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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublic Services Minutes 1-22-19 Minutes City of Cottage Grove Public Services Commission/Council Meeting January 22, 2019 Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, a Cottage Grove Public Services Commission Meeting was held on January 22, 2019. CALL TO ORDER Meeting called to order at 7:00 p.m. Pledge of Allegiance ROLL CALL Members Present: Campbell, Robert Ingram, Steve Podoll, Jeff Dornsbach, Robert Rediske, Lise Members Absent: Griffith, Kent Serpico, William Staff Present: Rinzel, Greg – Captain Taylor, Harry – Public Works Supervisor Orloff, Gary – Street Foreman Others Present: Dennis, Steve – Councilmember Approval of Agenda Approval of Agenda – Motion by Dornsbach. Seconded by Podoll Approval of Minutes Approval of November 19, 2018 minutes Open Forum None Presentations New Public Works Equipment Presentation of new equipment purchased. New Business New Plow Route – Route 13 Taylor explained to the Commission that the City of Cottage Grove Public Works department has not added a large truck to the fleet since 2002. Public Works staff clears 167 lane miles of road in Cottage Grove. In a typical snowstorm the goal is to have the roads passable within 8 hours. Currently, new developments in Cottage Grove have added additional miles to the plow routes. Because of the added miles Public Works is completing snow plow routes in 9 to 91/2 hours. The addition of a new route would help close the gap and allow staff to have those roads open sooner. Another obstacle faced by the Public Works staff in the added sidewalks in new developments. In the past Public Works would clear the sidewalks with 2 sidewalk machines. Now it takes 3 sidewalk machines and 3 pickup trucks. That is 6 pieces of equipment and 6 operators just for paths and sidewalks. Ingram asked what a typical start time for staff is during a snow event. Orloff responded that each snow event must be evaluated individually but a typical start time would be 5am with the intent to have main feeder roads cleared by 7am. A Commissioner questioned the large amount of salt used in the last snowstorm. Pointing out the roads looked especially white. Orloff responded by explaining every truck that puts down salt has a computer the measures the exact amount of salt going on the road. This equates to approximately 4 bags of water softener salt per mile. The white that everyone sees is from the magnesium in the treated salt. Staff is not using more salt the magnesium dries with a very white appearance. Orloff took the opportunity to thank the Council for allowing the purchase of this added vehicle and route. Adding, their understanding and generosity are appreciated by Public Work staff. Dennis stated he does not spend much time at Public Works because he knows staff does a fantastic job there. Dennis hopes residents appreciate how good they have it in Cottage Grove. It is staff and Councils job to “keep the promise”. Which means the tax payers support through their tax dollars and we provide a level of service they can trust. Dennis thanked staff and told them to keep up the good work. Rediske asked why staff had switched to rear wings on the large trucks and was it to avoid possible accidents with side plows. Orloff responded the trucks have strobes on the wings and stickers on the back of the trucks to remind people to not crowd the trucks. That should prevent accidents if everyone follows the law. The reason to use rear wings is because it is very hard to swing the corners with a side wing and the driver must back up which increases the risk of hitting another vehicle that may not be staying a safe distance away. Review of Chapter 2 Parking Regulations/Recreation Vehicles and Trailers on Public Street/Right-of-Way Captain Rinzel presented a copy of the parking regulations to the Commission. Captain Rinzel is proposing to change the wording in two sections of the ordinance 6-2-1 General Parking Restrictions. 6-2-1 A. On Street Parking Snow and Ice removal before November 1 and after March 31: Before November 1 and after March 31, on-street parking shall be permitted only when the same does not interfere with the removal of snow and ice from the city streets and vehicles so parked shall be removed from the street by their owners. It shall be unlawful to park on such streets until the snow removal operation is completed in the area involved. If a motor vehicle is found in violation of this subsection a police officer is authorized to ticket and/or have the motor vehicle removed at the owner’s expense. This ordinance can be temporarily lifted by the Director of Public Safety or designee (ord. 919, 10-2-2013) Where any section of street has been designated as a no parking zone by resolution of the city council or by order of the fire chief Director of Public Works. 6-2-4 Parking of Storage of certain Vehicles Deemed Public Nuisance A recreational vehicle or any trailer attached to a vehicle may not be parked on the public right of way (public street) except for the purposes of loading and unloading or rendering service. OR A recreational vehicle or any trailer attached to a vehicle may not be parked on the public right-of-way (public street) between the hours of eight o’clock (8:00) P.M. and six o’clock (6:00) A.M. Rinzel stated currently it is the responsibility to the community service officers to use their judgement when evaluating vehicles parked on the street that may be impeding the sightlines of drivers. The officers are seeing an increase in home businesses using the public street to park trucks and trailers. This creates issues with drivers being able to safely get around the parked vehicles and for pedestrians to walk safely around the vehicles. Rinzel presented the ordinances listed above with the modifications being written in red. Rinzel wanted to keep the wording simple and easy to understand for the people that enforce the ordinance and the residents. Ingram expressed his concern for a man that keeps his truck and tractor on a mentioned street in Cottage Grove. He asked if he would have to park someplace else. Rinzel showed concern for the location because he felt the curve of the road in question could be dangerous with a semi parked overnight. Rinzel added the Police Department does not want to issue tickets. They want to educate the community. Tickets are a last resort. Ingram asked if this ordinance pertains to all vehicles. Rinzel replied it would be any vehicle including RV’s, trailers and campers. Ingram expressed his concern stating he is unsure he wants Cottage Grove to become as strict as Woodbury. Rinzel replied that as the ordinance sits it is too flexible. Someone could park 15 campers on the street and officers cannot do anything about it. Rinzel stated he is not opposed to having someone like the Public Works Director able to override it by issuing a permit. Ingram asked if the ordinance would allow people to park tractors in their driveways. Rinzel replied no one permitted to park commercial vehicles in their driveways since 2002. Orloff added the new streets being installed in the new developments are much narrower and if something is parked on the side of the road it is very difficult to pass it in a commercial truck and nearly impossible in a dump truck. Rinzel asked the Commission to consider fire trucks and ambulances trying to navigate around the narrow roads with large vehicles and trailers parked on them. Residents have the option to park in their driveways. This would help prevent neighborhoods from turning into campgrounds. Commission asked Public Works what they would like to see. Orloff responded staff would like that no vehicles is parked on the side of the road when they are trying to plow and/or work. Rinzel redirected the Commission back to the public safety concerns asking them to think of a child trying to walk around an RV parked on the road with vehicles trying to pass at the same time. The vehicles may not see a child because it would be hidden by the large RV. Rinzel pointed out the ordinance only applies to recreation and commercial vehicles with trailers. Rediske asked the Commission what they would like to approve. Commission agrees with option #1: 6. A recreational vehicle or any trailer attached to a vehicle may not be parked on the public right of way (public street) except for the purposes of loading and unloading or rendering service. A motion was made by Ingram and seconded by Podoll. Motion passes. Rinzel will check with the City Attorney before presenting to the Council. Old Business None Response to Previously Raised Commission Requests None Commission Comments and Requests None Staff Reports and Educational Material Police Completed annual report video Completed inclement weather shoot Training on interview techniques to properly interview trauma victims Continue 3 year contract with Joe Taylor Preparing for detective Ueland retirement Started hiring. 40 applicants Pinning of the badge at City Hall Police explorers first away tournament Public Works Streets Patching – 3500 tons of asphalt Sealcoating Striping – St. Paul Park and Newport Ash trees - treated 750 Storm ponds - cleaned Utilities Foaming Tree Roots Sewer Cleaning Well 12 punch list Street Light Repairs Water Meter Repairs Fleet Dot Vehicles Preparing trucks and plows for the winter months 120 boulevard trees trimmed Patching pot holes Repairing damaged signs Finished making and installing new development signs Repairing streetlights Assisting engineering with new developments Utilities Gopher one locates Hired 2 new positions Getting new equipment in service Repair plow equipment Small equipment repair Inventory audit complete Police Purchasing new vehicles Used forfeiture money to purchase new rifles with noise suppression for the squads. Working with the new Communications Director Adding another officer (2 have left the CG force) Adding CSO Hero Center – presented drone photography Council Comments Councilmember Dennis presented to the Commission the 2018 annual report. Dennis reported the following to the Commission: Councilmember Butt oath of office Beyond the Yellow Ribbon East Point Douglas signal award Economic Development working with Council to try and implement DARTS. A program to provide transportation for the residents living in the senior centers. Busses would run on a 1 hour loop stopping at shopping and medical locations. This would be free for the residents and cost taxpayers $25,000 per year. Gwen Martin made a Captain Goal setting session Ribbon Cuttings Commission Comments None Adjournment – Meeting was adjourned at 8:30pm.