Call Meeting to Order

The meeting was called to order at 1:30 p.m.

Members Present

Clm. Paul Skrede, Jon Monson, Public Works Supervisor Jerry Hudlow, Owen Fuglseth, Police Chief Virgil Gustafson, Teresa Pendleton, Administrator Dana Young

Members Absent

None

Simulated OSHA Inspection

The Safety Committee reviewed a simulated OSHA inspection report that had been provided by SafeAssure on August 29, 2006. Jerry Hudlow stated that he has been working on most of the items on the list and was about 50% completed with bringing these items into compliance with OSHA standards.

Paul Skrede asked Jerry to report back to the Safety Committee next month with an update on the list of deficiencies noted in the report and on the cost of those items that might need to be purchased in order to bring the City into compliance with OSHA standards. Jerry Hudlow also noted that if they were able to remove the supply of stored chemicals, which none of the crew are licensed to use anyway, they might not have to install a second eye wash in the maintenance garage.

Request for Crosswalk at Highland & Minnetonka Blvd

Dana Young stated that he had received a request several months ago from Steve Sopczak, 17995 Highland Avenue, for the installation of a crosswalk at Highland & Minnetonka Blvd. Dana Young stated that Mr. Sopczak was concerned about the number of kids on Highland Avenue biking across Minnetonka Blvd and felt that a pedestrian crossing at this location would be more practical than the current crosswalk one block further north.

Discussion was held on the proximity of the nearest crosswalk one block further north at the St. Therese entrance and on the number of potential crosswalks that could be installed at the every intersection along Minnetonka Blvd.

Motion by Dana Young to recommend denial of the request to install a pedestrian crosswalk at Highland Avenue and Minnetonka Blvd due to the proximity of an existing crosswalk one block north and the concern that installing a crosswalk at this location could generate similar requests to install crosswalks at other intersections along Minnetonka Blvd. Seconded by Paul Skrede. Motion carried 6-0.

Request for One-Way Streets

The Committee reviewed a request from Doug McDougal, 19705 Lakeview Avenue, on making Cottagewood Avenue to the north and Lakeview Avenue to the south one-way streets, with the east – west connecting streets as alternating one-way streets.

Jerry Hudlow commented that snowplowing would be more difficult with one-way streets and there isn’t enough traffic congestion in this area to warrant a conversion to one-way streets. Virgil Gustafson added that there have been very few reported accidents in this area. Other considerations offered were the postal delivery service routes in the neighborhood and the routes used by Waste Management.

Paul Skrede stated that one-way streets might actually encourage more speeding and additional traffic volume on these streets. Virgil Gustafson agreed that this would likely be the case if the streets were turned into one-way streets.

Motion by Paul Skrede to recommend denial of the request to convert Cottagewood Avenue, Lakeview Avenue and the east-west connecting streets into one-way streets due to the concerns stated by the Committee. Seconded by Jerry Hudlow. Motion carried 6-0.

Paul Skrede noted that Mr. McDougal also recommended that the ice rinks be used as an archery range. He stated that although the Park Committee was likely to address this issue, he felt it would be appropriate for the Public Safety Committee to provide their recommendations on the request as well.

Motion by Paul Skrede to recommend denial of the request for an archery range at either Village Hall hockey rink or Thorpe Park hockey rink to due public safety concerns. Seconded by Dana Young. Motion carried 6-0. Mr. Skrede then suggested that Mr. McDougal contact Community Education to see if they could provide an archery club within their programs, possibly using some of the land across from their building as a sight.

Other

Paul Skrede informed the Committee that there would be a Boy Scout camp out at St. Therese on November 10^th.

The Safety Committee meeting adjourned on a motion by Dana Young, seconded by Paul Skrede. Motion carried 6-0. The meeting adjourned at 2:07 p.m.

Amesbury Pond Improvement

The Committee reviewed the following proposal from Northwestern Power Equipment Co. on equipment that was intended to control the flow of water into and out of the Amesbury Pond for the purpose of eliminating the pooling of water in the cul-de-sac at the end of Old Kent Road.

Equipment Price

Option 1: Red Valve Model 37G – 15” $3,074.00

Fontaine 15 x 15 mounted to manhole $3,420.00

Total Cost Option No. 1 $6,494.00

Option 2: Sheargate $2,575.00

Discussion was held on the design of the equipment proposed in Option 1 and how it would work to control the flow of water into and out of Amesbury Pond.

Motion by Paul Skrede to recommend the purchase and installation of the equipment outlined in Option #1 in the amount of $6,494.00. Seconded by Dana Young. Motion carried 4-0.

The Committee asked Dana Young to check ~~whether~~ verify the quote included installation and warranties..

2006 Sanitary Sewer Improvements

Owen Fuglseth provided a brief update on the progress of the 2006 Sanitary Sewer Project.

2006-2007 Storm Sewer Improvements

The Committee reviewed the list of potential storm water improvement projects for 2007. The following projects were selected for 2007 subject to a review of the upcoming televised reports:

· 19675 Vine Street

· 19960 Bay Street

· Rutledge Avenue Storm Sewer

· Shuck Park Storm Grate

Paul Skrede suggested that it might be a good time to present a progress report to the City Council on storm water issues. Dana Young stated that he would put together a report for the December Council meeting. Paul Skrede noted that it would give the Council a better idea on the progress of the projects that were described in the report issued by Schoell & Madson and to reevaluate the storm water fee charged to the public.

Other

Paul Skrede provided an update on a request to post RFP’s on the City website and on the Walden Entranceway Renovation Project. He asked Jerry Hudlow if he thought the five neighboring cities were doing a good job maximizing services. Jerry Hudlow stated that the cities have always been very accommodating in sharing public works equipment.

Jerry Hudlow gave a brief update on their proposed use of treated salt to clean streets during the winter months.

Adjournment

Motion to adjourn by Dana Young, seconded by Jerry Hudlow. Motion carried 5-0. The meeting adjourned at 3:17 p.m. The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Public Works & Safety Committee meeting will be held on Wednesday, December 6, 2006.