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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAugust 8, 2011 MinutesCITY OF COTTAGE GROVE PUBLIC WORKS COMMISSION August 8, 2011 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, August 8, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. 1. CALL TO ORDER Commission Chair Ken Boyden called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. 2. ROLL CALL Members Present: Ken Boyden, Alex Chernyaev, Michael Edman, Jason Field, Gary Kjellberg, Jeff Rolling, Bill Royce Staff Present: Les Burshten, Public Works Director Harry Taylor, Public Works Supervisor Jennifer Levitt, City Engineer Also Present: Council Member Derrick Lehrke 3. APPROVE MINUTES Upon a motion by Gary Kjellberg, seconded by Bill Royce, the May 9, 2011 minutes were unanimously approved. 4. ADDITIONAL AGENDA ITEMS None 5. NEW BUSINESS Stop Sign Request: West Point Douglas Road and Lockridge Avenue City Engineer Jennifer Levitt mentioned the above referenced area was located in the 2011 Pavement Management area. After noting the conditions and how West Point Douglas Road is utilized, the street needs more of a neighborhood collector classification. Additionally there are visibility restrictions to the north of the intersection so therefore, it is being recommended a stop sign be installed and the neighborhood will likely support this stop sign installation wholeheartedly. This item is being brought before the Commission this evening to ensure that this recommendation is consistent with the policy. Public Works Commission August 8, 2011 – Page 2 Levitt added due to the changed condition of the roadway, the street is acting as more of a collector. In addition, there appears to be a visibility issue creating a potentially hazardous condition for motorists. MOTION MADE BY GARY KJELLBERG, SECONDED BY JEFF ROLLING, RECOMMENDING INSTALLATION OF A STOP SIGN AT WEST POINT DOUGLAS ROAD AND LOCKRIDGE AVENUE. MOTION WAS UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED. 2011 Sign Study Levitt stated over the last few years staff has been working at developing consistency in our Sign Policy. This year, the area reviewed included streets in the following locations: north of 80th Street, east of Jamaica, south of 70th Street and west of County Road 19. Listed below are the suggested sign modifications: Sign Removal or Relocation: 72nd Street and Jewel Avenue South (WBL and EBL): Change existing yield signs to stop signs Jorgensen Ave. and Jordan Ave., 74th Street Circle and 74th Street and 74th Street and Jorgensen: Recommend to remove stop signs at the three noted locations. 71st Street (150 feet east of Jensen), Jewel Ave., (north of Indian Blvd. intersection), 75th Street ( remove two 25 mph signs between Jeffery Avenue and Indian Blvd. near Kingston Park), Jordan Avenue, (west of County Road 19) and Jorgensen Avenue, (north of Indian Blvd.): Remove Speed Limit Signs at above locations Indian Blvd. at Indian Blvd. cul-de-sac, Indian Boulevard, Blvd. (700 feet west of County Road 19), Indian Blvd.,(600 feet west of County Road 19), Indian Blvd. (250’ west of Jordan Avenue): Remove School Speed Limit Signs (not required per the MUTCD) Jenner Lane and Jenner Circle: Remove Deaf/Autistic/Blind Child Sign Indian Blvd., (400’ west of 75th Street): Remove Crime Watch Sign Public Safety will be consulted regarding the effectiveness of these “crime watch” signs. Southbound Jamaica, (north of Indian Blvd.), Northbound Jamaica, (south of Indian Blvd.): Remove Advanced Pedestrian Sign Indian Blvd. (west of Jocelyn Ave.), Jocelyn Avenue (north of Indian Blvd.,), Indian Blvd. (east of Jocelyn Ave.): Remove Advanced School Crossing Signs Indian Blvd (west of County Road 19), (relocate to the west of Jorgensen due to it being too far away from the crossing). Public Works Commission August 8, 2011 – Page 3 Sign Installation Recommendations: Indian Blvd/Indian Blvd. cul-de-sac, Joliet Circle/Joliet Ave., 79th Street/Jeffery Ave., Jeffery Ave. Court/Jeffery Ave., 78th Street/Jeffery, Jeffery Ave cul-de-sac,/Jeffery Ave. Install Stop Signs based on Sign Policy at these High Volume Collector “T” Intersections 78th Street and Joliet (WBL), 78th Street and Joliet (EBL), 72nd and Jewel Avenue (WBL), 72nd and Jewel Avenue (EBL): Install stop signs at the 4-legged intersection of these local roads per Sign Policy (stop signs are required to be installed on the minor street) Jensen Ave. (south of 70th Street), Indian Blvd. (165 feet west of Jewel Avenue): Install Regulatory Speed Limit Sign As motorists proceed into neighborhoods from roads such as 70th Street and County Road 19, it may be unclear what the speed limit is on the residential road Indian Blvd @ County Road 19 ROW, Indian Blvd. (165’ west of Jewel Avenue), Recommended “End School Zone” be installed for School Area traffic control per MUTCD. Indian Blvd (EBL) Relocate school speed limit sign 100 feet west of the westerly school property line per MUTCD 77th Street and Joliet Avenue (EBL), 77th Street and Joliet (WBL), 75th Street/Kingston Park Entrance (EBL), 75th Street/Kingston Park Entrance (WBL): Install Pedestrian crosswalk Signs per Sign Policy (Also place pavement markings for the pedestrian cross walks) Shoulder Signage and No-Parking It was also noted that existing signage along roadways designates the shoulder for bicycle and pedestrian use only. There are “no parking’ signs that prohibit parking during specific times likely during school arrival and departure hours. The existing city signage does not appear in the current version of the Minnesota MUTCD and due to this, the signage should not be replaced in its current form. Per the Minnesota MUTCD, a bike lane is a portion of the roadway that has been designated by signs and pavement marking for preferential or exclusive use by bicyclists. It’s up to each city to designate whether or not vehicles can park within the bike lane area. According to MN Statue 169.18, Driving Rules Subd. 7.ed. “Whenever a bicycle lane has been established on a roadway, any person operating a motor vehicle on such roadway shall not drive in the bicycle lane except to park where parking is permitted, to enter or leave the highway, or to prepare for a turn as provided in section 169.19, subdivision 1”. The city has two basic options as it relates to shoulders and signage. Remain as shoulder: By law bicyclists may use roadway shoulders. In this case, the pavement is striped and no bike signage is present. Bicyclists could be directed to use the shoulder with the R9-X1 sign and the City could continue to restrict parking during specific times of day (or restrict parking at all times) Public Works Commission August 8, 2011 – Page 4 Designate as a bike lane: if the exclusive use of the shoulder for bicyclists is desired, the pavement should be marked and striped, and the R3-17 signs should be placed along the route. Bicycles would have exclusive use of the shoulder, and parking would be prohibited along the route. The intent is to separate the motor vehicle and bicycle traffic. Levitt stated it’s her recommendation to use the “Bike Use Shoulder” sign with the restricted parking hours. If it’s designed as a bike lane, vehicles will be prohibited from parking there at any time. Additional information regarding the Sign Policy will be brought back to the commission at a future meeting. Street Light Policy – Amendments City Engineer Levitt reported one of the issues recently encountered is that street light standards are not necessarily appropriate to the desired levels in the parking lots of city parks. Staff is working with the League of Minnesota Cities to revamp our street and parking lighting policies. The key thing is to keep in mind is that when the current policy addresses the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America recommendations, we are acknowledging that this is a standard, but at the same time recognizing that this is not always applicable in all circumstances. It should also be noted that authority is given to the Director of Public Works to coordinate and control the activity and operation and maintenance of streetlights. The City does address the application spacing standards, and then obviously on section 8 lighting standards as noted in the handout in tonight’s packet. Additionally, the City also addresses using other lighting standards for energy efficiency such as LED or some other lighting illumination which our initial policy did not. Also addressed is streetscape lighting (for aesthetics) along with park lighting. The current Street Light Policy was adopted in December of 2007. The requested amendments to this policy would address revisions on street and park lighting and installing a more appropriate amount of lighting for park settings and streets than the current standards address. Levitt wishes to place this item on the September 7th Council Agenda to request additional lighting to Pine Coulee and to install lighting at the Wag Farms Dog Park MOTION MADE BY BILL ROYCE, SECONDED BY MIKE EDMAN TO ADOPT THE STREETLIGHT POLICY AMENDMENTS. MOTION WAS UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED. 6. OLD BUSINESS None Public Works Commission August 8, 2011 – Page 5 7. PUBLIC WORKS UPDATE Les Burshten reported: The Innsdale water tower paint job is complete. The tower is once again up and running. Patching and road maintenance work continues, including an overlay repair to Hemingway Avenue (just off 80th Street) Public Works Open House is scheduled for Thursday, September 15th, 3:00-7:00 pm Hearthside Rink construction work continues 3,300 ash trees have been treated for EAB and approximately 400 ash trees will be removed and replaced this year. Street striping work has been completed Street stenciling work is done Road right of ways have been mowed The chemical room update at the booster station is now fully complete 8. CITY COUNCIL UPDATE City Council Member Derrick Lehrke reported that it’s being considered to keep the City Pool open for an additional summer. This development is due to the fact the YMCA will not be built this year along with the possibility the splash pads may not be constructed. There was a brief discussion on the possibility of LA Fitness locating in the Home Depot site which may affect moving forward with the YMCA/Community project for the time being. 9. COMMISSION COMMENTS AND REQUESTS Gary Kjellberg stated that information received back from the YMCA varied from what the Community Center Task Force committee envisioned. He agrees the Council should wait prior to making any decisions regarding this center. Kjellberg also inquired if anything could be done with the Fishing Pond dock off 70th and Hardwood that’s currently under water. Burshten responded plans are in place to construct a floating dock. Commission Member Kjellberg also asked if the city ordinance was changed to now indicate dogs can no longer run loose without a leash unless they are in the dog park. Burshten responded this change took place on July 15, 2011. Kjellberg was wondering if this information might be placed in the newspaper or other areas to inform residents of the change. Commission Member Mike Edman inquired what can be done about potholes that are in the parking lots of local businesses. He realizes this is likely not the City’s Public Works Commission August 8, 2011 – Page 6 responsibility, however, many residents may make this assumption and this pothole problem may put the City in an unfavorable light. Is there anything that can be done? Levitt responded this issue is handled by the Community Development Department. Burshten added that in the past, Community Development staff has notified businesses when the damage in parking lots or private roadways gets out of hand. Bill Royce expressed his appreciation to Public Works for filling the potholes on Lehigh. He also inquired what has become of the tree improvement on Highway 61 at 80th Street? Levitt responded that the project has been completed. Commission Member Gary Kjellberg also inquired if a revision can be made to the snowplowing ordinance which would state something to the effect: “if the weight of the snow thrown by a plow knocks over a fence, it would be the responsibility of the homeowner”. Burshten indicated the Snowplow Ordinance is in the process of being revised and this option will be looked at. 10. ADJOURNMENT Motion to adjourn was made by Bill Royce, seconded by Jason Field. Meeting adjourned at 8:30 pm. Respectfully submitted, Patricia Storby