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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 Page - 2 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, Page - 3 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 Page - 4