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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-10-16 PACKET 04.A.i.REQUEST OF CITY COUNCIL ACTION COUNCIL AGENDA MEETING ITEM #�� � DATE 10/16/13 • • �' PREPARED BY: Public Safety Craig Woolery ORIGINATING DEPARTMENT STAFF AUTHOR ************************************************************** COUNCIL ACTION REQUEST Pass a motion to accept and place on file the July 16, 2013 minutes of the Public Safety, Health and Welfare Commission meeting minutes. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Pass a motion to accept and place on file the July 16, 2013 meeting minutes. ADVISORY COMMISSION ACTION � PUBLIC SAFETY MEETING DATE 09/17/13 REVIEWED APPROVED DENIED � SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS x 0 MINUTES: July 16, 2013 meeting minutes of the Public Safety, Health and Welfare Commission ADMINISTRATORS COMMENTS � r ,' / ity Administrator ��! � / Date ************************************************ COUNCIL ACTION TAKEN: ❑ APPROVED ❑ DENIED ❑ OTHER Cottage J Grove � pride a�a ptoSPerity Meet MINUTES OF MEETING July 16, 2013 PUBLIC SAFETY, HEALTH AND WELFARE COMMISSION Pursuant to due notice, a meeting of the Public Safety, Health and Welfare Commission was held at the City Hall. 1. REGULAR MEETING 01.A. Call to Order: The July 16, 2013, meeting of the Cottage Grove Public Safety, Health and Welfare Commission was called to order at 7:00 pm. Members Present: Lori Hedican, Nick Maciejewski, AJ Janssen, Jodi Lewis, Kellie Eigenheer, Kent Griffith Members Absent: Dave Barkow Staff Present: Deputy Director of Public Safety Peter Koerner, Council Liaison Derrick Lehrke, City Engineer Jennifer Levitt, Engineering Intern Robert Larsen, Director of Public Safety Craig Woolery 01 B. Approval of Minutes Commission Chair AJ Janssen presented the May 14, 2013 minutes of the Public Safety, Health and Welfare Commission minutes for review and approval. On a motion by Commission member Kent Griffith, seconded by Lori Hedican, the May 14, 2013 minutes were accepted and approved by the Commission. Motion carries. 01 C. Approval of Agenda Commission Chair AJ Janssen presented the July 16, 2013 agenda of the Public Safety, Health and Welfare Commission for review. On a motion by Commission member Jodi Lewis, seconded by Nick Maciejewski, the July 16, 2013 agenda was accepted and approved by the Commission. Motion carries. 2. OPEN FORUM Commission Chair AJ Janssen invited citizens present to address the Commission regarding any matters that were not on the approved agenda. There being no items, Commission Chair AJ Janssen closed the Open Forum segment of the meeting. 3. PRESENTATION 03.A Response to Sign request — City Engineer Jennifer Levitt and Engineering Intern Robert Larsen Page 2 PSHWC Minutes July 16, 2013 City Engineer Levitt introduced Engineering Intern Robert Larsen to the Commission. Mr. Larsen gave a brief history/background on the city's sign policy. He stated that the city's sign request policy was adopted in 2003 and revised in January 2008. He added that the current sign request policy classifies six categories for signs: Regulatory, Warning, Directional Construction, Special Purpose and Not Permitted. Deaf/Autistic/Blind child are classified as warning signs, which are not permitted in the City of Cottage Grove. By placing these signs in residential neighborhoods, they lose credibility with drivers, thereby making them ineffective. The city does not want to create a false sense of security for the child and child's parents that the sign is protecting their children and slowing down drivers. He added that national studies have found that warning signs appear to be ineffective in slowing down drivers and that there is also a consensus among traffic engineers that static signs that warn of infrequent conditions or generaf possibilities are routinely ignored by drivers. He also informed the Commission that a few cities in the metro, including Minneapolis, Hastings, Minnetonka and Chanhassen do not allow Deaf/Autistic/Blind Child signs. Costs to install these types of signs cost $300.00. By January 2015, all signs in the city must comply with Federal reflectivity standards and those standards must be kept up every seven to ten years and over time those costs would significantly add up. He went on to say that Minnesota law does not recognize and Federal Standards discourage these types of signs as noted in Mr. Larsen's presentation. In conclusion, he stated that the Engineering Department does not recommend any changes to the current sign policy involving Deaf/Autistic/Blind Child signs and opened up the floor for discussion and/or questions from the Commission. Commission Member Lori Hedican asked why the signage in school zones seem to be effective. City Engineer Levitt explained that there are other means to bring motorists aware of a specific window to be looking for children, ie. specific times of day to be looking for children, flashing devices, longer green lights, crossing guards, green signs over the yellow signs, signal timing. Commission Member Nick Maciejewski asked if other cities around Cottage Grove have similar policies. City Engineer Levitt advised that over 90% have adopted this policy. Engineers look at the Federal guidelines and the State's, so we are all working with the same information to made decisions on. Page 3 PSHWC Minutes July 16, 2013 Elizabeth Snyder, 8594 88 Street South, spoke to the Commission regarding the concerns she had for her daughter and the numerous children in the neighborhood due to drivers that speed on her street and appear to disregard the posted speed limit. She is looking for answers as to what can be done to slow the traffic down. Director Woolery commented on the history of signs and sign requests. He informed those present that the police department has a newly developed traffic enforcement unit that deals specifically with this type of neighborhood issue and the Crime Board has just purchased a speed trailer for the department that can be requested to be placed in neighborhoods. He advised to call the dispatcher and report the violations. The more information that can be provided, ie. license, vehicle type and color, driver description, would help the officer possibly locate the violator and try to talk to them. After discussion, on a motion by Commission member Kellie Eigenheer, seconded by Commission member Kent Griffith, the Commission does not recommend any changes to the current sign policy involving Deaf/Autistic/blind Child signs. 5 ayes, 1 nay by AJ Janssen. Motion carries. 03.B 2014 Public Safety Budget Overview — Director of Public Safety Craig Woolery Director Woolery gave a brief overview of the 2014 budget and provided the Commission with a draft packet of the budget and stressed that it is only a draft and Council will be meeting in August with departments to review each one individually before they approve and adopt a final budget in late September. He asked that the Commission take the packet with them and read through it. 4. Communitv Development None at this time 5. Old business None at this time 6. New Business 06.A Archery/Firearms Hunting Map Review — Deputy Director Pete Koerner The Commission did have the opportunity to review the proposed designated hunting areas for the 2013 hunting season. Deputy Director Koerner did review the history of the commission's involvement in the review process with the ordinance changes in 2005. Deputy Director Koerner covered the complaints in the last year. Deputy Director Koerner pointed out the change to the archery hunting area due to a few new developments north of 70 Street. He also pointed out the change to the firearms hunting area due to the construction of the roundabout at Keats/Military/70t" Page 4 PSHWC Minutes July 16, 2013 Street. He also advised the Commission that along with review from the police department, the community development department also reviewed the maps. After discussion, Commission Member Lewis did make a motion to approve the recommendation to approve the 2013-2014 maps designating boundaries for discharge of firearms and archery equipment for hunting. Seconded by Commission Chair Janssen, the recommendation was accepted and approved. The motion carried. 7. RESPONSE TO PREVIOUSLY RAISED COMMENTS AND REQUESTS Item discussed above — see Presentation — 03.A 8. COMMISSION COMMENTS AND REQUESTS None at this time. 9. STAFF REPORTS 09.A Police — Deputy Director Koerner informed the Commission of the following: Two new officers finished with their Field Training and are on solo patrol. Officer Nick Bailey and Officer Scott Shaver. One new officer has been hired to bring our officers up to full complement of 40. Officer Brian Campbell is currently in his second week of Field Training and comes with quite a bit of experience. � The Public Safety Department will be starting our 3 Citizens Academy on August 7tn Just completed the 19 Safety Camp. Shortened it from three days to two days. But didn't lose the topics Night to Unite Tuesday August 6 and encouraging to pre-register - Highlights are a backpack campaign and donate school supplies friends in need food shelf. Tubman Alliance - baby supply diaper drive; Presbyterian Homes Senior center and White pines have a Noon Out. 09.B Fire — Fire Chief Redenius informed the Commission of the following: Hired Full time paramedic Tim Wessels who will be in FTO for two weeks and evaluated for his fire skills. The older fire truck was sold to a gentleman in Apple Valley who has a lake home in Cambridge and will be using it to water and irrigate and also to attend parades. Page 5 PSHWC Minutes July 16, 2013 July 4 th was not as busy as in the past. Crews were steady but no overly burdened. July 24 tour scheduled for Station 2. If interested contact Deputy Chief PJ McMahon at 458-2862 to schedule a tour. Awarded a FEMA grant for SCBA (Self Contained Breathing Apparatus). Currently the ones we have are 15 years old and it's time to purchase new ones. City budgeting $280,000 for this cost. Received $224,000 from FEMA to put toward the purchase. For June we had 218 calls — Fire and EMS responses For May we were down to 189 calls 09.0 Council Recap - Council Liaison Lehrke advised there was a public hearing scheduled for tomorrow for a bonding of the City Hall/Public Safety building and it will be pushed out to next month due to a clerical error for filing the official public notice. The meeting will be next month. 10. ADJOURN 10A. Motion by Commission member Kent Griffith, seconded by Commission member Jodi Lewis to adjourn the meeting at 8:05 p.m. Motion carried. Respectfully submitted, Cyndee Engfer Administrative Secretary