PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE
January 5, 2005
Minutes
The meeting was called to order at 1:40 p.m.
Clm. Paul Skrede, Public Works Supervisor Jerry Hudlow, Administrator Dana Young
Jon Monson
Discussion was held concerning the Deephaven Safety Program. Specific discussion included the adoption of numerous safety policies, administration of the City’s Safety Program by SafeAssure and the establishment of a Safety Committee. Dana Young stated that the City’s AWAIR Policy requires the establishment of a Safety Committee to meet on a monthly basis to discuss safety-related issues. It was suggested that Teresa Pendleton, Police Chief Virgil Gustafson and a member of the Public Works crew should be added to the Safety Committee. The first full meeting of the Safety Committee will be held next month.
Discussion was held on developing specifications to be sent to companies to solicit bids on the planing of the Carson’s Bay Bridge. Clm. Skrede requested that Staff find out which company installed and planed the grooves on Gray’s Bay Bridge so that a bid can be sent to them. The Committee recommended Bridge Planing Specifications that:
¨ Specified planing the entire bridge surface
¨ Did not include striping requirements for the centerline and fog lines (which will be painted by the City crew)
¨ Established a construction timeline of May 1- May 20
¨ Provided the contractor with an option to provide an alternate timeline if it resulted in a lower bid
Dana Young stated that he had received a complaint regarding a tree at 19105 Lake Avenue that was obstructing sight lines for vehicles turning north on Deephaven Avenue. The Committee concluded that the tree was not a public works or public safety problem at this time.
Dana Young stated that he had received a complaint that the Public Works Department had not picked up the leaves that had fallen in Donkey Park and, as a result, the leaves had blown onto a neighboring property. Jerry Hudlow stated that the Public Works Department does not typically pick up leaves in the fall. He stated that his crew mulches the leaves, which helps to fertilize the grass.
Clm. Skrede stated that the Council had received a complaint last Monday evening from Dick Kreutter about the number of times the Public Works crew had driven down Rutledge Road to plow. Jerry Hudlow stated that the crew may have driven down Rutledge Road multiple times for a number of reasons, such as to sand or to use the public restroom at Thorpe Park. He stated that the crew is not going to drive down a street repeated to plow or to sand without a specific reason to do so.
Jerry Hudlow stated that the City needs to be aware that the pit, which is used to accommodate the street sweepings each year, is nearly full. The City will have to consider alternate locations or options for the disposal of street sweepings within the next few years.
Jerry Hudlow presented the current vacation schedule for both union employees and department heads. The vacation schedule showed that union employees receive 20 vacation days after 20 years of service and department heads receive 25 days after 20 years of service. He stated that he would like the City Council to consider a vacation schedule that would take into account supervisory positions such as his position and the Police Lieutenant’s position. He stated that he felt supervisory positions should receive vacation time between what union employees receive and department heads receive after 20 years of service. Clm. Skrede stated that he would bring the matter before the City Council at the January 19th worksession.
The Committee discussed the following list of potential storm water projects:
¨ Laughlin retention pond
¨ Rutledge/Park Avenue Storm Sewer Corridor
¨ Montgomerie/Hamilton Drainage Correction
¨ Deephaven Beach
¨ Amesbury retention pond
Further discussion was held on prioritizing each project and meeting with the Minnehaha Watershed District to discuss the possibility of receiving grant funding.
The meeting adjourned at 3:50 p.m.