HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BPW-1992-01-08BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
January 8, 1992
NOTES
Present: Commissioners Brandford, Cox, Gerard, Reeves, Rusoff,
Tripp, Mayor Nichols; Supt. Gray, Asst. City Atty. Kennedy, Asst.
Supt. Dennis Shimer, Asst. Supt. Ferrel.
Commissioner Reeves chaired the meeting.
The following were additions to the Agenda:
1. Committee assignments.
2. Liaison assignments.
3. Audit signups.
The following were deferred to a future Agenda:
1. Department of Public Works Vacancies Discussion
2. Street Closings for Festival /City Park Usage /Procedures:
Review and finalize proposed procedures for adoption
3. Neighborhood Traffic and Parking Concerns
4. Increased Penalties for Public Works Regulations Violations
5. Elmira Road sidewalks
6. Review Engineering staff hours for 1992
7. DeWitt Park - discussion of possible policy on usage
8. 1992 revenues - B & A charge to BPW
9. Marshall Street - staff report
10. Postering program
1. Traffic concerns around Central School, GIAC, and the
Immaculate Conception School.
Denise McGuire was present for the discussion, as was Police
Chief Harlin McEwen. Chief McEwen has spoken to Ed Wriaht. the
principal at Central School, and hopes to meet with him to get
more information about the school's plans and concerns. Chief
McEwen has met with GIAC staff; they are in favor of adding
parking on the north side of W. Court St. in their block, and do
not believe that parking on the same side as the new pool will be
a problem. Chief McEwen recommends the Traffic Engineer look
into how many spaces can be provided on that block while
retaining the mid -block crosswalk. GIAC is also worried about
the stop signs at Albany and Court not being obeyed. Chief
McEwen says he will direct the traffic officers to pay attention
to that corner and start issuing tickets. He has discussed the
suggested change in parking on N. Albany St.; he notes that buses
discharge children going to GIAC on the west side of the street,
BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
January 8, 1992
and moving the parking to that side would force them to cross the
street. He has asked the GIAC staff to consider that issue.
Chief McEwen recommends getting speed data, straightening out the
parking, and giving increased enforcement a chance before making
decisions about installing caution lights. He suggests both GIAC
and Central School need to better educate the children about
crossing in the crosswalks and at the corners.
Comm. Reeves reported that Traffic Engineer Gombas
recommends placement of flashing yellow lights at the four places
on W. Buffalo and W. Court St. where there are currently SCHOOL:
SPEED LIMIT 15 signs, if flashing lights are to be installed
around that block. Supt. Gray said the cost would be
approximately $5000 a piece for four lights.
Comm. Tripp inquired whether the signs which are missing
around that block have been replaced. Supt. Gray answered that
the signs which the City does not keep in stock have been
ordered; they will be installed in about a month.
2. Hillview sewer line.
Fred Vanderberg was present for the discussion. Asst. Supt.
Shimer reported he had the sewer line videotaped. There is
substantial joint failure throughout the line. He has sent the
videotape to a company specializing in slip lining for a price
quote. He estimates it would cost about $11,400 to line the
current sewer from the upper manhole to beyond the porch and to
replace the line below the porch. He estimates it would cost
about $8000 to abandon the old sewer line and put in a new one.
He is not recommending either alternative until he gets a firm
estimate for the slip lining. Supt. Gray questioned whether the
estimate of $8000 for replacing the line is high enough, noting
that there is a rock layer close to the surface. Asst. Supt.
Shimer said the estimate is for putting in a line which is
adequate to the task, but which does not meet current design
standards for City sewers - the line would be a lateral rather
than a sewer.
Asst. City Atty. Kennedy pointed out that it would be
necessary to determine the location of the water lines to work
out the easement. She reported she had written to Robert
Holdsworth, asking for documentation on whether Mr. Vanderberg
owns all of Hillview Place, or only the section adjacent to his
property. Her understanding of the Board's decision after the
Dec. 4 meeting was that she was to make an agreement with Mr.
Vanderberg if the cost of the repair was reasonable and if he was
in a position to give the City the required easement. She said
if the repairs were too costly, the City might simply take steps
to condemn; she believed the "quick fix" solution to the problem
was intended to save the cost and expense of a legal solution to
the various problems. Comm. Cox said he would not agree to a
"quick fix" unless the City got the rights to the water line.
Mr. Vanderberg said he does not know if he owns all the
street; he does not want to have to contract with his neighbors
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BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
January 8, 1992
to provide them with sewer service. He is willing to give an
easement to the City and wants to go on working with Asst. Supt.
Shimer and Supt. Gray to find a solution.
Comm. Brandford asked whether the "ultimate" sewer line
would go in the proposed easement or not. Asst. Supt. Shimer
answered that if the line belongs to the City it would go in the
easement, if it doesn't it would not. The discussion will be
continued when further information is available.
3. Sidewalk charge grievance: 405 Mitchell Street.
Comm. Reeves introduced the grievance: Mr. Langdon, who is
working on the Farnsworth estate, believes that since the
sidewalk replacement included the removal of a water service curb
box, he should not have to pay for the work. Comm. Cox said
that, on the basis of the letter, he did not feel it was the
City's responsibility. Supt. Gray said whenever the City
replaces a curb box, the home owner is charged for it; it is part
of their water service. He said we would have to look up whether
there were any condemnation notices for the sidewalk; regular
condemnation was not being done at that time. Comm. Tripp asked
whether the curb box was improperly installed. Supt. Gray said
it was unlikely, but part of the box could be screwed up and down
and it was possible this one had been screwed up proud of the
sidewalk. Comm. Rusoff asked whether Mr. Langdon was asking to
be reimbursed for the charge; there was general agreement that
was his request. The commissioners will vote on this request at
the next regular meeting.
4. Sewer charge grievance: 316 N. Titus Avenue.
Mr. and Mrs. John Patterson were present for the discussion.
Dennis Shimer reported he had met with the Pattersons, and that
since that meeting he had become aware of a history of sewer
problems at their address. The Pattersons explained they
believed they should not be responsible for a bill for replacing
the water and sewer lines on their property. They felt the sewer
line only required repair because City work on Six Mile Creek had
damaged the line by shaking or rattling it when large loads were
dumped. They report that their toilet, sink, etc. still do not
drain correctly, in spite of the repairs that have been done.
The Commissioners decided to have a City plumbing inspector look
over the Pattersons' property to try to get more information
about the problem.
5. Liaison assignments, etc.
Mayor Nichols appointed Liaisons and Committee members from
the BPW, and the Commissioners signed up to do the audits. See
attached sheet.
Mayor Nichols suggested that the Board set aside one meeting
to discuss priorities for the year. Comm. Reeves said she and
Supt. Gray had discussed the Board's current role as a re- active,
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BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
January 8, 1992
rather than a pro- active body. They would like to talk about
what issues the Board should be handling and to try to set
general policy. The Commissioners decided to devote an hour of
the next regular meeting to this policy discussion. Comm. Reeves
noted it would also be necessary to set a special meeting to
discuss 1992 revenues.
6. Giles and Columbia St.
Supt. Gray gave the results of Traffic Engineer Gombas'
study of this intersection: traffic through the intersection is
up about 10 percent from a count taken 31 years ago; the
vehicular traffic does not justify a four -way stop according to
the warrants; there are missing "no parking" signs; there are
visibility problems with foliage along Giles Street in the block
above the intersection and with a hedge at the intersection; the
accident history shows 2 reported accidents in 12 years. His
recommendations: trim the foliage, move or remove the hedges,
replace the missing signs, ask the police for greater
enforcement. Commissioners Rusoff and Gerard reported that
people who live on the street feel there is a great deal of
commuter traffic through the street; that the traffic moves too
quickly; that the volume and speed of the traffic present a
danger to pedestrians who cross at the intersection to use the
adjacent footbridge.
Supt. Gray said traffic engineering studies suggest that
stop signs are of limited effectiveness when used as speed
control devices. He pointed out that the City might endanger
pedestrians by putting in a stop sign at a corner where many
vehicles would not actually stop, but where the presence of the
sign suggests to pedestrians that it is safe to cross. Comm. Cox
asked that a resolution be put on the agenda for the next regular
meeting either for or against the stop sign at this corner.
Comm. Tripp asked for speedy action on the sign replacement and
foliage /hedge problems.
Comm. Rusoff asked what the City could do to deal with
instances where residents believe there are traffic problems on
their streets. Supt. Gray said the localized complaints are
symptoms of an overall City problem with getting cars from one
side of the city to the other; he suggested the Board discuss the
traffic problem on a City -wide basis. Comm. Rusoff suggested a
study committee. Mayor Nichols said such a committee could
include people who were not members of the Board. Supt. Gray
said if representatives of the various neighborhood groups were
part of such a discussion they would have a better idea of the
concerns that affect decisions about traffic control.
Meeting adjourned at 6:17 pm.
Notes by
Marianne Hansen
Administrative Secretary
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