PUBLIC WORKS & SAFETY COMMITTEE
August 3, 2005
Minutes
The
meeting was called to order at 1:35 p.m.
Clm. Paul Skrede, Public Works Supervisor Jerry Hudlow, Administrator Dana Young and Jon Monson
Safety
Committee members Teresa Pendleton, Police Chief Virgil Gustafson and Owen
Fuglseth were also in attendance.
None
Jerry
Hudlow reported that a police car had almost hit him when he was backing up in
the maintenance garage parking lot. He stated
that the officer was driving well in excess of the 10 mph speed limit that is
posted in the parking lot and that the officer had to slam on his brakes in
order to avoid hitting his pickup truck.
The
Committee reviewed the results of a simulated OSHA inspection that was
conducted by SafeAssure on June 30, 2005.
Dana Young stated that he and Jerry Hudlow would meet later this year to
implement those recommended corrections that didn’t have a cost impact.
The Committee reviewed a letter from Norm Rickeman & Kathy Murphy, 3200 Robinson’s Bay Road, requesting the installation of no parking signs at Northome Blvd and Robinson’s Bay Road due to the frequency of vehicles parking along Northome Blvd that made it difficult to see westbound traffic when exiting from Robinson’s Bay Road. The Committee recommended that parking be prohibited on Northome Blvd within a 50’ section east of Robinson’s Bay Road on a motion by Dana Young, seconded by Jerry Hudlow. Motion declared carried.
The
Committee reviewed a request from Nancy McRae, 19680 Vine Street, for the
installation of speed bumps or a Children at Play sign on Vine Street for the
purpose of slowing down the speed of vehicles.
Teresa Pendleton stated that she had received previous complaints
regarding the speed of vehicles on Vine Street, especially when driving down
the hill at the top of Vine Street.
Jerry
Hudlow stated that he wouldn’t be favorable to the installation of speed bumps
on Vine Street. Virgil Gustafson stated
that while he didn’t have a problem with the installation of a Children at Play
sign, he noted that it may not be effective in slowing down traffic.
The
Committee recommended the installation of a Children at Play sign on Vine
Street at a location to be determined by the Police Chief after consultations
with the neighbors on a motion by Dana Young, seconded by Teresa Pendleton. Owen Fuglseth opposed. Motion declared carried.
The Committee reviewed a request from Paula Evanich, 4235 Heathcote Road, for the striping of a centerline on Heathcote Road from Circle Drive to the bottom of the hill and around the last curve on Heathcote Road. She stated that this area was dangerous and a centerline would help to control and slow down traffic in this area. Jerry Hudlow objected to the request due to his concern that the City would now be obligated to stripe side streets along with the main thoroughfares. The Committee recommended sending a letter to those immediate neighbors abutting the proposed striping to get their opinion on whether striping this portion of Heathcote Road would be effective in controlling the speed of vehicles.
Teresa Pendleton stated that she has been contacted by a new resident on Tramore Street on whether the City would be interested in plowing this private street. The Committee noted that Tramore would be a very difficult street to plow due to its steep grade and recommended that Teresa inform the residents of this street to find a private contractor.
Paul
Skrede requested that staff provide a written explanation as to why the City
requires certain vendors to be licensed within the City. He stated that he would include this
information on the City’s web page.
Public
Works Committee member Jon Monson enters at 2:00 p.m.
Virgil Gustafson stated that as a result of some equipment damage caused by last week’s storm, he had learned that neither of the City’s two antennas was grounded. Jon Monson stated that both antennas should be grounded and the cost to have them properly grounded should be pretty minimal. The Committee recommended that the City contract with an electrician to have both antennas grounded on a motion by Paul Skrede, seconded by Dana Young. Motion declared carried.
Virgil
Gustafson added that a possible lighting strike during that same storm had
caused some damaged to various equipment at City Hall, including a copier and
breathalyzer in the Police Office. He
stated that he had contacted Chuck Wishy with Frontier Electric who recommended
the installation of surge protectors on each of the City’s five service
panels. The cost of the surge protectors
was $300 each. Paul Skrede stated that
he would talk to Mr. Wishy about whether the surge protectors would be worth
the cost.
Motion
to adjourn the Public Safety Committee meeting by Paul Skrede, seconded by Dana
Young. Motion declared carried. The Public Safety Committee adjourned at 2:10
p.m.
Dana
Young and Owen Fuglseth provided a brief review of the bids received from
Quality Flow, General Repair and Electric Pump on the installation of control
panels for each of the City’s nine lift stations. Dana Young stated that he and Owen had met
with Electric Pump earlier today to review the cost and the type of control
panels that they proposed to sell to the City.
He stated that both Electric Pump and Quality Flow appear to have very
similar equipment and that he will present a cost comparison between the two
companies at next month’s meeting. He
added that the Committee members would also be invited later this month to
attend an inspection of the control panels that have been installed by Electric
Pump in the City of Prior Lake.
Aerial Topographic Proposal
from Schoell & Madson, Inc.
The
Committee reviewed a proposal from Schoell & Madson that would provide the
City with aerial topography with 2-foot contours for the entire City of
Deephaven for an increase of $3,250 in their original stormwater/drainage study
proposal, thereby increasing their original proposal from $19,000 to
$22,250. Dana Young explained that the
purchase of the aerial topography would actually cost $6,250 but Schoell &
Madson would be able to decrease their original estimate for topographic survey
costs by $3,000 due to the availability of this aerial topography.
Jon
Monson stated that this aerial topography would be an enormous benefit to the
City in reviewing future stormwater issues and felt that the additional cost
could eventually be offset by charging developers for the use of the
topographic survey information. Paul
Skrede agreed that the topographic survey would provide valuable
information. The Committee recommended
that the City Council approve the $3,250 increase in Schoell & Madson’s
stormwater/drainage study proposal to include the purchase of the aerial
topography on a motion by Paul Skrede, seconded by Jon Monson. Motion declared carried.
The
Committee reviewed the revised bids from Plehal Blacktopping and Barber
construction on the Thorpe Park Basketball Court Project that will be reviewed
later this evening by the Park Committee.
The bids are as follows:
Item Plehal Barber
1.
Salvage & reinstall (2) basketball standards, install
new basketball court, remove old basketball
court,
remove remaining tennis court, add hydro
seed $33,520 $29,541
2.
Same as above except add sod $35,605 $34,391
Jon
Monson stated that he felt seeding would be more cost effective and would also
result in a better-finished product than sod.
Paul
Skrede asked about the salvaging of the old tennis fence. Dana Young stated that John Menzel, a member
of the City’s public works crew, had been given permission to salvage the
tennis fence on his own time and would be able to keep whatever proceeds from
the salvage of the fence. Dana Young
stated that he was delighted to have John Menzel offer to salvage the fence on
his own time because it would not only save the City the cost of having the
City crew spend their time and effort salvaging the fence but that Plehal Blacktopping had also submitted a
quote in the amount of $2,940 to remove the fence. Paul Skrede commented that he didn’t object
to John Menzel removing the fence for salvage as long it was noted that he was
given approval to do so due to cost considerations.
Jim
Crooks, 18693 Heathcote Drive – Dana Young stated that Jim Crooks requested
that the City assist him with the removal of trees and shrubs that he had
cleared from a trail easement following the June 8th storm. The Committee generally felt that it was
simply too late to request assistance from the City with the hauling away of
this material and that it might encourage other residents to expect further
assistance from the City with the removal of trees and brush.
Jon Monson inquired about the progress in removing trees with Dutch Elm disease. Jerry Hudlow stated that they were still in the process of marking diseased trees and informing property owners that they had 20 days to properly dispose of the diseased trees.
Paul
Skrede informed the Committee of Nextel’s interest in constructing a cellular
tower in Deephaven, the implications of the 1996 Telecommunications Act and the
possible advantages of locating a cellular tower on publicly owned property.
Motion to adjourn by Jon Monson, seconded by Jerry Hudlow. Motion declared carried. The meeting adjourned at 3:48 p.m. The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Public Works & Safety Committee will be held on September 7, 2005.