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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1-11-10 PWC Minutes CITY OF COTTAGE GROVE PUBLIC WORKS COMMISSION January 11, 2010 Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, a meeting of the Public Works Commission of Cottage Grove was duly held at Cottage Grove Public Works, 8635 West Point Douglas Road, Cottage Grove, Minnesota on Monday, January 11, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. 1. CALL TO ORDER Ken Boyden called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. 2. ROLL CALL Members Present: Ken Boyden, Gary Kjellberg, Alex Chernyaev, William Royce Staff Present: Les Burshten, Public Works Director Harry Taylor, Public Works Supervisor Jennifer Levitt, City Engineer Excused: Christopher Lethgo 3. APPROVE MINUTES Upon a motion by Gary Kjellberg, seconded by Bill Royce, the October 12, 2009, minutes were unanimously approved. 4. ADDITIONAL AGENDA ITEMS Chair Ken Boyden wanted to make the statement to Les and all the crew at Public Works about the great plowing (and dealing with the ice afterwards) during the Christmas 2009 Snowstorm. All agreed that the Public Works Department once again did an outstanding job of snow removal. 5. NEW BUSINESS A. Traffic Control Analysis Report (Pine Glen, Pinehill, Meadow Acres and DeGardners Additions) City Engineer Jennifer Levitt distributed maps to accompany the report. The area first discussed is located south of 90th Street, north of 100th, encompassing Hadley to the west and the Industrial Park to the east. Residents in the area have requested traffic control changes related to stop signs. If one intersection is changed, there would be inconsistency throughout the neighborhood. Residents were informed that City staff preferred to address the change as an entire neighborhood analysis rather than looking Public Works Commission January 11, 2010 – Page 2 at specific intersections. The City Sign Policy has been included in the packet to try and make more consistency with the City on signing. As indicated in the “Stop Sign” section of the policy, local to local intersections are specifically addressed. Levitt noted this issue was dealt with in the 2008 Pavement Management Project. Non-local roads include 95th Street, Hadley Avenue and 100th Street (collectors). Anything within the interior of those roadways is considered local to local. The study area is residential with private driveways on all local streets. The two private roadways of Hamlet Lane and Hamlet Court have multi-family residential housing. On the east side of Hamlet Avenue from 100th Street to 120 feet north of 98th Street to Pine Glen Park is a bituminous trail. Two short stub bituminous trails exit to Pine Glen Park: Hamlet Avenue (next to Hallmark Avenue) and 97th Street (between Hames Avenue and Hames Court. Parking is allowed along all local roads in the study area. All local roads are two lane, unstriped roadways. All collector roads surrounding the study area are striped, 2 to 4-lane roadways. RECOMMENDATIONS: T-Intersections: State law dictates that traffic on the “T” approach leg shall yield to traffic on the through leg. T-Intersections with local to local roadways will be uncontrolled. Due to higher volume on collector roadways, it’s desirable for traffic on the “T" approach to stop at these intersections. Stop signs will be installed at the “T” approach at all T intersections on collector roadways. All 4-leg intersections will have a stop sign on the minor street. Warning Signs The other issue in this area dealt with the warning signs (“Curve Ahead” signs with a speed placket of 10mph). The Sign Policy indicates the overuse of warning signs, specifically on low volume streets. Warning signs shall be used only where special conditions exist. Warning signs will be installed on collectors to warn of unexpected conditions. Warning signs will be installed on local roads to warn of conditions not typically encountered on a low speed residential street. Speed Limit The statutory speed limit on residential roads is 30 mph. Speed limit signing is not normally needed on these roadways. Speed limit signing will be installed on local residential roadways if the speed limit is other than 30 mph or where the 30 mph is not apparent. On collector roadways, speed limit signs will be located after major intersections, at the locations of speed limit changes and at other locations as determined by the engineering study. Crosswalks Levitt stated there were some mid-block pedestrian crossings that were not marked and that is where the policy comes into place. City policy states that all mid-block crosswalks be marked and crosswalk signs be installed. If the speed limit is over 30 Public Works Commission January 11, 2010 – Page 3 mph, or if there are sight restrictions approaching a crosswalk, advance crosswalk signs will be installed. Stop Signs Levitt indicated there are some four-legged intersections that don’t have stop signs. It is proposed to add stop signs to stop Hale Avenue in the north/south direction at 94th. On Hallmark Avenue it’s proposed to stop in the north/south direction and allow 94th street to flow into the neighborhood. Commission Chair Ken Boyden inquired whether there are any traffic accident reports from Public Safety regarding the areas where stop signs are proposed to be removed. Levitt responded she can ask the Police Department about accidents in these areas and try to find the installation year of the stop signs in those locations. RECOMMENDATONS: There are locations where stop signs are located on the “T’ legs of local-local intersections. There were no observed sight restrictions at these locations. The stop signs should be REMOVED at the following locations: (Local-Local Roadways) Heath Avenue at 99th Street Heath Avenue at 98th Street Heath Avenue at 97th Street 97th Street at Hamlet Avenue Hames Avenue at Hamlet Avenue 94th Street at Hamlet Avenue Hamlet Avenue at Harkness Avenue REMOVE stop signs at following intersections) (Existing 4-leg intersections – stop control on the minor street) Harrow Avenue at 97th Street 98th Street at Hayward Avenue There are yellow curve warning signs located in the project area. None of these conditions are excessively dangerous nor unexpected in a residential area. Additionally, these signs are not consistent with looking at the area as a whole. It is recommended the following warning signs be REMOVED: (warning signs will only be installed to warn of conditions not typically encountered on a low speed residential street): Yellow left turn (arrow) sign with 10 mph advisory plaques on Lower 94th Street and Hale Avenue Yellow left turn (arrow) sign with 10 mph advisory plaques on Lower 94h Street and Hallmark Avenue Yellow left and right turn (arrow) signs with 10 mph advisory plaques on Hames Avenue Public Works Commission January 11, 2010 – Page 4 It is proposed to INSTALL stop signs at the following locations: (stop control on minor street) 98th Street Courts (north and south) at 98th Street Hayward Avenue and Hayward Court at 98th Street Hale Avenue (north and south) at 94th Street Hallmark Avenue (north and south) at 94th Street It was noted that on Hamlet Avenue we encounter a trail crossing that enters the roadway. Right now we do not have mid-block notification for motorists that pedestrians may be entering the roadway. It is proposed to add the pedestrian crossing signs there to alert them to that. It is proposed these pedestrian crossing signs be INSTALLED at the following locations: Hamlet Avenue and Hallmark Avenue 97th Street and Hames Avenue Hamlet Avenue at 98th Street A “No –Outlet sign may be added at the following intersection (if requested by residents): 97th Street and Hames Court Levitt said it’s anticipated that residents will be notified of the changes and will be invited to attend the next meeting in order to address the committee with their concerns and issues before the final recommendation is made to Council. Every resident living in the project area will receive a notice of this meeting. A website address will be providing information including the policy and procedures for sign placement. Area residents will have the opportunity to attend the Public Works Commission meeting on March 8th. Commission members will listen to their testimony and comments and then provide a recommendation to the City Council on March 17, 2010. OLD BUSINESS None 7. PUBLIC WORKS UPDATE RoadWatch Temp System (update) Burshten reported the system has now been installed on all trucks and is in use and we’re seeing good results. Two Way Radio System – Burshten stated that over the past couple of years there have been some issues with the two way radios. A new antenna was Public Works Commission January 11, 2010 – Page 5 recently installed. During the last storm event, the radio communication was much improved. Highlands Park Pond Skating – On Saturday, January 16, the second annual pond skating event will take place from 3:00-7:00pm. Temperatures should be in the 26-30 degree range so it should be a nice day. There will be benches for changing into skates, a firepit area and free hot chocolate. Holiday Train: The Holiday Train came to Cottage Grove on December 12th and was once again a huge success and brought in $55,000 for the local food shelf. (The nice weather helped too). Tree Trimming: Tree trimming will begin in February. Maps of areas to be trimmed will be published in the South Washington County Bulletin. Maps will also be provided to PWC Members. Trees are trimmed in a five-year cycle. Hockey/Skating Rinks The rinks are all up and running and are running smoothly. Department of Agriculture Grant The City of Cottage Grove applied for a grant from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture to assist in the treatment of Emerald Ash Borer. This year, a number of ash trees will be injected with an EAB deterrent and some trees will be removed. Inventory of trees will continue with the $75,000 grant. Cost Sharing with Neighboring Cities City of Cottage Grove staff recently met with the city administrators and public works directors of the Cities of St. Paul Park and Newport. Cottage Grove building inspectors will be doing work for the City of Newport. Other combined services may be sealcoating, street striping and crackfilling which may ultimately save on costs for all involved. 8. ENGINEERS REPORT 2010 Pavement Management Work in the River Acres area, south of 100th and 110th Streets, 113th Street, 113th Street Court, Inman Avenue and 115th Street will begin this year. A neighborhood meeting was held on January 7th with 61 residents in attendance. Homeowners are not overly excited about the project as the assessments are between $5,000-$6,000 per lot. This is the City’s first rural pavement management area with large lots. The feasibility report will be presented at the February 17, 2010 Council meeting to call for a public hearing on March 17. Residents will have an opportunity to attend and voice their concerns. Various options will be given for Council consideration. Pinecliff 2nd The final street will be installed in this area which is north of 65th Street and east of Hinton Avenue. Interim streets remained during development. Hamlet Park Work was revised due to the pending legal dispute with the contractor. Alternative plan work was done as well as expected given the winter conditions. Work will continue in the spring. Public Works Commission January 11, 2010 – Page 6 Belden Railroad Crossing The Department of Transportation was provided federal dollars to upgrade this railroad crossing system expected to move ahead this year. Approximately $350,000.00 was allocated for the project with the cost coming in at $222,000. (no cost to the City of Cottage Grove). Pinecliff 4th Lennar will be building onto the Pinecliff 2nd Addition just to the north. Sixteen to twenty lots will be added. Mass site grading and utilities will perhaps take place this year as well. Environmental Task Force The Environmental Task Force provided final recommendations to the City Council at the first meeting in November, 2009. Their report provided conditions for approval. Mayor Bailey has directed staff to prepare ordinance changes to prohibit commercial incineration in the City. The Planning Commission has this item on their agenda this month. This commission meets Wednesday night this week where they will chart their new direction and what topics they will take on. There are 12 air permits in the City from large businesses, some of which are Andersen Windows, Marathon and numerous permits for 3M. These permits are up for renewal, however, the Pollution Control Agency is very behind in issuing renewals so it will be quite some time before we can take up some of those air permit issues. 9. CITY COUNCIL UPDATE Fuel Purchase Program Once again the City of Cottage Grove has entered into a fuel purchase program through the State. This year we will be working with a different supplier (Yocum Oil). The program works by the City bidding on fuel costs for the entire year and last year the program was very successful. Prices for both gasoline and diesel went up slightly from 2009. Appointment – Alex Chernyaev Alex was appointed to the Public Works Commission (which we appreciate and thank him very much!). PWC Liaison New PWC Council Liaison will be Council Member Pat Rice Wind Turbine Permit Burshten also reported a conditional use permit was approved for a 113-foot tall, 10 kilowatt wind turbine at 6749 Geneva Avenue. 10. COMMISSION COMMENTS AND REQUESTS Traffic Signal: 80th and Jamaica Commission Member Bill Royce inquired if there’s been any recent discussion about placing a traffic signal at 80th Street and Jamaica Avenue. Levitt responded that the warrants were reviewed for the signal, however, the criteria was not met. Public Works Commission January 11, 2010 – Page 7 11. ADJOURNMENT Motion for adjournment was made by William Royce, seconded by Gary Kjellberg. Meeting was adjourned at 7:50 pm. Respectfully submitted, Patricia Storby