PUBLIC WORKS & SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING
Wednesday,
October 3, 2007
Minutes
The
meeting was called to order at 1:30 p.m.
Mayor Paul Skrede, John Menzel, Public Works Supervisor Jerry Hudlow, Teresa Pendleton, Police Chief Cory Johnson, City Administrator Dana Young
Jon
Monson
Brian McGinley, Principal of Deephaven Elementary School, was present to discuss traffic congestion problems at Deephaven Elementary School. He explained that there is significant traffic backup on Vine Hill Road in the mornings from 7:35 a.m. to 8:05 a.m. and in the afternoons from 2:15 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. when parents are dropping off and picking up their children.
He stated that he is here today to discuss a couple of possible solutions including installing a right hand turn land on southbound Vine Hill Road and a No Left Turn sign on northbound Vine Hill Road. He stated that this would help to keep traffic moving northbound by prohibiting their ability to turn into the Elementary School.
Both Paul Skrede and Chief Johnson voiced concern about a No Left Turn sign on Vine Hill Road since northbound traffic would have no way to access the Elementary School heading north except to turn around and head back south.
Paul Skrede recommended stronger traffic control within the school parking areas and that the entrance and exits to the school be reversed to enhance the flow of vehicles and buses into and on Vine Hill Road.
Brian McGinley thanked the Committee for their suggestions and stated that he would bring it back to his staff for further consideration.
Pat Paul, 19100 Highland Avenue, was present to complain about a couple of issues. The first was the need to install signs at the beginning of the pathway at the Main Beach informing people that dogs are not allowed in the beach area and must be leashed while walking on the pathway.
The second issue concerns cats at large within the community. She stated that she loves birds and has several bird feeders around her house. She stated that she is continually chasing cats out of her yard who are after the birds and is growing tired of it. She stated that she approached the Council some time ago with the idea of controlling cats and presented a copy of Edina’s cat control ordinance for their review.
Dana Young stated that it is likely that the Council has not acted on this matter simply because there have been very few complaints regarding cats running at large and a cat control ordinance is extremely difficult to enforce.
Paul Skrede asked Ms. Paul to list those neighbors with cats that are causing her problems and requested that the Police Department talk to her neighbors about making a better effort to keep their cats off of her property.
Tom Friede
Complaint on Speeding
Paul Skrede stated that he received an email from Tom Friede, 18955 Ridgewood Road, concerning the speed of vehicles on Ridgewood Road. Paul Skrede noted that Mr. Friede assumed the speed limit on Ridgewood Road was 20 mph when the actual speed limit was 30 mph. He stated that the 20-mph signs are cautionary signs only that are intended to slow traffic and are not the posted speed limit.
Further discussion was held on the use of reserve officers to monitor traffic on Ridgewood more closely. Chief Johnson stated that he might prefer to use regular officers for this duty and recommended that any action on this road be deferred until after the results of the traffic monitor are reviewed later this week.
The
Safety Committee adjourned on a motion by Dana Young, seconded by Teresa
Pendleton. Motion carried 6-0.
Honeysuckle / Fairhomes – City Engineer Dennis
Saari provided a brief review of the proposed project and stated that he has
estimated the cost to connect a new 24” storm water main to the existing pipe
at $39,448.50 and the cost to replace the existing pipe and catch basin at
$34,671.00. He stated that the total
cost to replace the existing storm water main from Honeysuckle to Fairhomes is
estimated at $74,119.50
Motion
by Dana Young to recommend that the Council authorize plans and specifications
and the advertisement for bids for this project. Seconded by John Menzel. Motion carried 4-0.
Rutledge / Northome / Azure – City Engineer Dennis
Saari presented preliminary plans relating to the upgrade in the Rutledge /
Northome / Azure storm sewer line. He
stated that the existing line currently accommodates a drainage area of
approximately 37 acres, is approximately 50-100 years old and in poor
condition. He stated that it would not
be cost effective to try to repair the existing line due to its age and varying
pipe material. He recommended a total
reconstruction of the line from its outlet into Lake Minnetonka to the end of
the line just past the intersection of Rutledge and Deephaven Avenue. He stated that the proposed sewer line would
be 30” pipe and constructed in the middle of the street, necessitating the
total reconstruction of the street.
He
stated that the project could be undertaken in two phases. The first phase would be from the outlet to
the midpoint on Northome Avenue, which is estimated at $158,496.98. The second phase would pick up from this
point and extend to the end of the existing line. The cost of the second phase is estimated at
$173,675.78.
The
Committee recommended that the project be reviewed with the Council and a
public meeting be held to discuss the proposed project with all affected
property owners.
The Committee reviewed a proposed Storm Water Management Ordinance prepared by Zoning Coordinator Gus Karpas.
Motion by Dana Young to recommend that the Ordinance be forwarded to the City Council. Seconded by Paul Skrede. Motion carried 4-0.
Sara
Frank (3380 Maplewood Road) and Jan Wagoner (18221 Shavers Lake Drive) were
present to discuss the possible construction of a pedestrian / bike path to
Robinson’s Bay Road and to Co. Rd. 101.
City
Engineer Dennis Saari recommended that there be a 3-4’ separation between the
driving surface of the street and the trail and that the path should be a
minimum width of 5’. Paul Skrede stated
that he thought the separation could be narrowed somewhat if the City would
construct barricades between the path and the street like they do on portions
of the path in Greenwood. Dennis Saari
agreed that the separation could be quite a bit less if there were physical
barriers between the street and the pathway.
General
discussion was held on the potential location and composition of the path. The Committee recommended that the City
Engineer mark the right-of-way along the north side of Northome Blvd in 100’
intervals to determine how much right-of-way the City has along Northome.
Dana Young stated that the City of Minnetonka is switching to radio read water meters beginning in 2008. The cost of the water meter will vary from $165.43 for a ¾ inch meter to $232.22 for a one-inch meter. Minnetonka has also contracted with SL-Serco to do the installation of the meters for $43.00 per meter, which includes all communications, letters, appointments, installation and a sump pump inspection.
Discussion was held on whether to contract Deephaven should contract with SL-Serco for this same service. The Committee recommended contracting with SL-Serco for both the installation of the meters and to conduct a sump pump inspection.
Motion to adjourn by Dana Young, seconded by Jerry Hudlow. Motion carried 4-0. The meeting adjourned at 3:50 p.m. The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Public Works & Safety Committee meeting will be held on Wednesday, November 7, 2007.