04/07/1998 - City Council Special AGENDA
SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Tuesday
April 7, 1998
5:00 p.m.
Municipal Center Community Room
I. ROLL CALL & ADOPTION OF AGENDA
II. VISITORS TO BE HEARD
III. DISCUSSION RE: SAMPLE ORDINANCE
REVIEW, PROPOSALS & SET DATE FOR THE
PRESENTATION FOR THE WINTER TRAIL
MAINTENANCE INFORMATION MEETING
IV. OTHER BUSINESS
V. EXECUTIVE SESSION
VI. ADJOURNMENT
MEMO
city of eagan
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR& CITY COUNCILMEMBERS
FROM: CITY ADMINISTRATOR HEDGES
DATE: APRIL 3, 1998
SUBJECT: SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING/APRIL 7, 1998
A Special City Council meeting was scheduled by consensus of the City Council for Tuesday,
April 7, to further discuss the winter trail maintenance program. Staff was directed to review
and summarize ordinances from other communities that have established winter trail
maintenance operations and provide some additional analysis on the proposals the City
Council would like presented at the winter trail informational meeting. In addition, a date
should be set for this meeting.
For a copy of an article that appeared in the SunCurrent dated April 1, entitled "Should city
clear trails, walkways during winter?" refer to page . Also enclosed on page is a
copy of a letter to the editor entitled, "Make plowing walks, trails budget priority" that
appeared in the same newspaper on the Opinion page.
Enclosed on pages through is a memo from Director of Public Works Colbert
that provides additional background information on this item.
ACTION TO BE CONSIDERED: To provide staff direction on information to be
presented at the public informational meeting and to set a date for the meeting.
OTHER BUSINESS
Scheduled for discussion as an action item at the regular City Council meeting under
Department Head Business is the Dakota Electric generator that will be used for the
Municipal Center Campus. Director of Parks & Recreation Vraa will be at the Special City
Council meeting. If time permits following the trail maintenance issue, staff will respond to
any questions or provide any additional information on this item in preparation for the
regular City Council meeting.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
An executive session will be necessary either preceding or following the regular City Council
meeting to discuss the status of the police officers negotiations that are currently in mediation
and further to provide an update on pending litigation. If time permits during the special
work session, the City Attorney and City Administrator will be prepared to present
information on both collective bargaining and pending litigation. If time does not permit, the
executive session can be held after the regular City Council meeting. A memo regarding the
status of police negotiations will be distributed with the Administrative packet on Monday.
/S/ Thomas L. HedReS
City Administrator
Should city cleartrails,
walkways durimeter
By Sue Hegarty trails to school, or other areas such as
Minnesota Sun Publications bus stops or paths to commercial and
retail shopping.
Winter trail maintenance has re- "We all know we're going to end up
turned to the discussion table at City doing more, we just don't know how
Hall. much," said Councilmember Pat
Eagan has more than 100 miles of Awada.
trails and sidewalks. Prior to 1996, no The estimated cost of plowing the
equipment or money had been budget- entire trail system is $500,000 annual-
ed to clear the trails during the winter. ly,depending upon the amount of snow-
Then in October 1996, the council con- fall received. Council members want to
ducted a survey of residents,68 percent know if residents would prefer to pay
of whom responded favorably to year- for the service through tax increases,
round trail maintenance. However, transferring funds from other pro-
when asked if they supported raising grams that would then be reduced,
taxes to provide the service, only 47 obligating residents to clear their own
percent said they still would favor the trail sections, or a combination of op-
additional service. tions.
Following the survey results, the Public Works Director Tom Colbert
council authorized a three-year pilot said decisions also need to be made re-
program to remove snow from five garding how soon after a snowfall
miles of trails and sidewalks near a few would the staff be expected to clear the
of the elementary schools. The pro- trails and after how much snow accu-
gram's intent was to clear snow from mulation.
the paths where children walk to If city staff are going to do the work
school.At the same time, an ordinance themselves, equipment will need to be
was passed that required property purchased and staff made available.
owners with sidewalks near schools to The other option would be to contract
clear the snow. for services.
But after the death of an Eagan man Councilmember Ted Wachter said
this past winter,residents again raised the public must also consider the lia-
concerns regarding the city's policy for bility factor if residents'lawns,trees or
winter trail maintenance. Following a shrubs suffer from the maintenance
snowfall Nov. 23, Kristoffer Schultz procedures.
was riding in a wheelchair in the street The council intends to use the same
when a vehicle driven by another format to gather public information as
Eagan resident struck him from be- it did for the aquatic facility. Public in-
hind. Schultz died a short time later. formation meetings will be scheduled
Since then, several residents have and residents will be encouraged to
contacted city employees and council voice their opinion to city staff through
members to request improved winter letters or electronic messages.A public
trail maintenance. meeting date will be set at the April 7
The council faces the following is- council meeting.
sues: "I think we can learn a lot from the
*Whether or not to continue or to ex- process we followed for the swimming
pand the limited winter trail mainte- pool,"said Mayor Tom Egan.
nance program; if so, to what extent? More than 100 people attended two
*How should the city finance the in public informational meetings regard-
creased costs that come with expanding ing the aquatic park; 36 people sent
the program? electronic mail;31 phoned in comments
* When and how should snow be and 39 mailed in response forms or let-
cleared? ters.
To answer the first question, council Address correspondence over the
members want to know if residents ex- Web to www.jfoote@ci.eagan.mn.us. or
pect all 100 miles to be cleared, 60 by writing City Hall, 3830 Pilot Knob
miles of non-duplicated trails, walking Road, Eagan, MN 55123.
2
April 1,1998
OPINION
- r
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
city's entire $7.1 million in the Com-
munity Investment Fund for the new
Make plowing walks, aquatic park.
However, finding enough money to
trails budget priority plow our city's sidewalks in the winter
is an impossible feat due to lack of
To the editor: funding. It seems logical to me that a
Eagan boasts that it is a city that City Council so in touch with the needs
has something for everyone. It has of its community cannot see the im-
many miles of paved trails for the portance of a passable sidewalk sys-
health conscious to run and walk on, tem. There has been one death this
and for children to walk to school.It is winter caused in part by this lack of
.a family oriented community, with concern.I personally prevented anoth-
many amenities for children. In fact, er by swerving away from a dark
the City Council wants to spend the clothed person in an electric cart at
dusk.
I laughed at Ted Wachter's com-
ment on having people drive to the
mall to walk. I fear he echoes the feel-
ings of the council.I agree with anoth-
er woman's comment last week that I
can't get fresh air at the mall;nor will I
they welcome my dogs.I walk my dogs
outdoors every day, year-round. It is
very difficult to maneuver in the win-
tertime. I stay in the neighborhoods
where I feel safer from traffic. I also
wear reflective gear, and my dogs do
too.I only wish all the people I see out
in the dark would do the same. Indi-
viduals are responsible for their safety
too.
Why can't the city pass a law that
requires, at a minimum, a reflective
plate on all wheelchairs and scooters,
and at best, a flashing light on these
modes of transportation. Bikes have
the reflective plate and the safe bikers
have flashing lights.
If any of us hit a pedestrian,both of
our lives would be ruined. It would be
especially horrendous if it happened
due to the city's inability to see the im-
portance of plowing the sidewalks and
the tragedy could have been prevent-
ed.
I find it hard to believe that this city
can't come up with enough money to
plow the sidewalk on one side of the
street.It is a small price to pay to pre-
vent a tragedy.I urge you all to look at
the priorities of this council that is
willing to deplete the city investment
fund for an aquatic park but who can-
not see the importance of plowing the
city's sidewalks.
Caroline Kennedy
Eagan
MEMO
city of eagan
TO: MAYOR& CITY COUNCIL
C/O THOMAS L HEDGES,CITY ADMINISTRATOR
FROM: THOMAS A COLBERT,DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS
DATE: APRIL 4, 1998
SUBJECT: WINTER TRAIL MAINTENANCE PROGRAM
PLAN/PROGRAM/POLICY REVIEW PROCESS
At a Special Workshop Session held on March 24, the City Council briefly discussed the
community's interests in expanding the current limited winter trails maintenance program to
incorporate trailways adjacent to major thoroughfares along with providing access from residential
areas to commercial retail centers, schools, and other general recreational uses. The City Council
was very supportive of presenting an expanded program to the community at large and soliciting
input for their consideration of adopting a formal program and ordinances at a later date.
The Council also requested staff to research other communities' policies and ordinances pertaining
to maintenance obligations of adjacent property owners. Attached is a summary of the various
requirements and policies of 18 communities.
PUBLIC PRESENTATION OPTIONS
In order to receive meaningful and manageable feedback from the community at future public
presentation and information meetings, a basic plan with maybe one alternative should be used for
discussion purposes. Taking into consideration the Council's interest in expanding the current
program but not maintaining the entire sidewalk and trail system, the staff has prepared a concept
base plan which incorporates many of the interests and concerns of the Council and the community
and at miles of the 100-mile system. In addition, an alternate to this base plan has been
prepared which further reduces the scope of the winter trail maintenance program to miles.
A summary of the segments for both options is also attached. Color coded maps graphically
locating these street segments will be distributed with the Administrative Packet on Monday.
The trail segments were categorized into four basic areas.
1. Major Arterial Roads. These roads are usually 4+ lanes wide, have traffic volumes
greater than 5,000 vehicles per day and speed limits of 45 mph or greater.
Page 1 of 4
S
2. Community Collectors. These roadways usually range from 2 traffic lanes with
safety lanes/shoulders up to four full lanes of traffic. Traffic volumes are greater
than 3,000 vehicles with speed limits of 35—45 mph.
3. Neighborhood Collector Streets. These streets usually do not exceed one mile in
length, have two traffic lanes and two safety lanes/shoulders, traffic volumes of less
than 3,000 vehicles per day and speed limits of 30—35 mph.
4. Local Streets. These are basically local residential streets where sidewalks have
been put in at the request of the developer or petitioned for by the residents.
These usually consist of a 36' wide street for two traffic lanes with no defined
safety lanes, traffic volumes usually less than 1,500 vehicles per day and speed
limits of 30 mph.
It is felt that the two plan options and four functional classifications should provide sufficient
alternatives to present for public reaction
ISSUES
There are six basic issues that will need to be addressed before adopting a formal program. They
are described as follows:
A. SCOPE
• How much of the City's sidewalk and trail system should be maintained based on
needs/desires for safety, recreation, transportation, projected usage (cost/benefit),
etc.
• Current program incorporates 3.9 miles of sidewalks that primarily serve walkers
to the elementary schools.
B. TIME FRAME FOR SERVICE DELIVERY
• How quickly should the City begin snow removal operations after cessation of
snowfall (12 hours, 24 hours, 48 hours, etc.).
• Should weekend and holidays be included resulting in overtime costs.
• How quickly should the trails be cleaned once the operations begin (within 6
hours, 12 hours, 24 hours, etc.).
• Present policy states removal operations will begin within 24 hours after cessation
and will be completed within the next 24 hours.
C. FREQUENCY
• How much accumulation from snowfall and/or drifting is tolerable before snow
removal operations are begun(1/2", 1", 2", etc.).
• Clean-up from subsequent street plowing, snowbank wingback, etc.
• Hard pack accumulation of nonplowable events.
• Present policy states minimum of 2"of accumulation.
• At the time of the Lexington Avenue wheelchair fatality, there was 1" total
accumulation on trail.
Page 2 of 4
D. WORKFORCES
• Ordinance obligating adjacent property owners (single-family, multi-family,
apartments, commercial, churches, schools, etc.).
• Issue of noncompliance (school breaks, property owner vacation, etc.)
• Maintaining uniform standards of maintenance.
• Noncontinuous land uses/gaps.
• City resources (equipment acquisition, temporary/seasonal employees, other service
delivery reduction, etc.)
• Contractual services
E. FUNDING
• Increased operational costs
• Tax increase vs levy limitations
• Other program reductions
• Special referendum
• Property tax funding
• The estimated total cost impact to the City of Eagan budget cannot be determined
until all of the previously identified issues have been refined. However, for every
$100,000 increase in property tax levy, the following table shows the impact to a
single-family residential property with the various valuations:
House Value City Only Taxes Increase Per$100,000
$80,000 $189.00 $1.52
$100,000 $27.002 $2.18
$130,000 $396.50 $3.18
$150,000 $479.51 $3.85
$200,000 $687.00 $5.51
PROCESS
In order to provide the public an opportunity to participate in the ultimate program and allow the
Council to receive pertinent information in a timely manner, the following process is proposed.
1. Process Adopted. At the Special Council Workshop of April 7, 1998, the Council
will discuss the extent of soliciting public input (informational meetings, mailed
survey, etc.)
2. Public Information Meeting Schedule, The Council should determine how many
and on what dates they would like to have community information meeting(s)
held.
3. Council Consideration of Input. The Council can review the public's input,
comments (and survey results?) along with various program options, propose a
budget and method of financing along with ordinance revisions and other program
and policy issues.
Page 3 of 4
i
4. Presentation of Final Proposed Program and Ordinances. The City Council
should consider a tentative date when formal adoption would be scheduled at a
regular City Council meeting. This schedule should take into consideration the
1999 budget process accordingly.
SUMMARY
In summary, the City Council discussion on April 7 should focus on:
1. Process to present program proposals to the public and receive input for Council
consideration of establishing a formal program.
2. Discussion and subsequent direction to staff as to what should be presented at the
public information meetings.
3. Confirmation of various community and Council meetings identified in the
process.
Arnie Erhart, Superintendent of Streets/Equipment and myself will be available at all meetings to
help the Council through this public information and decision-making process.
Respectfully submitted,
Director of Public Works
Attachments: Ordinance Survey
Service Delivery Options
C: Arnie Erhart, Superintendent of Streets/Equipment (W/O Enc.)
Page 4 of 4
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WINTER TRAIL MAINTENENANCE
SERVICE DELIVERY OPTIONS
MAJOR ARTERIAL ROADS
STREET BASIC PLAN ALTERNATE
1. CLIFF BOTH SIDES SOUTH SIDE
(Nicols—Ches Mar) (Nicols—Ches Mar)
2. DIFFLEY BOTH SIDES SOUTH SIDE
(Nicols—Braddock) (Metcalf—Pilot Knob)
SOUTH SIDE (Braddock—Dodd)
(Metcalf—Nicols) NORTH SIDE
(Braddock—Dodd) (Pilot Knob-Braddock)
NORTH SIDE (Dodd—Hwy 3)
(Dodd—Hwy 3)
3. JOHNNY CAKE BOTH SIDES EAST SIDE
RIDGE ROAD (Cliff—Apple Valley) (Cliff—Apple Valley)
4. LEXINGTON BOTH SIDES WEST SIDE
(Yankee D. —Patrick Rd.) (Yankee D. —Cliff Rd.)
WEST SIDE
(Patrick—Cliff Rd.)
(Lone Oak—Clubview)
5. LONE OAK BOTH SIDES SOUTH SIDE
(Pilot Knob—Lexington) (Pine Ridge—Lex.)
SOUTH SIDE
(Pine Ridge—P.K.School)
6. PILOT KNOB BOTH SIDES EAST SIDE ONLY
(Mendota Hts—Apple Valley) (Same Limits)
7. YANKEE DOODLE BOTH SIDES SOUTH SIDE ONLY
(Blue Cross—Lexington) (B.C. —Elrene)
SOUTH SIDE
(Lexington—Elrene Rd.)
G.JJ'S Cor/rom'98/Misc.'98/WinterTrailMaintPlan.doc /02
April 3, 1998
WINTER TRAIL MAINTENENANCE
SERVICE DELIVERY OPTIONS
COMMUNITY COLLECTOR ROADS
STREET BASIC PLAN ALTERNATE
8. BEAU DE RUE NORTH SIDE DO NOTHING
(Rahn Rd.-Cedarvale Stairs)
9. BLACKHAWK RD. BOTH SIDES ALL - EXCEPT DELETE
(Blue Cross—Cliff) EAST SIDE
(Highline Tr.- Beecher)
10. BLUE CROSS RD. EAST SIDE EAST SIDE
(Blackhawk—Yankee Doodle Rd.)(Blackhawk—Yankee D. Rd.)
11. CLIFF LAKE RD. NORTH &WEST SIDE NORTH & WEST SIDE
(Cliff—Blackhawk) (Cliff—Blackhawk)
12. DEERWOOD DR. BOTH SIDES SOUTH SIDE
(Blackhawk—Pilot Knob) (Blackhawk—Pilot Knob)
13. DENMARK BOTH SIDES EAST SIDE
(Duckwood—North wood) (Duckwood—North wood)
14. DUCKWOOD DR. BOTH SIDES NORTH SIDE
(Crestridge—Lexington) (Crestridge—Lexington)
15. GALAXIE AVE. EAST SIDE EAST SIDE
(Cliff—Apple Valley) (Cliff—Covington)
16. JOHNNY CAKE BOTH SIDES EAST SIDE
(Diffley—Cliff) (Diffley—Cliff)
17. NICOLS RD. EAST SIDE EAST SIDE
(Cliff—Beau de Rue) (Cliff—Beau de Rue)
18. NORTHWOOD BOTH SIDES SOUTH SIDE
(Denmark—Lexington) (Denmark—Lexington)
19. PROMENADE BOTH SIDES WEST SIDE
(Yankee D.—Northwood) (Yankee D. —Northwood)
20. RAHN RD. BOTH SIDES EAST SIDE
(Beau de Rue—Cliff Lake Rd.) (Beau de Rue—Cliff Lake Rd)
21. SILVER BELL RD. SOUTH SIDE SOUTH SIDE
(Beau de Rue—Blackhawk) (Beau de Rue—Blackhawk)
22. THOMAS LAKE RD. BOTH SIDES EAST SIDE
(Diffley—Cliff) (Diffley—Cliff)
23. TOWN CENTRE DR. BOTH SIDES SOUTH SIDE
(Denmark—Lexington) (Denmark—Lexington)
24. WESCOTT RD. BOTH SIDES SOUTH SIDE
(Pilot Knob—Dodd Rd.) (Pilot Knob—Dodd Rd.)
13 April 3, 1998
WINTER TRAIL MAINTENENANCE
SERVICE DELIVERY OPTIONS
NEIGHBORHOOD COLLECTOR ROADS
STREET BASIC PLAN ALTERNATE
25. ASHBURY RD. BOTH SIDES DO NOTHING
(Blue Cross—Blackhawk Hills)
26. BEAVER DAM RD. DO NOTHING DO NOTHING
27. BRADDOCK RD. WEST SIDE WEST SIDE
(Diffley—N.V. Park Rd.) (Diffley—N.V. Park Rd.)
28. COACHMAN RD. BOTH SIDES EAST SIDE
(Yankee Doodle—Four Oaks) (Yankee D. —Four Oaks)
29. COVINGTON LA. NORTH SIDE DO NOTHING
(J.C.R. —E. Beacon Hill Rd.)
30. DEERWOOD BOTH SIDES DO NOTHING
(Pilot Knob—Denmark)
31. DENMARK EAST SIDE EAST SIDE
(Wescott—Deerwood) (Wescott—Deerwood)
32. DODD RD. EST SIDE EAST SIDE
(Diffley—Cliff) (Diffley—N. Hay Lake)
33. ELRENE RD. WEST SIDE DO NOTHING
(Yankee Doodle—Wescott)
34. FEDERAL DR. EAST SIDE DO NOTHING
(Federal Ct.—Y.D. Rd.)
35. LEX. POINTE PKWY DO NOTHING DO NOTHING
36. NORTHRIDGE DR. DO NOTHING DO NOTHING
37. NORTHVIEW PARK SOUTH SIDE DO NOTHING
(Lexington—Braddock)
38. RAHN CLIFF RD. SOUTH & EAST SIDE DO NOTHING
(Cliff—Vienna)
39. RED PINE LANE SOUTH SIDE SOUTH SIDE
(Hwy 3 —Weston Hills) (Hwy 3 —Weston Hills)
40. SILVER BELL RD. SOUTH SIDE DO NOTHING
Hwy 13 —Nicols)
41. SLATER RD. WEST SIDE WEST SIDE
(B'ville—Cliff) (Wall St. - Cliff)
42. WASHINGTON DR. SOUTH SIDE DO NOTHING
(Federal—Yankee Doodle)
43. WILDERNESS RUN DO NOTHING DO NOTHING
April 3, 1998
WINTER TRAIL MAINTENENANCE
SERVICE DELIVERY OPTIONS
LOCAL STREETS
BEET BASIC PLAN ALTERNATE
44. BERRY RIDGE RD DO NOTHING DO NOTHING
45. BURGUNDY DR. DO NOTHING DO NOTHING
46. CLIFF DRIVE DO NOTHING DO NOTHING
47. EAGANDALE PLACE EAST & SOUTH SIDE DO NOTHING
(Lone Oak Rd. - South end)
48. ERIN DRIVE DO NOTHING DO NOTHING
49. HACKMORE, HAWTHORNE SOUTH, WEST &EAST SIDE SAME-EXCEPT DELETE
& CRIMSON LEAF TRAIL (Dodd-Diffley) (Diffley-Eastwood Ct.)
50. PARK CENTER DRIVE WEST,NORTH &EAST SIDE SAME
(Cliff Rd. -Cliff Rd.)
51. WILDFLOWER COURT DO NOTHING DO NOTHING
52. RIVERTON AVENUE DO NOTHING DO NOTHING
160- April 3, 1998