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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublic Services Minutes 1-16-18 Minutes City of Cottage Grove Public Services Commission/Council Meeting January 16, 2018 Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, a Cottage Grove Public Services Commission Meeting was held on January 16, 2018. CALL TO ORDER Meeting called to order at 7:00 p.m. ROLL CALL Members Present: Campbell, Robert Dornsbach, Robert Griffith, Kent Ingram, Steve Lewis, Jodi Podoll, Jeff Staloch, Peter Members Absent: Rediske, Lise Serpico, William Staff Present: Koerner, Pete – Captain Rinzel, Greg - Captain Taylor, Harry – Public Works Supervisor Redenius, Rick – Fire Chief Orloff, Gary – Street Foreman Others Present: Dennis, Steve – Council Member Johnson, Wayne – Council Member Approval of Agenda Motion by Ingram and seconded by Dornsbach Approval of Minutes Motion by Podoll and seconded by Dornsbach to approve December 6, 2017 and October 16, 2017 minutes. Open Forum None Presentations Wastewater Treatment – Jay Sockness, Metropolitan Council Plant Manager Sockness explained he is the waste water plant manager for 4 plants including Cottage Groves. His job is to take the water that is flushed down the toilet and water that goes down the drain and turn it into water that is close to drinking quality before releasing it into the river. One of the problems that occurs at the treatment plant are the flushables. Sockness added that most flushables should not be flushed and with 600 miles of pipes they cause lots of issues with clogging pipes and pumps. This takes lots of man hours to unclog. Sockness added another issue the treatment plant is dealing with are chlorides. Chlorides can be found in the softener salt homeowners use in their water softeners. Some Cities are installing a centralized softener that softens water for the entire city to control chloride use. Sockness stated too much chloride can dry up lakes and streams. Johnson expressed his surprise at the overuse of chlorides. Sockness stated it is an added problem because we already use chloride on the roads when slippery. Met Council is looking for grants to help people update their water softeners. Taylor added many older water softeners are not to be used anymore because they consume to much salt compared to the newer models. Staloch asked how old should your softener be. Sockness replied Met Council is doing research on that question. It is still in its infancy. Sockness compared the problem to the 1990’s when they discovered too much mercury in the water. Cottage Grove and Hastings did a study to find the cause and determined it was the dentists putting the mercury down the drains. Once they determined the problem they regulated how the dentists disposed of the sink water in their offices and the mercury levels declined to a safe limit. Sockness added all studies take some time and he is confident the commission will hear more about the chloride issues in the future. Sockness invited the Commission to tour the Waste Water Facility. Living with Coyotes – Captain Koerner Koerner stated the reason he was addressing the Commission is because of the growing concerns from the residents regarding the increased sightings of coyotes in the residential areas of Cottage Grove. Public Safety was asked to research and work with the MNDNR to determine an action plan for residents. Koerner added that he contacted multiple agencies and communities close to Cottage Grove and found that coyotes are present metro-wide and Cottage Grove is not unique. Koerner reminded the Commission that Cottage Grove Police Department, like other police departments, does not deal with wildlife calls unless there is an immediate risk to the public. Calls should be directed to the MNDNR. Koerner described a coyote as a wild member of the dog family that is grey/brown in color, between 18-44lbs, and stands about 18” high at their shoulders. Coyotes may appear larger due to their heavy fur coat. Koerner added that coyotes are loners except when they are raising families. Coyotes are not new to the area and have adapted to the suburban lifestyle because city environments support them. They have suitable habitats and adequate food supplies within our abundant parks and natural lands. Koerner presented a chart to the Commission that showed Coyote reports increased from 2 calls in 2016 to 18 calls in 2017. Koerner added the MNDNR has no reports of coyotes attaching humans. Koerner added that coyote attacks are preventable by modifying human behavior and educating people about ways to prevent habituation. Coyotes are unprotected in Minnesota and may be taken at any time by shooting or trapping, without a license or permit. However, in order to hunt you must be in a designated area that meets the City ordinances. Koerner presented a hunting map. This map showed the limited areas in Cottage Grove that are safe for hunting. Koerner added that if you hunt in these areas coyotes will learn to just avoid them pushing them further into residential areas and park land. Research suggests that when aggressively controlled, coyotes can increase their reproductive rate by breeding at an earlier age and having larger litters with a higher survival rate among young. This allows coyote populations to quickly bounce back. Coyote pairs hold territories, which leaves single coyotes constantly looking for new places to call home. If attractants in a neighborhood are not removed (pet food, garbage, garden waste, etc.) new coyotes in an area can quickly become a nuisance. Relocating the coyotes would only open up the area to new coyotes to occupy. Koerner stated the best thing to do is to educate the community in regard to living with the coyotes. The following are a few simple tips to take before you even see one in your yard: Never leave pets out unsupervised Cats are safest in the house Do not feed pets outside Clean up around bird feeders Clean up fallen fruit from trees/bushes Secure trash cans, food waste and compost heaps Secure foundations of buildings and decks. (These provide ideal shelter) Koerner added tips on what to do if you see a coyote: NEVER run from a coyote. This may invoke a chase reflex. NEVER corner a coyote. Make sure they have a direction to run from you. If the coyote is not cornered and has a way to retreat Koerner recommends using a technique called Hazing. Problems with coyotes arise when coyote populations become accustomed to human activity and are no longer scared of humans. Hazing reestablishes and reinforces the fear of humans and breaks the cycle of conflict. Hazing puts you in control of the situation. Koerner added there is no other method that provides the long-term results that hazing does and there is no wait time for CGPD of MNDRN. Koerner explained the proper dos and don’ts for hazing: Get the coyotes attention Get between the coyote and any children or pets Continue hazing until the coyote has left the area Do not haze sick or injured coyotes Do not haze from inside the house, car or behind cover. Be in full view. For hazing to be effective, you must get the coyotes attention. The coyote needs to understand you are what it fears and running away from. Yell and wave your arms while approaching the coyote. Use noisemakers (voice, whistles, air horns, bells, pots and pans banged together) Use projectiles (sticks, small rocks, cans, tennis balls) Try other repellants (hoses, water guns with vinegar, walking sticks) GO AWAY COYOTE – the simplest way to haze a coyote involves being loud and large. If a coyote has not been hazed before, he might not immediately run away. If this happens increase the intensity. If the coyote does run away, he might stop after a distance and look back at you. Continue to haze the coyote. Koerner presented the following educational materials for the Commission and residents to review if they have additional questions. https://www.cityofroseville.com/2814/Coyote-Clinic http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/livingwith_wildlife/coyotes/index.html http://www.humanesociety.org/assets/pdfs/wild_neighbors/coyote_hazing.pdf https://urbancoyoteresearch.com/ Dennis thanked Koerner for his presentation and added the City’s service to the community is to be respectful, listen and provide reasonable solutions to their concerns. This presentation informs the public regarding why we don’t trap or relocate the coyotes and offers safe tips to deter the animals from our properties. This is a great resource for everyone. Dennis added that we want our community to know their government is listening and cares about them. Dennis requested this information be made available and the City tries to properly educate the public regarding the coyotes. Koerner stated he would like to supply the officers with information to present to the community when the need presents itself. Johnson clarified the difference between coyotes that are a nuisance and coyotes that may present a threat to safety. Reiterating if the coyote is threatening to call CGPD. Dennis added it is hard for PD to assume how someone feels. One person may not be threatened by the same encounter as another. The PD should be willing to listen and respond to reasonable complaints. At the same time educating the public and trying to change their viewpoint regarding the coyotes. Koerner added when Hidden Valley was developed people used to call PD and complain the deer were eating their plants. Podoll suggested the City print brochures that could be handed out to the residents. Staloch questioned if the small number of coyote calls constituted the need. Ingram stated social media magnifies the coyote situation. One person posts a picture, it encourages others to leave a comment that may or may not be validated and can create unnecessary worry. Koerner added community information packets have already been created and adding coyote information would not be difficult. Ingram suggested adding some information to the CG Reports in the utility bills. New Business Animal Ordinance Update – Sergeant McCormick Sergeant McCormick stating the animal ordinance was written in 1971 and updated in 2007. The goal of updating the ordinance is to help citizens understand the ordinance and officers enforce it. The following areas were addressed: Appeals process Potentially Dangerous Dogs Added definitions Definitions of attacks and imminent dangers Seizures Impoundment periods and dispositions Concealments of animals Multiple offenses – seizure and destruction Sergeant McCormick stated there have been questions presented to the City Council as well as City staff in regards to what animals residents can keep as pets. Public Safety has been working with the Animal Humane Society’s lead investigator who also reviewed and provided significant input. The following updates were provided by the City Attorney: Updated definitions Running at Large Wild or Exotic Animals Licensing changed from City Clerk to PD Dangerous ad Potentially Dangerous Dogs Impartial Hearing Officer Fees for Appeals Nuisances Sergeant McCormick gave an example of why there was a need to change some of wording stating anyone can go online and get a certificate to make their pet a service animal for $30. To address this issue the American Disabilities Act was used to find the correct wording for this ordinance. McCormick added, in the previous ordinance under wild and exotic animal there wasn’t any definitions on what was wild or exotic. McCormick took recommendations from the Humane Society to add wording to the ordinance. Johnson asked when a dog is considered wild and/or what is done with dogs that are abandoned. Koerner responded the Humane Society is responsible for determining if the dog is adoptable or not. Johnson asked what the City does about animals that cannot be caught. Koerner stated they are eventually caught. Staloch asked if a ferrel dog would be treated as a coyote. Koerner answered no because a dog is not a wild animal and would be more likely to bite someone. Old Business Response to Previously Raised Commission Requests None Commission Comments and Requests None Staff Reports and Educational Material Police – Preparing for a murder trial Mobile field force training Alcohol compliance checks Recruitment for reserves Mobile Field Force Training Fire – EMS – 601 Fire/Rescue - 67 10 new PT Fire Staff Process of hiring new FT Fire member FT staff transitioning to 24 hour working schedule Chassis has been ordered for the ambulance involved in accident Finishing specs for new ambulance Central Fire Station on schedule Registered to win a free 4 position turnout gear dryer and won! Worth $7,899.00. Will use the system at station 4. Public Works Plowing Tree Removal Finished Water Meter Replacement Project. Installed 1500 meters bringing the total to 7500 meters Fleet Department had their annual audit Sent letters to freeze accounts. Well 10 drilled and working on foundation schedule Council Comments Johnson briefed the Commission on the following items Council has addressed: Water Rate Study Year in Review Habitat for Humanity and the old Pool Site Woolery retiring after 34 years of service Pete Koerner is the new Director of Public Safety Commission Comments Adjournment – Meeting was adjourned at 9:01pm