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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublic Services Minutes 7-19-21 Minutes City of Cottage Grove Public Services Commission/Council Meeting July 19, 2021 Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, a Cottage Grove Public Services Commission Meeting was held on July 19, 2021. CALL TO ORDER Meeting called to order at 7:00 p.m. Pledge of Allegiance ROLL CALL Members Present: Steve Ingram Podoll, Jeff Serpico, William Griffith, Kent Dornsbach, Robert Kath, Ron Members Absent: Campbell, Robert Staff Present: Burfeind, Ryan – PE, Public Works Director/City Engineer Redenius, Rick – Fire Chief & Deputy of Public Safety Rinzel, Greg – Deputy Director of Public Safety & Police Captain Orloff, Gary – Street Supervisor Others Present: Mills, La Rae – Council member Dan MacSwain,, Natural Resource Coodinator - Washington County Zac Approval of Agenda Approval of Agenda – Motion by Dornsbach. Seconded by Podoll. Approval of Minutes 3-15-21 - Motion by Serpico. Seconded by Kath. Open Forum None Presentations Ravine Regional Park Hunting Presentation – Washington County MacSwain presented to the Commission Washington Counties goals and objectives regarding healthy deer management at the Cottage Grove Ravine Park. Washington Counties deer management goals are as stated: Reduce excessive browse and rubbing that prevents establishment and regeneration of native plants Reduce vehicle/deer collisions on roadways Continue to provide for wildlife viewing and enjoyment by park visitors Collaborate with local communities MacSwain stated the population for deer management should be a population density of 10-20 deer per square mile. Helicopter aerial surveys have found the population in the park at levels of 43 to 57 deer per square mile. Lake Elmo park has a history of deer management with lower deer populations. The proposal is for an archery harvest, in partnership with Metro Bowhunters Resource Base. The hunt would be scheduled between the dates of October 28-31, 2021 and November 12-14, 2021. Metro Bowhunters Resource Base is a Twin Cities non-profit that partners with local government agencies to conduct archery control. The Ravine Park harvest would require a sharpshooter artist level proficiency test, all shots fired from an elevated stand and a maximum 20-yard shot for all hunters. The public would be notified through press release, letters and posted signs. The Ravine Park would be open during the harvest with a 100-foot buffer between paths and hunters. Ingram asked if Washington County is issuing a 100-foot hunt buffer next to all trails why wouldn’t they close the park? MacSwain offered clarification stating Washington County would like the trails to remain open during the hunt. Kath asked if there was a limit and if only bucks would be harvested. MacSwain replied It is an earn a buck. Which means each hunter must shoot an antlerless deer prior to harvesting a buck program. Kath asked if all the deer harvested would be tested for Chronic Waste Disease. MacSwain replied the answer is no for this hunt. Kath added the south metro is seeing an increase in CWD in their deer population and wanted an explanation why they would not be tested. MacSwain stated he would get back to Commissioner Kath regarding the option for testing. Kath supports the hunt but feels there should be samples taken from the deer during the harvest. Deb Luzinski, President Metro Bowhunters Resource, stated they encourage working with the DNR and testing for CWD and would support Commissioner Kath’s request. Ingram asked what the pros and cons are for using only bows and not rifles. MacSwain replied bow hunting reduces staff time fielding calls from the rifle noises. Also, rifle hunting impacts the recreational use of the park. Bow hunting allows the park to remain open. Ingram expressed his concern regarding the possibility a park goer could see an animal injured or killed while visiting the park. MacSwain stated the park will make it very clear there is managing of deer going on in the park and at that point the patrons can choose if they want to go to the park or not. Ingram requested the specifics of the notification Washington County planned to use. Burfeind agreed to partner with Washington County and help get the message out to the public regarding the hunt. Ingram expressed concern that if we notify people within a 500-foot radius of the park we could possibly miss people that may enter the park from a different location. MacSwain stated Washington County could place a mobile message board on the roadway indicating there is a hunt. Luzinski added that Washington County and Metro Bowhunters will put the information on their website and put signs up on every legal entrance so park goers are warned. All municipalities handle it the same way. Ingram asked about the complaint level other municipalities experience. Luzinski stated she would get that information to Commissioner Ingram. Luzinski added when she was hunting, she saw a woman with a small child read the sign and pull their bikes over a fence not caring there was a hunt. Luzinski’s point was as a volunteer you are hyper aware of your surroundings and know how it may look to the public if you choose to take a deer and that you may choose not to shoot the deer at that time. Luzinski added Bowhunters Metro has been shown support from all the communities they hunt. Kath asked if the hunters would be camouflaged. Luzinski answered no. Kath asked if Bowhunters would honor hunting hours. Luzinski replied yes. Kath asked if the venison is donated. Luzinski stated the hunters are using their own tags so they can keep their own deer. Kath stated he listens to the coyote’s every night. He is surprised there is a large deer population. Kath moved the motion to approve the strategic hunt. Seconded by Serpico. Ingram requested Washington County work with Public Works during this process. Motion is amended. Kath approved the proposal adding Washington County will work with PW staff. New Business Hunting Map – Greg Rinzel, Deputy Director of Public Safety Rinzel explained to the Commission a resident called Public Safety requesting to amend the hunting ordinance to include combined properties to equal 5 acres. Public Safety was in the process of discussing the proposal but found the residents property still fell short of the 5-acre minimum when combined with the neighboring property. Rinzel added Inver Grove Heights allows for multiple parcels to be combined to equal the 5-acre minimums. Rinzel worked with Community Development and found if the City allows for residents to combine more than two property’s you could make almost any lot huntable. Staff does not recommend any changes to the ordinance regarding combining lots. Rinzel stated the City has purchased property for a water treatment facility so that parcel was removed from archery and firearms maps. Rinzel added the archery map has an increased amount of developments on the east side so almost all the parcels have been removed. Of the 3 parcels that remain 2 will be sold next year. A recommendation to approve the 2021-22 hunting and archery map with amended changes was made by Kath and seconded by Ingram. Public Works Open House Discussion - Ryan Burfeind, PE, Director of Public Works/City Engineer Burfeind stated the Open House is on Thursday, September 23, 2021. Ingram stated he will volunteer for the event. Ingram wants to move the displays away from the bounce house. Orloff stated the bounce house will be outside the big bay. Old Business None Response to Previously Raised Commission Requests None Commission Comments and Requests Serpico asked why it is not a double right on Jamaica. Burfeind stated a semi is not able to make a legal turn with 2 turn lanes. Council Comments Mills updated the Commission regarding new projects and stated the City is moving forward with a referendum on the Community Center. Serpico asked about the Air Gas timeline for completion. Burfeind replied it has been a 2-year project. Burfeind added a lot of the equipment is built in France and brought here. Air Gas is opening in the fall of 2021. Campbell asked if Michels is having a tough time drilling on West Pt Douglas. Burfeind responded they may have hit some bedrock. Mills thanked the fire department for the team that worked on the structure fire in her neighborhood. She was impressed with the safety precautions staff used to put out the fire. Mills added how nice it is to see everyone, all together, in the council chambers for this Commission meeting. Staff Comments Fire Department Personnel – POC Since the beginning of the year, we have lost 4 staff. There will be a hiring process taking place this fall with a start date in January 2022 Calls for service – March thru June 2021 EMS – 273 (Mar) 298 (Apr) 296 (May) 326 (June) 1,193 Fire/Rescue – 46 (Mar) 89 (Apr) 70 (May) 79 (June) = 284 Other items We have several old structures that we were able to train in. So far, we have had live fire training in 4 structures within the city. Our next training will be on Saturday August 14th at the home on W Pt. Douglas Rd East of the old Majestic Ballroom starting at approximately 8:00am. We invite all of you to stop down and see how this training is done. We have sent several staff through Fire Investigation 1 and 2 training sponsored by the MN State Fire Marshal’s Office. We have sent a full-time member to a trainer course for Blue Card. This course is designed to teach each member of the department common fire nomenclature, how to give size up of an incident, and set up a command structure Public Works Administration 750 new lots 300 new homes Hamlet Park Phase 3 is beginning Pavement Management is underway Will start on Jamaica from 80th to Indian. Control traffic but maintain access. South district sewer – 100th street is our service boundary – 3.5-million-dollar project to extend the sewer. Beginning Aug 1, 2021. Will dump into eagle point waste management. Streets Thin overlays New City Forester Utilities Pumping over 12 million gallons a day in June. We can pump 15 million in one day – the state will be mandating Cities cut back on water. Public Works will be monitoring and implement any mandates issued by the DNR. Police Community Service Officers are going around and educating residents, so they are aware of the City water policies Safety Camp – July 27, 2021 Night to Unite – August 3, 2021 Hired 3 new officers and they are on solo patrol Swearing in 6 new officers at the next Council meeting Police pursuits and auto thefts and car jackings are up – 18 vehicle pursuits in CG. 15 last year. Half of the pursuits have been terminated. Officers consider a list of items before pursuing a vehicle. Opticoms system is $500 camera added to squad vehicles and an intricate part of safety for public safety. Rinzel stated he is proud of the City Council for allowing staff to have this option in their Public Safety vehicles. Police know they must do the best thing for our community. Griffith asked if there are still a lot of people stealing catalytic converters. Rinzel stated our community does a great job notifying the police department and they have made 5 arrests. Adjournment – Meeting was adjourned at 8:07 pm. Motion by Kath. Seconded by Griffith.