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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublic Services Minutes 5-20-19 Minutes City of Cottage Grove Public Services Commission/Council Meeting May 20, 2019 Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, a Cottage Grove Public Services Commission Meeting was held on May 20, 2019. CALL TO ORDER Meeting called to order at 7:00 p.m. Pledge of Allegiance ROLL CALL Members Present: Ingram, Steve Dornsbach, Robert Campbell, Robert Podoll, Jeff Serpico, William Members Absent: Griffith, Kent Staff Present: McAlister, Randy – Captain Taylor, Harry – Public Works Supervisor Orloff, Gary – Street Foreman Burfeind, Ryan – Acting City Engineer Estrem, Nate – Project Engineer Others Present: Thiede, Dave– Councilmember Approval of Agenda Approval of Agenda – Motion by Dornsbach. Seconded by Campbell. Approval of Minutes Approval of November 19, 2018 minutes – Motion by Dornsbach. Seconded by Podoll. Open Forum None Presentations Project Development Update – Ryan Burfeind, Acting City Engineer Burfeind presented to the Commission the following City engineering projects: Ravine Parkway – Military Road Ingram questioned if the 70th street round-about will be changed during this project. Burfeind responded the change will include a new connection to Military but not any changes to the round-about. Ravine Parkway – Hinton Burfeind explained this roadway will be open to traffic at the end of June (weather permitting) which is earlier than expected. 95th and Jamaica – 4-way stop Burfeind stated the City will be adding a traffic signal and big box culvert. This will result in an approximate 4-week closure. The businesses in the area have been notified and alternate routes have been given to them. When this project is complete the area will receive a 4” mil and overlay to prolong the road life. Serpico asked if Jamaica is the desired route for all construction vehicles. Burfeind stated that it is but Renewal by Anderson is sending vehicles down 110th Street. Ingram asked if a stop light will back vehicles up to the round-about. Burfeind stated it should help move traffic more efficiently. Serpico asked if you could legally make a double left turn at this intersection. Burfeind stated he would check with the traffic engineer and get back to the Commission at the July meeting. 70th and Hinton – Round-About Highway 95 – Safety Improvement Hero Center Ingram questioned the placement of the hydrant next to the building. Redenius explained the hydrant on the plan that is located next to the building would be used for training purposes and there are other hydrants placed in the islands for emergency situations. Menards Expansion Up North Plastic Expansion CAPP Industries Dodge Nature Center AirGas Renewal by Anderson/Murphy Logistics Calarosa 3rd Addition Thiede asked if there was a clubhouse on the plan. Burfeind responded yes and a swimming pool that will both be maintained by their association. Calarosa 4th Addition Parkview Pointe Stoneybrook Villas Young Addition Kingston Fields 2nd Addition Summers Landing 3rd Addition Dornsbach asked if there will be a stop sign added by Summers Landing on Grenadier. Dornsbach added drivers on this road are driving to fast and he is concerned for the children that walk to and from school. Burfeind responded there is a proposed stop sign going in. Dornsbach made the recommendation to have the stop sign placed at 90th and Grenadier and another placed just south of that. Thiede asked if the City could add a 4-way stop to 90th and Granada and keep Grenadier a flow thru. Dornsbach recommended the City do some research on the area. Ingram asked what the width of the streets will be in this development. Burfeind stated they would be 28’ which is the new standard in these developments. Ingram asked the Streets Foreman Orloff if it is difficult to plow on 28’ streets when vehicles are parked on them. Orloff replied it is very difficult. Ingram asked Fire Chief and Public Safety Director Redenius if it is difficult to get their emergency vehicles through the 28’ streets. Redenius stated it will be difficult to get emergency vehicles through if there are vehicles parked on the street. Ingram directed his next statement to Councilmember Thiede and asked to go on record requesting Council to consider making developers incorporate wider streets in the new developments for the safety of the residents. Dornsbach asked the City Engineer why the City gives in to these contractors when they propose these narrow streets as part of the plan. Burfeind replied that 28’ is a common width for streets. Ingram added that we do not live Florida and 28’ streets make it difficult for our Public Works and Public Safety personnel to do their jobs. New Business Appointment of new Public Service Commission Officers – Tammy Anderson, Public Works Administrative Secretary Anderson stated the Public Service Commission has two officer positions: Chair and Vice-Chair. Councilmember Theide recommended Steve Ingram to the Chair position and that recommendation was approved at the March 28, 2019 Council meeting. Anderson added the vice-chair position is made by recommendation and voted on by the Commission. Anderson asked the Commissioners for a recommendation for vice-chair. A recommendation was made for Robert Dornsbach by Steve Ingram and passed unanimously. Robert Dornsbach is the new vice-chair and has agreed to the following: During the absence disability, or disqualification of the Chair the Vice-Chair shall exercise or perform all the duties and be subject to all the responsibilities of the Chair. ADA Transition Plan – Nate Estrem, Project Engineer Estrem stated 1 in 5 Americans lives with a disability. Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) protects qualified individuals with disabilities from discrimination based on disability in services, programs and activities provided by State and local government entities. This act prohibits state and local government agencies form discriminating against individuals with disabilities. The ADA Transition Plan is a formal document outlining the City’s compliance with the ADA and their plans to address non-compliant issues moving forward. The City is required to do the following for their plan: Identify physical obstacles in the public entity that limit accessibility Describe in detail the methods to make the facilities accessible Specify a schedule for achieving compliance. The City’s ADA coordinator is Nate Estrem, project engineer. His duties will include providing a formal grievance procedure, discussing ADA compliance issues, and identifying an anticipated schedule to obtain ADA compliance. Beginning in 2019, any MNDOT State Aid Project in the Transportation Improvement Program will need to have an adopted ADA Transition Plan or be working toward one to qualify for Federal funding for projects. The City has been working with SRF Consulting to complete a self-evaluation for Public ROW and Public Buildings. Estrem presented the results of this evaluation showing which buildings and ROW and their compliance. Estrem presented the anticipated schedule for ADA compliance. The estimated cost for the ADA transition will be $11,532,500.00. Ingram stated the East Point Douglas ramps look very steep. Estrem replied there is a rule that states you only must make it as compliant as possible without changing the road structure. Therefore, the City will never be 100% compliant. The topography will always come into play. Ingram asked if there is any Federal money for us to use to make the City compliant. Burfeind responded this is an unfunded mandate. However, the department is being reasonable with the timeframes. Estrem added the City will be 90% compliant within 30 years. Campbell asked if all the trails will need to be addressed as part of the ADA. Burfeind responded only the trails that are located on the Right-of-Way. Ingram made a motion to accept the ADA plans as presented. The motion was seconded by Dornsbach. Review Annual Meeting Schedule – Tammy Anderson, Public Works Administrative Secretary Anderson stated the Public Service Commission is currently scheduled to have regular meetings held on the third Monday of each month. After review of the past 3 years staff has discovered the Commissions regular meetings have met an average of 6 times per year. Anderson added cancellations are due to Holidays, lack of agenda items and competition with the Planning Commission for the Council Chambers. Anderson proposed the Public Services Commission meet every other month as follows: January March May - at Public Works Building July September November The Commission may hold special meetings, any time outside of the regular meetings by: the call of the Chair of the Commission by petition of four (4) commission members the call of the City Council Special meetings shall require notice to all commission members in writing and mailed at least five days prior to such meeting or personal notice at least twenty-four (24) hours in advance. Ingram made a motion to approve the Public Services Commission regular meeting schedule to meet during the months of January, March, May, July, September and November or as staff advises. Podoll seconded the motion. Motion passes. Jake Braking Ordinance Amendment HWY 61 – Captain Randy McAlister Captain McAlister stated The City of Cottage Grove has received noise concerns in the area of Highway 61 in the southern portion of the City. The complaint is the amount of “Jake braking” that occurs on the downhill grade as vehicles approach the Pine Coulee neighborhood. The City of Cottage Grove City Code does have an ordinance that covers noise. The purpose of Title 4 Chapter 9 is to protect and promote the public health, safety and general welfare by restricting activities which emit noise that unreasonably annoys, disturbs, injures or endangers the comfort, repose, health, peace, safety or welfare of any person or persons, or precludes their enjoyment of property. The City has been in contact with MNDOT and found that many jurisdictions will post a sign notifying the public that “engine noises are enforced” or “Jake braking prohibited”. We do have permission to post a sign prohibiting the activity. Ingram asked who will enforce the new ordinance. McAlister stated Cottage Grove can enforce the ordinance and currently the language in the ordinance isn’t specific enough to enforce it. Dornsbach asked if anyone has been complaining. McAlister stated there have been complaints from the Community behind Erickson Marine and hopefully a sign will deter Jake Braking. Redenius stated the increased noise could be from increased construction traffic for the HWY 95 project and is hopeful it will decrease when the project is complete. This item was informational. No motion required. Old Business None Response to Previously Raised Commission Requests None Commission Comments and Requests Hands Free Compliance Update Ingram requested information from Public Works regarding the new hands-free law going into effect soon. Orloff stated that government employees do not fall under the same law. However, Public Works has started converting their fleet to hands-free systems. All new vehicles purchased are hands-free and they have started converting some of the older vehicles. Council Comments Councilmember Thiede presented to the commission items the Council have been working on this month. Commission Comments None Adjournment – Meeting was adjourned at 9:00pm. Motion by Dornbach. Seconded by Podoll.