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HomeMy WebLinkAbout9A - Fire Safety Access to Public Streets MEETING DATE: AGENDA #: PREPARED BY: AGENDA ITEM: DISCUSSION: CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT NOVEMBER 16, 1998 9A FRANK BOYLES, CITY MANAGER CONSIDER APPROV AL OF REPORT ON FIRE SAFETY ACCESS TO CERTAIN PRIVATE AND PUBLIC STREETS Historv In October 1997 the City Council received a report regarding public and private streets which may be inadequate with respect to fire access requirements. The Council considered and approved the report (attached) at the October 6, 1997 meeting. At the November 2, 1998. meeting Mayor Mader asked for a status report on this subj ect. Current Circumstances The report approved by the Council categorized streets with fire access concerns into four groups: 1) public streets, 2) private streets, 3) private streets with homeowners associations and 4) narrow streets which are not presently a safety issue. Below is the status of each: 1. Public Streets - No parking signs and posts are on order for each of these streets. The staff will send out a letter to each property owner advising of the installation of no parking signs and the reason therefore. Weather permitting, the signs would be installed with seven days of receipt of the letter so residents have the chance to discuss their concerns before hand. 2. Private Streets - No Homeowners Association - A letter is also being sent to persons living on these streets advising of the City's intent to post one side of the street no parking and the rationale for such action. Installation is contemplated for next spring for two reasons. Since these are private streets we would like to afford the residents the opportunity to meet with staff over the winter to discuss our plans and alternatives which may be available. Second, weather conditions are not likely to hold long enough to make installation possible this year. 16200 Eagle Creek Ave. S.E., Prior Lake, Minnesota 55372-1714 / Ph. (612) 447-4230 / Fax (612) 447-4245 I:\TEMP\CITYCOUN\CCREPORT\1116_9A.DOC~~mfA~~PPORTUNITY EMPLOYER ALTERNATIVES: RECOMMENDED MOTION: 3. Private Streets - With Homeowners Association - Fire Chief Chromy has met with representatives of each association to express his public safety concern. Rather than install no parking .sjgns, the association members have asked that the City allow them to police the situation themselves. Periodic checks of these streets according to Chief Chromy have revealed that there have not been problems. Ongoing monitoring will be necessary. 4. Streets which are not presently a safety issue - We will continue to monitor these streets. Conclusion We had hoped to have concluded these issues by now but have not. We intend to move forward as outlined above with the expectation that all of the work will be completed no later than next summer, unless otherwise directed by the Council. 1. Provide the staff with any further direction as appropriate. 2. Accept the report as written. As the Council deems appropriate. I:\TEMP\CITYCOUN\CCREPORT\1116_9A.DOCKirsten Oden ~ .\ STAFF AGENDA REPORT DATE: 7C GREG ILKKA, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS/CITY ENGINEER CONSIDER APPROVAL OF REPORT ON INVESTIGATION OF PRIVATE AND PUBLIC STREETS THAT ARE INADEQUATE WITH RESPECT TO FIRE APPARATUS ACCESS REQUIREMENTS. OCTOBER 6, 1997 AGENDA #: PREPARED BY: SUBJECT: INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this agenda item is to consider approval of the report on the staff investigation of private and public streets located in the City which may present fire apparatus access issues. BACKGROUND: On April 21, 1997, as a result of discussions with the Maple Hill Homes Association and the fire apparatus access issues raised during review of their sewer and water project, the council directed the staff to investigate private and public streets that do not provide adequate access for the city's fire department equipment. DISCUSSION: The Fire Chief has had the opportunity to review each of the streets listed in Attachment A and to evaluate the fire access of each street. The primary access problem encountered is on street parking. His recommendation as to each street is included in Attachment A. Not all private streets are listed as they do not all present an access issue. An example would be Fox Tail Trail off of County Road 82, west of County Road 21 which has a good gravel surface and a wide roadway. As shown in Attachment A, in the case of public rights-of-way it will be a matter of posting 'No Parking' on one or both sides of the street. Staff would notify all affected properties prior to posting. The private streets have been listed in three categories. The first category lists those streets that the Fire Chief recommends he order 'No Parking' on one or both sides. The second category lists those streets where there is a known homeowners association that the Chief can meet with to discuss the issues and potential solutions. The third category lists the streets that currently present insignificant access problems that may get worse if further development occurs. There are currently few homes on each of these streets and little on street parking occurs. This situation would be monitored in the future. 16200cEa~e Creek Ave. S.E., Prior Lake. Minnesota 55372-1714 / Ph. (612) 447-4230 / Fax (612) 447-4245 AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER ISSUES: ALTERNATIVES: RECOMMENDATION: ACTION REQUIRED: ACCESS.DOC In the matter of private streets, the Chiefs recommendation depends whether or not a homeowners association exists. Where there is an association he intends to hold meetings with the associations to discuss the issue and explore potential solutions. With cooperation of the residents there may be alternatives to just posting 'No Parking By Order of Fire Chief signs. Where there is not an association, the City can post 'No Parking By Order of Fire Chief signs. However, unless the neighborhood is requesting something from the City, the City has no authority to pursue further action beyond this. The City would notify all affected property owners prior to any such posting, and would be receptive to the ideas of the residents of these areas as well. The Fire Chief reviewed these streets from the perspective of fire safety and has provided his recommendations as indicated on Attachment A. There are four alternatives for the City Council to consider: 1. Approve the report as presented. 2. Amend and approve the report. 3. Deny this item fora specific reason and provide staff with direction. 4. Table this item until some date in the future. Alternative No.1. 1. A motion and second to rove the report as presented. ( 1~ / ~ tLlil~ j) REVIEwC; I .. ;..J.' :;;iT" ."..") ~i'')tUJ~ III .t {ll~ PUBLIC STREETS Centennial St. Fairbanks Trail - Linden Cir. . Park Ave. Pine Rd. NE Quaker Tr. ATTACHMENT A (,. ',.-\ Fire Chief Rec~mm:~dafions No Parking one side No Parking one side No Parking one side No Parking one side, improve when remaining lots develop No Parking both sides . No Parking one side PRIV A iE STREETS Breezy Point Rd. .. Edinborough Ave. Embassy Cir. Fairview Rd. Mitoka Cir. Oakland Beach Ave. Sycamore T r. West Ave.(North end) No P::lr/'inn ona ~irlo rocommonrlorl . . _1:"''''::1 "'" VI""v.", I Illlv' uvu. No Parking one side recommended. No Parking one side recommended. No Parking one side recommended. No Parking one side recommended. No Parking one side recommended. No Parking one side recommended. No Parking one side recommended. Green Heights Tr. Inguadona Beach Cir. Meet with Association to discuss possible solutions. Meet with Association to discuss possible solutions. Arctic Cir. Creekview Cir. Drake Ave. Meadowlawn T r. Rams!' j Ave. Roosevelt St. Welcome Ave. Woodland Cir. Currently not a safety issue, may become so as area further develops. Currently not a safety issue, may become so as area further develops. Currently not a safety issue, may become so as area further develops. Currently not a safety issue, may become so as area further develops. Currently not a safety issue, may become so as area further develops. Curr~ntly not a safety issue, may become so as area further develops. Currently nota safety issue, may become so as area further develops. Currently not a safety issue, may become so .as area further develops. ACCESS.DOC . . . . * I0697.DOC . Conty said the City of Apple Valley has ~ two .xear license requirement. City ttorney Pace said Minneapolis has a one year requirement . Counci ember Mader said he did not realize until the meeting that he did not receive i~m 7b in his agenda packet and wanted to have the item deferred. councilme~ Schenck said Mr. Conty had made some good comments. lj said the purpose of the restriction on the number of animals is to discouraze pup ry mills. He asked about b\eeding situations. City Attorney paC~aid the license fee is less for spayed and nen) red animals. It encourages pet owneI~S\ to act responsibly. It prevents the prolifi ration of animals. She said four dogs requi}es a kennel license. \ \ \ Councilmember Kedrowski asked what about the provisio City Attorney Pace said three ~1(ths was the restri/ n. Councilmember Kedrowski said ~o years, no)A'very year, should be the licensing requirement, and "more than three" wo.;tld bj%ood for the CUP requirement. City Manager Boyles apologized that ~~cilmember Mader did not get the agenda item, and said the Council had seen it ~ draft form before. Councilmember Mader said he ~omfortabie going ahead with the item since the City Attorney explained to hilI} that the current version of the ordinance had only minor changes from the one t .e Council had previously reviewed in draft form. . . . . . . Mayor Andren clarified t t Councilmember Mader withdrew his request to defer the item. MOTION BY KE OWSKI SECOND BY SCHENCK TO ADOPT ORDINANCE 97-14 REVISIN ANIMAL CONTROL ORDINANCE REQUIREMENTS WITH THE AMEND ENT THAT "MORE THAN THREE" BE SUBSTITUTED FOR "THREE 0 ORE" AND EVERY TWO YEARS BE SUBSTITUTED AS THE LICENSE QUIREMENT INSTEAD OF ANNUALLY. vote, ayes by Andren, Kedrowski, Mader, Robbins, and Schenck, the motion . C'ty Manager Boyles said he wanted to publicly thank Steve Schmidt for the work he as done in the capacity of Acting Police Chief for the City. \ Fire Dept Access --Streets C. Consider Approval of Report on Investigation of Private and Public Streets that are Inadequate with Respect to Fire Apparatus Access Requirements. 6 - - .1 I0697.DOC . City Manager Boyles introduced the item. Investigating the Priyate and Public Streets that are inadequate with respect to Fire Access Requirements was an April 21 City Council directive. Fire Chief Chromy has worked with Public Works Director Ilkka to look at the streets included and they have proposed recommendations for assuring that access is possible. For Private Streets there are three categories: with a neighborhood association, without, and those that were looked at that are not a safety issue but will be monitored. In each case, no parking is proposed on one side. The -staff.recomm~Il4~tion is to!_a~_"'Yith h011!e~wners to advise them ~nd solicit input to .!!!.Cl~tl th~_~ublic aware oft~e_ safety issE~s. - . ~-- --- -- . Councilmember Robbins asked about Pine Road NE. If there is no parking on both sides of the street, would there be another provision for parking for visitors? . Fire Chief Chromy said it is a very short street. They could park a block or less from the house. . Mayor Andren said she recalled that Pine Road NE originally was an access. Sh~ questioned whether it was recently vacated. . Councilmember Schenck said they vacated the parcel at the end of road, but not the whole road. . Mayor Andren said that staff should check into Pine Road NE. She thought part of it was already no parking because of the access. . Councilmember Mader asked whether some of the streets are close enough to the lake that the City could tie together trailer parking restrictions. Now people are just parking their boat trailers four blocks from the lake instead of one. . City Engineer Ilkka said in those areas where they are parking trailers, if it doesn't present a fire access issue, he would be reluctant to tie them together. . City Engineer Ilkka said there is a specific ordinance that prevents parking within 2,500 feet of a pubic access. . Councilmember Mader asked if that would be with trailers or any vehicle. . City Engineer Ilkka said he was not sure. . Councilmember Mader said his general reaction is to appreciate the work that has been done, and it was appropriate to have them changed. . Councilmember Schenck said he had a concern with a dead end road with no turnaround. 7 . . 10697.DOC Fire Chief Chromy said his main concern is getting the truck in to the site. He said they can always back out and maneuver. The main cOIl~ern is just getting in, both for fire and medical. Otherwise the list could get very long. Councilmember Schenck said he just wanted the firefighters to be safe. If they have to get out in a hurry, for their own safety backing the rig up is tough. . Fire Chief Chromy said if they were that close and needed to vacate that fast, then the officers didn't make a very good decision on where to park. There are a lot of factors. It is an important factor to keep the truck a safe distance. . Councilmember Schenck said he respects the work staff has done, and wants the firefighters to be safe. . MOTION BY KEDROWSKI SECOND BY MADER TO APPROVE THE REPORT ON INVESTIGATION OF PRIVATE AND PUBLIC STREETS / EXCEPT PINE ROAD NE WHICH STAFF WILL INVESTIGATE. ./ /: ~or Andren asked IfMeadowlawn Trail went through the Griffith prope;// Fire ~lef Chromy Said yes. // City M~ er Boyles clarified that the motion and second excluded.Pi~e Road NE. / / // / ,/ Upon a vote, ayes b Andren, Kedrowski, Mader, RO]:>funs, and Schenck, the motion carried. /' . . . Mayor Andren aIled the question. D. Main Street Storm Sewer 16100 Evanston Road Sewer Affecting 16100 Evanston Consider Alternatives for Avenue. . City Manager Boyles introduced he item. He said on August 4th the Council reviewed a p.otenti.al construction yr-6Jeq ~d directed that the sta~f report back with respect to thIS proJect. The CouncIl also Cl~ected that staff talk WIth MnDOT about possible cost participation. ~{staff report 'Outlines five different options: 1 )enlarge 15" culvert under Main St:r~eet to a 36" culvert ~ cost of $45,000, of which MnDOT would assume $7,700. ]be second option was to look at enlarging both culverts along 13 and Main Str{et to a 36" pipe, at a cost $ln~OOO. Option 3 is to look at the size of equalizer pip~s for 100 year flood, to enlarge 36""under Hwy 13, and 60" inch under Main Str~ei at a cost of $165,000. Option four w~~ look at the pond and enlarge culvert under Main at a cost of $76,000. In lookin~t whether the City caused the problem, it was determined that the City did not. Opti~five is modifying the resid~rice by blocking up the existing walk-out, which would sclve the problem of wat~iin the basement at a cost of $5,000. This project does not pro~qe a public ben~fit, and therefore City would not finance. Staff recommends option five~ -11ayor Andren asked if staff was recommending the City pay for the improvem~ 8 .