�rking Ordinance
Tony Jurg�ns stated, "[f you r�call a coupl� months back, we talked about this
ordinanc�. Last month we had a full agenda so it was scheduled fior tonight`s meeting."
Les Burshten stated that a recommendation was put tagether with the agreed upon
wording from this commission. The Pub{ic Safety Commission wi11 also be reviawing
this topic before sending it on to the City Council. Tony stated it was not recommended
any changes be made to how the snow parlcing ordinance was handied, #he only
change was shortening the duration, to be in eff�ct from I�ovember 1st to Aprii 1St
(star�ing a month later and ending a month soaner). 1f no one has a problem wifih thaf,
he recommends changing the end date to March 31 sa it ends at the end of the month.
He aske� if anyone eise had any questions or comments and looks for a motion or a
recomm�ndation ta send the changes to Councii for adoption. Commission Member
Andrea Cloutier asked what the mntivation was in ehanging the ordinance. Tony
responded there is very little snaw in October and April and residents feft it was not
convenient to have to mnve v�hicles from the street when no snow was present. There
are times wY�en it snows in late April, hawever, those snowfalEs melt very quickly.
Public Works Commission
July 15, 2013 - Page 6
Motion made by lUlichael Smith, seconded by Jeff Podoll, to change the dafies of
the UVinter Parking �rdinance to he in effect from �k�ebe�-��-Navember 'Is fo
�►��r-%��g�a iV(arch �'I llllotion was unanimously c�rried.
B, Updat� on Water Tower Rehabilitation Process
L�:s Burshten sfated, "As most of you are aware, we had a presentation at the last
Commission meeting regarding a coupl� of different aptions as fio an approach we may
be willing to take an the painting of water towers. Staff hasn't really made a decision or
doesn't have a recommendation yet today because we don'fi have enough information.
We wanted to look at a couple other things befnre we came back with a firm
recommendation, howeuer, we may be looking for a recommendation firom you afi the
next meeting."
"lt was suggesfied", indicated Burshten, "at the [ast meeting #o hav� some sor� of a walk-
through or fie(d firip fo the water tower that we fe�f may be prematurely eroding. I'm
ofFering an invi�ation for Thursday evening, July �8th at 3:30pm if any of you are wi1[ing
or can make the trip. We're going to meet at the water tower on 70 and Meadow
Grass, The water tower is abouf 13 years old. The City will be painting two water
towers -� one in 2014 and one in 2�15 and it's just a matfer of which one first and we're
looking �For more information from the engin�ering firm whether or nat this could take
precedence over the other one. Some of the commission members wanted to take a
look at it firsthand. We'll bring back more information for the next meeting. We
haven't had an opportunity to check with Finance on some of the numbers given at the
!as# meeting".
Chair Tony Jurgens inquired if staff intended to come back to the Commission with a
recammendatian at the nexfi meeting? Burshten responded staff will likely have
additianai informatian for the feedbac6c of the commission rather #han a
recommendafiian.
7. PUBLIC W(�RKS UPDAT�
Public Warks Director L.es Burshten summarized:
• Crews are out patching and sea( coating and areas ha�e been swept.
o Deuelopmenf work is beginning
• Meter replacement wi(I commence in about a month or so onGe the meters are
received
I'ublic Works Commissian
July 15, 2013 -- Page 7
o Antenna project work is taking place on some of the water tawers
m The new street sweeper has arrived
� The new trash truck is expected to be delivered �his week
Tony Jurgens suggested the currenf policy far storm clean up be dsscussed. 1Nith the
rec�nt storms, there were � few trees down and some nearby suburbs had much more
damage, A copy of the policy was disfiributed to the commission. Bursht�n stafied the
recent storm damage we experienced two or three weeks ago was very widespread
throughout the Twin Cities Metro Area. Some Xcel Energy customers in other cities
were without pow�r up to 5-6 days. The current storm policy stat�s.
"In the event of a severe storm, the Public Safety �irecfor will determine the extent of
fhe damages and wh�fher fhe need exisfs to d�clare an emergency condition.
Upon declaration of an emergency, residenfs will be notifi�d to contacf their fnsurance
carr'ier to conduct individuaf site clean up or clean fhe area themselves aj�d coordlnate
ma�erial pickup with �heir contractual refuse hauler. Upon exhausfior� of these fwo
efforts, residents will be it�sfructed fo place sform damage de�ris af fhe curb for t'emoval
by fhe City or instructed to p/ace maferial in Ci�y�provided dumpsters. 7'he Public Works
Direcfar wiU defermine, based on extend of the damage, an appr'apriate amount o� time
resic�ents wifl hav� the Cify�provided services made available to them.
The City wi11 remove or trim damaged boulevard trees thaf are located in their roadway
right-of way. Residenfs with damaged private trees rn fhe groamed or mowed area of
fhe properfy wil! be respansible far removing fhe trees frona fheir �roper�y or placing
them at the cunb for disposat by the City. Tr�es cfamaged in other areas af the proper�y
wil! nofi be disposed of by the City and should not be placed at the ccarb. The Director
ot Pubtic Works will determine an appropriate amounf af time for residents to fake
advantage of the City—provided service.
The City will make al/ reasonable efforfs to solicit volunteer services and donat�d
equipment from i�7tlepender►f services or other governmental agencies,"
The City wili make available to property owners any information it has available
regarding contractars who may be able to assist in th� clean-up activities. Burshten
indicated the last storm was not declared an emergency due to only about $ baulevard
#rees that were b(own ov�r. Th�re w�re a number af branches down, however, and
thase were picked up along with any damaged trees fihat fell onto the roadway.
Public Works Commission
July 15, 2013 — Page 8
8, ENCtNEERS REPORT
Les Burshten summari��d:
� Work along 70 Street and County Road 19 is moving along with the water main
now mstalled
� Woodridge Park Pond improvements are wrapping up, An insp�ction was dane
recently and some tr�es needed to be repiaced, however, all in all, the job is
pretty much comp(�te.
* The lights have been installed in the underpass o� fhe 80� Street Box Culvert.
• There were some failures in the crack filling materia! used last year in the Pin�
Cliff 3 and 4 addifiians. Fahrn�r Asphalt will be replacing th� material this y�ar.
$ Curb and gutters were installed in the Mississippi Dunes Developmenf an
Wednesday, July 10 Midwest is backfiilling the curb and Tower Asphalfi wiil be
insfalling th� C(ass 5.
e The Pavement Management Project is moving along well. The fiirst lift has been
installed in some areas with reclamation still being completed in ather areas.
Milling wi11 b� c�one on Wednesday with Tower back this week to complete more
paving.
• E. Point Dauglas Road (area in front of the new Wal-Mart) was officially clos�d
today until mid-September.
9. CITY COUNCIL UPDATE
Council Member Justin Dls�n indicated h� would briefly run thraugh a few items and
encouraged the group to ask questians at any poinfi.
"I was r�ot at the last City Council meeting, I was out of town for a ma�datory work
meeting, but ! do know the City Council took under consideration a recommendation by
our finance staff to look at the apfion for this year's budget of bondin� for the remaining
portian of this facility. 7o give you a liftle background, when this facility was built, fihe
City Counci( at that time chose to finance the construction af the building utilizing an-
hand cash via in��r�fund loans and one of the things our finar�ce staff is charged with is
each year during budget time, th�y are expected to bring a menu of items to the City
Council for ways in which we can manage our budget. One of the options they brough�
#orward is whenever you build a public building, ydu hav� an 18-month time fram� in
which you can change your mind and consider the bonding aption and so they wanted
to at least presenf that option to the City Council and say, if it was some#hing they
wan#ed to do, �his is how that wauld look, The City Council vated unanimously, 4 to 0 fio
at least have the dialogue and to at I�as# have #he conversation. My understanding from
looking at the Council Agenda for #his upcoming Council meefiing is that there was a
public h�aring fihat was to be schedu(ed that the staff is recommended we delay and I
P�abfic Works Commission
July 15, 2093 — Page 9
think th� reason they are recommending we delay that public hearing is #hey've
received additional infarmafiion since they made that initial recommendation from bofih
the State and the County refative fia valuations ofi commercial and residential proper�y in
the Ci#y and I believe th�y are going ta give the Cauncil some further infarmatian about
what they think would be the best choic� moving forward and my ex�ectation is bonding
is not gaing to be the one they ar� going to recommend. But f did wanfi to let you know
the Counci) did vote unanimously Q�-0 with me being the absent vote to at least hav� the
dialogue so staff did their job and presented Counci! with the option,
Olsen cor7finued, "Due to Wal-Mart construction, Les mention�d the road in frant of the
Wal--Mart facilify is closed as of today. lf you have driven by in the last week or #wo you
wili see that the walls have gone up. They've been making very good progress
es�ecially considering that they had a rea(ly wet spring and l know fihey are on target
right now for their completian which they expected ta be done somewhere in Iate fiall or
early spring of next year so they can get up and running for business. I'il keep you
apprised of that as things gd an. If the weather stays halfway �ecent obviously that
bodes wel( for continued fiorward progress."
"I also wanted to remind everyone", stated Olsen, August 6 Tuesday night, (as it is
every year), is Night to Unite in the City of Cottage Grove and nationally. Same of you
sitting th�re acfivaliy have parkies each year but if yau are interesfied in having a Night fio
Unite party this year you can reach out to our Public lnformation Officer, Gail Griffith.
She wou(d love fa talk to you and you can call City Half at 458-28Q0 and tafk to her
about setting up a party and scheduling and arranging for Public Saf�ty p�rsonnel fram
fh� Fire Department, Police Depar�men#, EMS and you could even get a visif from on�
of your highly esteem�:d Council members to sfiop by and visit with you and your
neighbors".
Tony Jurgens mdicat�d if residents are hosting a Night fio Unite party, Public Works will
drop off barricades to bloc{� ofF the street.
Ols�n went on to state, "With #he onset of the summer heat, we have certainly seen
significant use of our Highlands F'�rk Splash Pad. If you have driven by, it's pr�tty busy
from 9 in th� morning till 9 at nighfi. One of the things o«r Park and Rec Depar�ment is
realfy excited about is not only is the splash pad facility busy witii the facility being
utiliz�d, and renked out for birthday parEies and things of that nature, but the actual park
itself is getting a significant amount of usage, much more #han it ev�r has and 1 think it's
partly due to the fact that people can go and have a famify picnic ar a bask�tball game
and then when they are hot they can ga cool off in the splash pad. 1 wanted fio share
thafi with you, just like last year, it's been a v�ry positive addition to #he community at
leasfi thus far."
Pubfic Works Commission
July 'i 5, 2013 — Page 10
"I want to share as well", noted Justin, "Les touched on �his briefly that we've got a
number of new home dev�lopmen�s coming on I[ne for the City of Cattage Grove, f
exp�ct Michael knows more abaut this than ( do but we've got two developers building
side by side near Rose afi Sharon Church and they are Newland Homes and D R Horfion
Homes. UVe'v� also got a development that is on line at the intersection of Mili�ary and
Jamaica, Reiland.Hom�s. Of course we are seeing the completion of the Mississippi
Dunes Develapment so lots of exci#ing things are h�ppening naw that the economy is
turning around a Iitfile bit. Home develop�rs are bacic at it and I think that bodes well far
our fu#ure Gommercial growth in the City as well. There are some exciting things on that
firont but I don't want fio jinx any�hing so 1'm not going to talk too much aboufi it,"
Olsen concluded, "And the last thing 1 wanted to touch on briefly is ('m not sure if Les
wants to take fihis or not but we do as a City have a waf�ring �an and I think it's
impartant for peopie to understand why we have a watering ban and not just what the
watering ban is, we're not trying to be wafier Nazis, that's really not the int�nt. This is
actually driven by the Met Gou�►c�l and the Met Council is fihe governing body for the
metro area and one af th� thing they loak at very closely in conjunction with municipai
governments and watershed districts is the water usage from the various aquif�rs and
we try very hard to make sure we work in unison with the various governing bodies on
being good stewards of the environment, 'sn parficular, the water, and so the City of
Cottage Grove received some recomm�ndations that these are same things you could
do to control your water usage and so w�'ve implemented some of those things. Do you
want to briefly run through what thase are?"
Les Burshten responded, "We stifl have, and have always had in existence far tha last
20 years ar so an odd(even water restricfion which me�ns based an your house
number, whether it's an odd or even number you can water on those given days and the
31 is open to both odd and even addresses." Olsen added, "The DNR and Met
Council are actuaily holding a series of community conversafions about water usage in
fihe Twin Cities Metra area and they've b�en doing this for about the last 6 weeks or so
and they have them all over the Twin Cities. You can �o to the DNR website and they
have some infarmation, as does the Met Council website. Again, what they are talking
about is you know the current state of the aquifers and how water usage is impacfing
things.
Tony Jurgens added there's been an odd/even ban far as long as he's fived here,
however, didn'� realize there was a time of day na watering cou{d occur (between 12
noon and 4:Q0 pm),
Jurgens commented that Council Member O(sen and Council Member Thiede held a
Town Hafi Meefiing on a recent Sat��rday. Olsen statad, "l won'f take up tod much of
your time, bu� this is the third time l've persanally had a town hall meeting and this one
is #he first time Pve ever done it wifh �nother councif inember, Council Member Thiede
Pubfic Works Commissian
July 15, 2013 — Page 11
and I held a tawn hafl meeting with cofFee and donuts, where Dave rented the room
over at P�rk High School, the lecture hall and fih�n he bought the donuts and I bought
the coffee so there were no City funds exp�nded on this venture. This was our way to
r�ach out to the community and following through on our commitment to be engaged
and �ngaging as Council m�mbers fio try and get some feedback from the community
as we move through our budget period for this year. It is summer in Minnesota and as
a lot of peaple know, an a Saturday on a nice day, fafks are at the cabin or at the lake
so we didn't haue a ton of p�aple there, we had 12 to 15 roughly. A few people had to
leave a little early and that's the lowest attendance I've experienced. Typically I've had
30-40�50 people come but I've always done fihem in the winter. Long story short, we
had some good feedback from the community on a coupl� of d`sfferent things. The first
question out of the gate was on the b4nding issue, #hat's th� reason I broughfi that up.
We also talked a 1ittle about Police and Fire response times, we talked about what's
happening in terms of development in the City, a little bi� of conversation abou# just City
budget in general and there were a few people fhere who felt w� shouldn't be spending
money an anything. You kr�ow there were aiso peaple who had the counter argument
that amenities are what makes the City go round and that's how you draw people fio
your community, efc. so there was some conversation there. Dave and I try to engag�
with the community and then really Iisten to their feedback. We taok same notes and [
passed fih�m onta our City Administrator. There were a number of littl� th�ngs that
came up. We started at 9:00 and fiinished a liftle after '11;00_ Even with the small
number of people there, there was a lot of diaiogue generated. Your Chair happened
to be at the meeting. Was there anything you wanted to bring up #o talk about that f
didn't menfion that yau felt was important?"
Tony responded, "No, I think you menfion�d it. There was a fair amount of discussion
especialiy on the splash pad. You mentioned that as one of the amenities. Some peopfe
don't want fio pay fior amenities and some people don't mind paying for them." Oisen
added, "Right, so we talked abouf the fact when w� closed our pool, some of those
funds were diverted to actually pay for the splash pad and the splash pad is less
expensive to o�erate than the swimming pool. That's not to say thaf we don't think a
public pool is an impor�ant piece af the cornmunity. ilVe put forth a question to fhe
voters last year on p�tentially putting in place a water parklpoa( and the voters d�cici�d
that that was something th�y were nofi interested in at this point sa if we are going to
move forward with a public pool amenity at another time, that's samething that wiil have
to work inta the regular budget or come back for another referendum at a later time. But
yes, that was a�opic o� conversation."
10. CUMMiSSION CQMiVIENTS AND REQUESTS
Commission Member Michael Smith stated that the projecfi on 80'" Street, right off
Jeffery, appears to b�en fhe final stages. "They haven'fi begun the work of paving the
Public Works Commission
July 95, 2013 — Page 12
pafihways there, buf there's a fair amount of canstruction debris, PVC, sitting out there
the entire spring and summer. There's gravel going across the walk path and also in fih�
street. Is that being used by a contractor to access those trails? Seems to b� a
potenfiial traffic danger/ hazard, �s well for jogg�rs. l think it's ra�her unsightly to have
construction debris out as Iong as it's been sitting there". it was noted this is part of
the b�x culver� project and Eureka Cor�struction is still working to the north of the area
Public Works Supervisor Harry Taylor not�d the items wil( be removed soon and
damaged sidewalks will also be replaced,
Jurgens stated "This has nothing fo do with us, but a citi�en did ask m� if I knew what
was going in r�ext fo the BP. For whoever is wafiching, that is a faundramat. 01sen
responded, "That is correct. It's a property owned by the �.inn Companies, who owns
the BP and they are franchising a laundromat operation, Tumble �resh. Pm not sur�
what the opening date is going to be but f know they've been making some good
progress".
'11. AD.IOURNMENT
Motion to adjourn was made by Michael Smith, seeonded by Andrea Cloutier. IVlotion
was unanimously carried and meeting adjourned afi 7:51 pm.
Respec#fully submitted,
�at��c�a s�o�b�