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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/09/1990CITY OF APPLE VALLEY URBAN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE MINUTES January 9, 1990 1. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order by Chairman John McKay at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber of the City of Apple Valley. Members Present Members Absent: Staff Present: Others Present: 2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Chairman John McKay, Members Jeff Weldon, Pamela Sohlberg, Jeannine Churchill, and Councilmember Barbara Savanick. Sharon Schwartz, Shirley Doering, and JoAnne Ellison. John Gretz, Keith Gordon, Lon Aune, Meg McMonigal, Linda Brinkhaus, and Scott Hickok. See sign-in sheet. MOTION: A motion was made by Member Sohlberg, seconded by Member Churchill, to approve the agenda. as written. The motion carried unanimously. 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF DECEMBER 5, 1989 MOTION: A motion was made by Member Churchill, seconded by Member Sohlberg, to approve the minutes as written. Chairman John McKay briefly discussed the need for a spring pickup and asked staff to work on a date and work out the specifics to allow for a spring pickup of lawn debris, etc. McKay continued by saying that we should take a look at the hauler's fees being charged to the residents. His past bill was two-dollars higher than the bill before and it seems as though the bill rates are changed regularly. Scott Hickok introduced Linda Brinkhaus, Planning Intern, who will be the staff person responsible for the recycling program. Hickok continued by introducing Planner Meg McMonigal, Engineer Keith Gordon, Public Works Director John Gretz, and Project Engineer Lon Aune. 4. REPORT FINDINGS OF COMMERCIAL VEHICLE BACKING GUIDELINES FOR COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION OF 12-5-89 Urban Affairs Committee Minutes January 9, 1990 Page 2 Scott Hickok stated that the Urban Affairs Committee requested that staff research three questions that came up in our discussion at the last Committee Meeting. These questions were: 1) Does the State of Minnesota require anything special for commercial vehicle backing? 2) What does our ordinance say specifically about the backing of commercial vehicles? 3) What is required in other municipalities? Scott Hickok continued by saying the State of Minnesota follows the Commercial Motor Vehicle Act of 1986, which requires all commercial motor vehicle operators to be licensed in the State of Minnesota and licensed to operate commercial vehicles. This licensing procedure involves the successful completion of both a knowledge and skills test. Hickok referred to the 1990 Commercial Driver's Manual, text used in preparing for skills and knowledge portions of the test. Within this text is a section that discusses safe backing. This guide states that a driver should 1) avoid backing when possible, 2) use a helper and hand signals, 3) back turn to the driver's side when possible, 4) use the mirrors, 5) back slowly, 6) correct drift of the trailer by turning the top of the steering wheel the direction of the drift, and 7) pull forward to reposition a vehicle as needed. This is the only information in the driver's manual that specifically addresses the backing of a large vehicle. Hickok commented on his discussions with the Occupational Safety and Labor Administration. According to OSHA, the standards for commercial vehicles include the requirement of a second person on a commercial vehicle to administer hand signals, or lieu of a second person, an audible device such as a beeper when that vehicle is in reverse to alert people of the backing of this vehicle. OSHA does issue citations for failure to comply with these requirements. To answer the question regarding current City ordinance guidelines, Hickok stated that the Code Section 11.6, Paragraph 2, states that the licensee shall comply with all State, County and local laws and regulations. Once again, no specific backing instructions are outlined in the text. The answer to the third and final question deals with the text or requirements in the text of surrounding communities. Upon researching ordinances of neighboring communities, staff discovered that the adjacent cities have requirements about the parking of commercial vehicles, but no specifics on the backing of those vehicles in residential or other districts. Urban Affair Committee Minutes January 9, 1990 Page 3 Chairman John McKay requested that Captain Erickson attend the next meeting to discuss improved enforcement of vehicle operation in residential areas. McKay also suggested that a warning be sent to haulers. This warning would state that the upcoming license requirements will include the prohibition of backing onto residential driveways. McKay also asked what citizens can do? Who do they report these vehicle activities to? Scott Hickok stated that the City Staff will contact haulers and that the residents should call the City Staff so we can keep a record of what haulers are not complying with our requests. A general discussion ensued. Lesley Swirhun, a resident from 12506 Dorchester Court in Apple Valley, asked about the possibility of temporary cul-de-sacs on dead end streets. Scott Hickok. explained the fact that the developments that have been approved cannot have new conditions or specifications put on their development agreements. This is not a situation that can be handled retroactive. Any cul-de-sacs on dead end streets would be required to be part of the development plan and agreement between the City and the developer in the planning stages. Chairman McKay summed up the issue by stating that staff would do further investigation in the State Statutes and ask Captain Erickson to attend our January 30th meeting. DISCUSSION OF WATER QUALITY AND FUTURE POLICIES Associate Planner Meg McMonigal opened discussion by giving a presentation on the lakes and the eutrophic situation of Minnesota lakes. This presentation illustrated the aging affects on the bodies of water in Apple Valley and causes of aging. John Gretz discussed the Skelton lawsuit on Lac Lavon. Skelton was the gravel operator who is responsible for mining Lac Lavon originally. Gretz also explained the history of Lac Lavon and items such as Eurasian Milfoil and the recent controversy of the Hyland Point Shores Development. Gretz also explained the technical information regarding the sump manholes and the basics of how these manholes operate to help filter water surrounding the lake. John Gretz then introduced Keith Gordon and stated that Keith would answer any engineering questions that the Committee or residents may have. Pam Sohlberg asked what the causes of pollution are surrounding the area lakes. Urban Affairs Committee Minutes January 9, 1990 Page 4 John Gretz explained that at a recent conference, attended by both he and Associate Planner Meg McMonigal, the comment was made that animals are the largest contributor to pollutants in the area lakes. Jeannine Churchill asked what are other causes? Associate Planner Meg McMonigal explained that phosphorous is an element that can be found in fertilizers and can wash into the lakes from the streets. It is a natural element in the soil that surrounds the lakes and erosion can contribute to the phosphorous contents of a body of water. Engiroeer Lon Aune then explained the secchi disc method of measuring water clarity. This secchi disc is a device that is lowered into the water and measurements are taken from the amount of light that passes through the water onto the secchi disc. A measurement of clarity is then recorded.. Lon Aune also explained the grants the City has applied for to study water quality in the area lakes. Two applications have been. completed and submitted. One grant was approved for Alimagnet - a second grant for Lac Lavon was recently denied. John Gretz added that on a point scale, the City missed receiving the Lac Lavon grant by less than one point. Lon Aune continued by stating that if the City wants clear lakes, we will absolutely have to pay for that clarity and it is not cheap. Jeff Weldon asked about the testing process. Lon Aune explained the testing process and the complexities involved. John Gretz stated that it is critical that you find out what is out there in terms of water quality and what the expectations are of the community for these lakes. Pam Sohlberg asked, can't we require that the older homeowners hook up to sanitary sewer? John Gretz explained that the system that these homeowners had originally included a plumbing system that was stubbed out to the back of the home. The sanitary sewer runs through or under the easement in the front of the home. Therefore, it would be an expensive adaptation to make the connection to sanitary sewer. Associate Planner Meg McMonigal explained who some of the stake- holders in the lake are. She explained that scuba divers use the lake for diving.. Homeowners enjoy the lake as an amenity. This lake is stocked with many game fish by the DNR Fisheries. Meg continued by stating that land around the lake has steep banks with highly erodible slopes. She added that the soil has been tested and found little or no phosphorous Urban Affairs Committee Minutes Janury 9, 1990 Page 5 in the fertilizer. The soil is rich with phosphorous and adding it would only mean excess levels of phosphorous in the soil which could wash into the lakes. Continuing, Meg stated that we could take steps to reduce the amount of phosphorous entering the lakes by 1) talking to the residents about the University of Minnesota soil testing or other soil testing groups to determine whether or not phosphorous is needed before fertilization, 2) talk to residents about applying non-phosphorous fertilizer on their lawns, and 3) talk to chemical people about appli- cations and whether or not they offer non-phosphorous fertilization. Meg stated that street sweeping may help decrease the amount of solids that wash into the lake from roads. Animal owners could be encouraged to clean up animal droppings. Staff could hold meetings with the lake shore residents. to help explain steps that could be taken to mitigate the polluting of the water in the lakes. Meg concluded by saying that education and these steps towards improving the levels of contaminants are what we could expect to do as a City government. At this point, preventative measures can be taken to slow the aging process. Jeff Weldon asked, are homeowners concerned enough to take corrective actions? Meg McMonigal explained that the piece of development the Lac Lavon or Nyland Point Shores Development was controversial because people felt that this development would pollute Lac Lavon. It is for that reason that Meg feels the residents are concerned and would participate in this process. John McKay asked if we could contact Chem-Lawn and some of the other fertilizer companies and ask them to spray non-phosphorous mixes. Jeannine Churchill asked if we could publish a list of the suppliers that will spray non-phosphorous mixes on resident's lawns. Jeff Weldon added that this list could be added or expanded to include garden stares that will supply non-phosphorous mixes as well. Jeannine Churchill commented that she feels it is important that we make people realize what they can do. Pam Sohlberg asked about Eurasian Water Milfoil. Meg handed out a document that discussed Eurasian Water Milfoil. 6. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 8:10. kg