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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-09-00 WSCITY OF LAKEVILLE • COUNCIL WORK SESSION MEETING MINUTES OCTOBER 9, 2000 Mayor Zaun called the meeting to order at 5:15 PM in the City Hall North Meeting Room. Present were: Mayor Zaun, Council Members Sindt, Mulvihill, Johnson and Luick; Robert Erickson, City Administrator; John. Hennen, Administrative Assistant; Steve Michaud, Parks and Recreation Director; Dave Martens, Chief of Police, Keith Nelson, City Engineer; and Don Volk, Director of Operations and Maintenance. Several residents were also in attendance. ITEM NO. 1. .REVIEW LEASH LAW PROPOSAL. Steve Michaud briefed .the Council on the past several months of activity regarding the dog leash issues. Surveys of ordinances have been conducted locally and nationally. Mr. Len Libbey, a resident of Dakota Heights, has been working with staff and has been a valuable source of information. Mr. Libbey and staff support an ordinance that would encourage dog owners to be responsible. The proposed ordinance would use. Canine Good Citizen Test certification as a benchmark for allowing dogs to remain off-leash unless confronted by another pedestrian within 100 feet. • Electronic collars are also becoming widely accepted as a training tool and have been added to the draft ordinance as an acceptable leash. Non-paved hockey rinks are currently being used for and are proposed to be designated as dog training and exercise areas. Other designated dog parks may be considered in the future. Mayor Zaun mentioned Mr. Libbey's memo as it pertained to frozen ponds being used as training areas also. Council Member Mulvihill mentioned the word "picketed" which had been used. in the ordinance and felt that comprehension may be difficult, as the word is not used in typical conversation. Also, the electronic collar is referred to as a means of restraint, but is not later referred to under the Section regarding restraint. Police Chief Martens added that the new electronic collars are very humane and not painful to dogs. Council Member Mulvihill also asked what plans have been made to educate the public on the new ordinance. Section 4 states that the ordinance shall be effective immediately upon its passage. .City Administrator Robert Erickson felt that delaying the`~ffective date would provide additional time for education and implementation and suggested that a mailing to all licensed pet owners would be a good start at educating the public about the new ordinance. Council Member Mulvihill suggested a mailing be done to all residents when City Council enacts r~ City Council Work Session Minutes October 9, 2000 Page -2- ordinances that have community-wide impact, i.e., the new leash law and no on-street parking in the winter. Council Member Johnson asked if the 25-foot leash regulation would be difficult to enforce. Chief Martens stated that determining the 100-foot distance from pedestrians would be more challenging, however, the police would have some level of tolerance. Council Member Sundt asked what the dog population is in Lakeville, and what was the estimated percentage of licenses. Chief Martens stated that according to the most recent citizen survey it is estimated that approximately 6,000 households in Lakeville have pets, with about 1,200 dogs, or 25%, licensed at this time. A mailing to pet owners could be utilized to remind residents to get their dogs re-licensed. Council Member Luick stated that dogs which are .off-leash at intersections could be a concern and a potential hazard for motorists and this has not been addressed in the ordinance. Mayor Zaun also suggested that "street" be added to City trail or sidewalk under Section 3.A.2. Council members suggested the effective date be spring of 2001. Also the word "picketed" should be .added to the definitions. Chief Martens stated that the Cable TV video has been completed, flyers are ready to be posted at pet hospitals, etc., and the Police Dept. is prepared to issue warnings to pet owners. • ..Council directed staff to work with the Cit Attorne on suggested changes to .the Y Y proposed ordinance amendment that would revise the leash law in the City of Lakeville and to place the ordinance on a future regular City Council agenda. ITEM NO. 2. .DISCUSS 1-35/COUNTY ROAD 60 INTERCHANGE ACCESS REQUEST FOR SOUTH RAMP CONSTRUCTION -CITY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT 99-12 City Engineer Keith Nelson and Dennis Eyler from SRF Consulting Group were present to discuss with City Council the Access Modification Request recently completed by SRF and to confirm City Council members' position regarding .the proposed interchange improvements. Proposed improvements would complete the full interchange and would include construction of the south ramps at the 185th Streedl-35 interchange to provide access to 185th St. from northbound I-35 and to southbound I-35 from 185th Street. City Council members had previously expressed a desire for this interchange to be completed prior to construction of the new bridge at I-35 and County Road 70, to help with detours during that project. The. I-35/Co.Rd. 70 project is included in .Dakota County's CIP for 2003 and the 185th St./I-35 project is identified for 2005. Mayor Zaun asked about soliciting funding from the State for. Fiscal Year 2002. Mr. Nelson stated that funding which was .previously identified for MnDOT projects and not ultimately • City Council Work Session Minutes October 9, 2000 Page -3- used may be available for projects which are ready for 2001 construction. An application for this funding is due by October 16`". Mr. Nelson suggested that a proposal for the realignment of Kenrick Avenue south of 185`" Street be submitted. Council Member Johnson asked if the objections of the local residents had been satisfied. Mr. Erickson stated that the historical, cultural, economic and environmental impacts have been addressed in response to residents' concerns. The hillside, which is a physical barrier to the project, will remain between the roadway and residents.. Positive feedback was received from residents following the realignment of Kenyon Avenue on the west side of I-35 north of 185`" Street. People who were originally skeptical about the project have commented about the improved traffic flow and safety. Ms. Jean Baudhuin stated that the Sierra Club has drafted a resolution in opposition to the construction of this ramp. Council Member Johnson stated that MnDOT could fund several million dollars toward the completion of this project, realizing a considerable savings for the taxpayers of Lakeville. Mayor Zaun stated the importance of letting Dakota County and MnDOT know where the City of Lakeville stands on getting the project completed. Mayor Zaun also felt that some mention should be made in the Dakota County Comprehensive Plan of the need. to continue CSAH 60 east of Dodd in the future. It was also suggested that the roadway should be consistently identified as "CSAH 60", as opposed to 185`" Street, so it is more readily distinguished as a county road and not a city street. • Council directed staff to roceed with the submittal of the Interchan a Access Re uest p g q and Project Memorandum to MnDOT and the Metropolitan Council, prepare a written response to Dakota County regarding their draft CIP, and submit a grant application to MnDOT for project funding. ITEM NO. 3. PEDESTRIAN CROSSING/TRAIL STUDY ALONG 205TH STREET BETWEEN IPAVA AVENUE AND KENRICK AVENUE. Director of Operations and .Maintenance Don Volk stated that the City of Lakeville had contracted SRF Consulting Group to study pedestrian crossing safety on 205`" Street and to make recommendations for improvements. The study area was along 205`" Street / Icalee Path / 202~d Street from Kenrick Avenue to the Antlers Park trail crossing. Jeff Bednar, SRF representative, stated that crews were on site for two 14-hour days, a typical weekday and. a Saturday, to collect data on traffic and pedestrian activity. Mr. Bednar summarized .the findings of the study and highlighted several areas, including: 1. The four most active crossing areas along 205`" Street are the crosswalks. In addition to the four that are marked and signed, two additional areas are used. 2. The existing crosswalks are located within a 1.25-mile stretch of 205`" Street, and none are more than one-half mile apart. City Council Work Session Minutes October 9, 2000 Page -4- 3. Pedestrians are walking along Icalee Path between Jacquard Avenue and Antlers Park, apparently to avoid the longer trail route through Lakeview Elementary. This is a concern due to the volume and speed of traffic, roadway width .and restricted. sight. distances. Some of the sight distance limitations are due to foliage. 4. The two lowest-volume crossing locations are at Jupiter Path/Jupiter Way and at Jupiter Avenue/Jupiter Way. 5. 205`" Street is a major collector street, with typical daily volumes of 3,300 to 5,500 vehicles per day. Based on those figures, there are an adequate number of acceptable crossing gaps available in the traffic flow. .The study crews also observed adequate crossing gaps, even at peak traffic periods. 6. During the study, it was found that compliance with the state law requiring motorists to stop for pedestrians in a crosswalk was poor. Since the study signs have been installed reminding drivers of the law. 7. Drivers were generally at least five-MPH over the posted speed limits. 8. Heavy commercial truck traffic accounts for 10-14% of the total traffic, which is much higher than on a typical major collector. The Lakeville Police Dept. addressed this issue with commercial businesses in the area. 9. Residents have expressed safety concerns for the 205`" Street and Jacquard Avenue intersection, where 19 violations have been noted in the last 12 months. Cross traffic . and .reported collisions at Jacquard Avenue do not warrant the installation of an all- way stop control at this intersection. 10. .School bus transportation is available to all students living north of 205`" Street. Based on the warrants, SRF cannot recommend the installation of an all-way stop, however, if the City were to choose to install an unwarranted 4-way stop, the intersection of 205`" Street and Kensington Blvd. would be a good location. The City could also consider a policy for installation of flashing pedestrian lights. Yellow flashing beacons, which are activated by pedestrian push buttons or motion sensors, increase drivers' awareness of the crosswalk. The cost is approximately $20,000. SRF also recommends installation of additional trails: • Along the south side of Icalee Path from Jacquard Avenue to the Antlers Park trail crossing. • Along the north side of 205`" Streef from Jupiter Path/Jupiter Way to Kensington Blvd./Kansas Ave. • On the north side of 205`" Street at the time when 205`" Street is expanded to its .fully planned width. This trail would assist pedestrians in accessing a marked crossing. Council Member Luick asked if because of the crossing activity at Jacquard Avenue, that intersection would- be a good location for a signed or lighted crosswalk. Mr. Bednar stated City Council Work Session Minutes October 9, 2000 Page -5- that the road is narrow in that location, which is another deterrent to an all-way stop. The sight lines are also not conducive to a crosswalk at that location. Council Member Sindt asked why pedestrian activity is so heavy at Jacquard. Mr. Bednar stated that it is a shortcut to taking the trail around the school. Council Member Johnson asked about the truck traffic in the area. Mr. Bednar stated that truck traffic is anticipated to decrease significantly in the next few years when the gravel mining operations in the area have closed. Mayor Zaun added that a substantial amount of truck traffic is generated from the landscape contractor in the area and is not necessarily from the gravel mining companies. Mr. Erickson referenced a letter that was sent by the Lakeville Police Dept. to commercial businesses whose truck traffic utilizes 205`h Street. He added that completion of the infrastructure in that area of the community will .also cause a decrease in truck traffic. Council Member Mulvihill commended SRF on the study. She noted that the flashing lights would mean increased safety for pedestrians as well as bicyclists that do not dismount their bikes when crossing. Mayor Zaun mentioned that Lakeview Elementary School posts a crossing guard on Jacquard Avenue before and after school. Mayor Zaun stated that he felt SRF's recommendations were valuable and would endorse unwarranted signs at Kensington . Blvd. and at Jacquard Avenue. He would also support the construction of a pedestrian trail Council Member Sindt asked if the 202"d Street and Ipava Avenue intersection has been a problem, especially since the entrance to Lakeville High School from Dodd Blvd. has not been opened yet. Police Chief Martens stated that it has not been problematic. on the south side of Icalee path. He feels this trail will be more important with the development of Marion Fields 4`h Addition. Mayor Zaun also feels a trail will be needed on the south side of 202"d Street where it intersects with Ipava. He feels it is very important to develop policies and criteria for installation of crosswalks and signals and to include that information in the adoption of the CIP. Council Member Luick is concerned that the City Council will set a precedent for installation of crosswalk signals without first establishing some criteria or setting a policy. Jim Steffen, 10310 - 204th Street, stated that his children have to .run across the road in order to avoid being hit. He would support the signs at the two intersections. John Berg, 20435 Jupiter Way, stated that his children have nearly been hit while crossing 205th Street also, and applauds City Council and staff for addressing the issue. Mr. Berg submitted a list of comments (attached) concerning the findings and recommendations of SRF's traffic study and added that additional streetlights are needed at 205t" and along . Icalee. Striping is also needed with indications for people to stop prior to entering the City Council Work Session Minutes October 9, 2000 Page -6- crosswalk.. Don Volk will be relocating one crosswalk sign. Mr. Berg feels that education of motorists is a major aspect of the solution.. Council directed staff to prepare a resolution for consideration by the City Council at their November 6, 2000 meeting, to formally receive .and adopt SRF's pedestrian crossing/trail study along 205`h Street between Kenrick Avenue and Ipava Avenue. ITEM NO. 4. DISCUSS NO STREET PARKING PROPOSAL DURING WINTER MONTHS. Director of Operations and Maintenance Don Volk stated that vehicles parked on city streets while crews are attempting to remove snow has been an ongoing problem for many years. In the most recent city survey, 67% of residents supported wintertime parking restrictions. Staff also evaluated the ordinances of surrounding cities. Lakeville's current ordinance restricts parking only "after a snowfall of such amount which reasonably requires the plowing and clearing of city streets and alleys." Staff feels the ordinance is open to various interpretations and needs to be more enforceable. Mr. Volk reviewed and summarized three options: 1. Set specific hours prohibiting on-street parking. 2. Establish a blanket winter parking restriction. 3. Leave the current winter-parking restrictions unchanged. Mr. Volk feels that option #2 would have the best effect for crews to accomplish plowing. This option is also. the most similar to surrounding communities, which would establish a consistent policy where residents are not familiar with .city boundary lines and where streets are shared. An amendment to the ordinance would be required prior to implementation. Police Chief Martens stated that the verbiage suggested for the revised ordinance should state "AND" at any other time when the National Weather Service forecast accumulation is two (2") or more ..." instead of "OR". City Administrator Robert Erickson stated that getting cars off of city streets between 2:00 AM and 6:00 AM would greatly assist snowplow drivers in accomplishing their duties. An attempt will be made to provide off-street parking for residences in certain areas such as the downtown where there are no driveways. Gary Johnson, a resident of Faraday Lane, encouraged City Council to follow up on this and expressed support of restricted on-streef parking all year long, not just in the winter. Council directed staff to review the draft ordinance, especially the section concerning the National Weather Service, possibly adding verbiage that would make the ordinance more enforceable. City Council Work Session Minutes October 9, 2000 Page -7- Mayor Zaun suggested that new or revised ordinances be implemented and distributed to residents on asemi-annual basis. ITEM NO. 5. OTHER BUSINESS. City Council members will meet at 6:30 PM on November 6, 2000, just prior to their. regular meeting, to interview a candidate for the Arts Advisory Board. City Administrator Robert Erickson discussed the possibility of interviewing various consulting groups to ensure that the city's need for services can be met on a timely basis. ITEM NO. 6. ADJOURN. The meeting was adjourned at 7:30 PM. Respectfully submitted, ~~~ ~~z~ Ju ith R. Hawkins, Deputy Clerk •