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Home My WebLink About10A - City Winter Maintenance Policy MEETING DATE: AGENDA #: PREPARED BY: AGENDA ITEM: DISCUSSION: 16200 Eagle Creek Avenue S.E. Prior Lake, MN 55372-1714 CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT SEPTEMBER 17, 2007 10A CRAIG ELDRED, STREET AND UTILITIES SUPERVISOR CONSIDER APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION UPDATING THE CITY OF PRIOR LAKE WINTER MAINTENANCE POLICY Introduction The purpose of this agenda item is to consider approval of updates to the City of Prior Lake Winter Maintenance Policy. Historv The City Council adopted a Winter Maintenance Policy (WMP) for the City in October 2002. Previous to that time the City followed policies that were not in writing and were not communicated with the City Councilor residents. The purpose of having a written policy is to provide the residents, City Council, and City Staff with expectations concerning the policies and procedures for winter maintenance on city streets, trails, sidewalks, skating facilities and parking lots. In a more global sense, the policy allows the staff to prepare its annual budget for personnel and equipment which is impacted by the expectations set forth in this policy. The League of Minnesota Cities (LMC) encourages every City to adopt a written Winter Maintenance Policy. This policy is a great communication tool to inform residents and businesses of snow and ice control procedures. Current Circumstances The following changes to the policy are proposed: 1) New Maintenance Techniaues As there are no updates to the priority and daytime routes for streets, staff would like to share some information on a new product we intend to use this winter season. The new product is called Geomelt 55 which is composed of de-sugared beet molasses. This product will be blended with salt brine, which we produce at the Maintenance Center, and will be utilized as both an anti-icing and de-icing agent. The addition of this product with salt brine provides the following benefits: a) Improved anti-icing and de-icing activities during lower pavement temperatures b) The ability to reduce application rates after the plowing activities by up to 30% c) The reduction of chloride loading and environmental impact while lowering operational costs 2) Trail and Sidewalk Winter Maintenance List Multiple changes have occurred with Exhibit C (Trail/Sidewalk Winter Maintenance List). As staff works to implement a trail/sidewalk pavement management plan, the thought was to create the trail and sidewalk master lists R:\Council\Agenda Reports\2007\09 17 07\Winter Maintenance Policy agenda. DOC www.cityofpriorlake.com Phone 952.447.4230 / Fax 952.447.4245 and winter maintenance lists due to preservation tasks. Although these items are separated, there are only additions to the trail list for winter maintenance, which are provided in the following table: Location Trail or From To Category Priority Sidewalk CSAH82 Trail CSAH21 CSAH 17 Community Low Trail Stemmer Ridge Trail CSAH 12 End Community Low Road Trail CSAH 12 Trail Howard Lake Shoreline Lane Community Low Road Trail Crystal Lake Trail Through park High Use Medium Park Recreation Rice Lake Trail Trail Through High Use Medium Hickory Recreation Shores 3) CR 21 Snowmobile Route Currently the CR 21 snowmobile route between TH 13 and CR 87 is located on the back side of the trail on the south side of CR 21. When the CR 21 project is completed this fall there will no longer be sufficient right-of-way (ROW) to allow for the trail to be located on the south side of CR 21. City and County Staff have recommended relocation of the trail to the north side of CR 21. The majority of the trail will remain within the CR 21 ROW. However at the west end as the trail approaches TH 13 the boulevard area between CR 21 and Credit River Road is insufficient in width to provide a safe trail route. Staff has proposed that the City could delineate a 3 foot section of Credit River Road and not plow that area to provide sufficient width for snowmobiles. This recommendation and any Council action would be included in the Snowmobile Task Force Report expected later this fall. Conclusion Staff is requesting that the Council approve the changes to the Winter Maintenance Policy so that they can be implemented for the upcoming winter season. As stated when the policy was originally adopted, this policy will be updated periodically as the City continues to grow and add streets, trails, and parking lots requiring snow and ice control; or situations arise that drive changes to the Winter Maintenance Policy. Included with this report are the exhibits and updates for 2007. Council should direct staff to make the changes as recommended or recommend changes of their own. ISSUES: With the improvements to CSAH 21 there is a need to address an alternate route for snowmobiles due to the loss of right-of-way on the southern boundary for CSAH 21. The primary importance of dealing with this prior to the completion of the Snowmobile Task Force recommendations expected later this fall is that the official County Snowmobile Map goes to print in November. If the route is not changed the existing route will be eliminated and there will not be a legal eastern snowmobile route in Prior Lake this winter. Staff proposes using the north right-of-way for a snowmobile trail. The major item of concern is having enough boulevard space between Credit River Road and CSAH 21 from Evanston Avenue to the 4900 block of Credit River Road (see R:\Council\Agenda Reports\2007\09 17 07\Winter Maintenance Policy agenda. DOC attached drawing and pictures). Staff is proposing a temporary use of three feet of the twenty-three feet of Credit River Road for snowmobile use. When looking at the narrow boulevard between CSAH 21 and Credit River Road, staff would most likely have to haul snow from Credit River Road to maintain the entire roadway for travel because of limited snow storage area. Staff would use delineators to mark the division of street and snowmobile trail as shown in the attachments. Staff recommends that the delineator installation and removal follow the Winter Maintenance parking restrictions of November 1 through March 31. FINANCIAL IMPACT: The marking of the snowmobile trail between CSAH 21 and Credit River Road requires a cost of $2,250 for the purchase of the delineators. The delineators may be reused for another season if they are not damaged. Should the Council support the proposed snowmobile route staff would recommend that funding sources for the delineators be addressed in the Snowmobile Task Force report to be presented to the City Council later this fall. ALTERNATIVES: 1. Approve a resolution authorizing the updates to the Winter Maintenance Policy dated September 17, 2007 including the seasonal use of three feet of Credit River Road for snowmobile trail travel. 2. Table this item for a specific reason. 3. Deny this item for a specific reason and provide staff with direction. RECOMMENDED Alternative #1. MOTION: R:\Council\Agenda Reports\2007\09 17 07\Winter Maintenance Policy agenda. DOC 16200 Eagle Creek Avenue S.E. Prior Lake, MN 55372-1714 RESOLUTION 07-XX A RESOLUTION UPDATING THE CITY OF PRIOR LAKE WINTER MAINTENANCE POLICY Motion By: Second By: WHEREAS, The City Council adopted a Winter Maintenance Policy (WMP) in October 2002; and WHEREAS, The policy needs to be updated periodically as the City continues to grow and add streets, trails and parking lots requiring snow and ice control; and WHEREAS, Additions to the policy are due to the growth of the City and changes from the annual street reconstruction project; and WHEREAS, Due to improvements to CSAH 21, snow storage and snowmobile trail access require the seasonal use of three feet of Credit River Road for snowmobile trail travel; and WHEREAS, The snowmobile trail delineators will follow the snow parking ordinance of November 1 through March 31; NOW THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF PRIOR LAKE, MINNESOTA as follows: 1. The recitals set forth above are incorporated herein. 2. The City Council approves the changes to the Winter Maintenance Policy dated September 17, 2007, and seasonal use of three feet of Credit River Road for snowmobile trail travel. PASSED AND ADOPTED THIS 17TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER 2007. YES NO Haugen Haugen Erickson Erickson Hedberg Hedberg leMair leMair Millar Millar Frank Boyles, City Manager R:\Council\Agenda Reports\2007\09 17 07\Winter Maintenance Policy resolution. DOC www.cityofpriorlake.com Phone 952.447.4230 / Fax 952.447.4245