HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Committees - Public Works/Planning - 09/22/1993 PUBLIC 'WORKS COM% TTEE
SEPTEMBER 22, 1993
PRESENT: Paul Mann Paul Scott
Jim Bennett Chief Angelo
Don Wickstrom Operations Superintendents
Tom Brubaker Ed White & Staff
Gary Gill Mr & Mrs Rust
Stan Wade Bob Sandwick
Tim Heydon Marvin Leukalau
ABSENT: Jim White
James Street Safety Improvements
Ed White stated that at the request of Paul Mann, staff reviewed
James St. again to determine the best locations for two additional
signals. Staff recommended two locations, those being Alvord and
Jason and staff is now waiting for further direction from the
Committee. White referenced that one of the Dragnet Systems is
installed at the intersection of 94th & James, specifically the
southwest corner (the Susanj property) . White said that possibly
two additional Dragnet Systems will be installed on the corner of
Jason & James, depending on the homeowners desire to have this
done. White said the buttons will be installed in a short period
of time.
Downtown Infrastructure
In response to Jim Bennett, Raul Ramos stated that he is on the
Regional Justice Center Committee and that Downtown Infrastructure
program is being interfaced with that project.
1994 Budget Requests
Wickstrom stated that the budget requests have been separated into
what impacts the general fund and what impacts the utility fund.
Wickstrom said that the first item is a $70,000 request for a Cross
Connection Control Inspector. He said this program is required by
State law. We have adopted an ordinance to that affect and tried
to implement some portions of it with our existing staff,- however
we have never been able to implement a full program. Wickstrom
explained that the cross connection devices protects the water
systems from contaminating our customers water supply. One of the
things required in this program is an inventory of all the cross
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connection devices that are in the system and to have them yearly
inspected and certified that they are still operational. We are
also required to inspect buildings for illegal cross connection
systems. Failure to do so could result in a contamination of our
water system and could lead to fines on the City up to $10, 000, if
the violation causes a health emergency. Wickstrom said that we
have looked at other cities and most of them have at least one or
two persons whose sole duty is the cross connection program.
In response to Bennett, Wickstrom said that this program relates to
new construction as well as existing buildings. Stan Wade
explained that we inspect new construction and even at that, we are
not certain we are catching everything. Wade said that we need to
retrace some of the steps of what cross connections are out there
now and do an inventory of the entire city, as well as keep up with
the new construction. Wade also clarified that the $70, 000 is the
initial cost for the first year. The actual cost to fund that
position from year to year would then drop to about $55, 000.
Wickstrom stated that this position would be funded out of the
water utility, not the general fund.
A detailed explanation of each of the remaining items, as listed in
the 1994 Budget Requests, was presented to the Committee by
Wickstrom with Tim Heydon providing additional information on the
request for the Street, Sewer/Storm, Water and Equipment Rental
Divisions.
Mann asked if the problem of contamination near our water supply
still existed. In response, Wickstrom stated that we are still in
the investigation stage. He said that will be a difficult clean up
because the Landsburg Mine is an old mine shaft. The initial
investigation showed that there was no contamination near the site.
Reith Rd/Kent Des-Moines HwyfMeeker St. Intersection Reconstruction
White said that in order for our Accounting Section to establish a
budget, we need a recommendation from Council for the Mayor to sign
the City/County Agreement and authorization for establishing a
budget for this project.
Committee unanimously agreed to recommend establishment of a budget
and authorize the Mayor to sign the City/County agreement.
Wickstrom stated that even though this is a grant funding, the
State still has to approve our plans and they are very slow in
responding to us.
45th Place Street Vacation
Bennett noted that this item has been to Council and was referred
back to this Committee. Bob Sandwick, Attorney for the owner of
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the property in question, presented a sketch showing the existing
road and the proposed residence. Sandwick said if the cul de sac
was going to be put in, it would put in a cut of about 5-1/2 feet,
which would be about 20 feet away from the residence. In effect,
this would deny any access by that residence to the existing
garage. The intent of this was to show that as a practical matter,
putting in a cul de sac in that area would not be feasible.
Sandwick said the request at this time is to vacate that portion of
the cul' de sac.
Wickstrom said that we concur that if a cul de sac was built within
the right of way shown that we have, it would definitely damage the
building on the west side. He stated that we are now looking at a
"hammerhead" that would extend to the north. We would want the
owners to at least provide a topo field survey so we could explore
this alternative more and make sure it would work for us, as a
City, to provide a turnaround. Wickstrom stated that we could
support the vacation with some conditions, for example, they first
need to provide us with a field survey of this area so we could
plot out the actual right of way needed for this hammerhead. We
would also require right of way from this property owner as well as
payment for our existing right of way. Wickstrom stated that this
may be a means_ by which we could support a 'vacation, but this
scenario needs to be explored more.
At this time Chief Angelo stated that cul de sacs and turnarounds
are a very critical part of the ability to delivery emergency
services. Angelo stated that he cannot recommend, as a general
policy, to eliminate and vacate cul de sacs. However, based upon
the Public Works Directorrsrecommendation that it is impractical
to build this, but to proceed with the hammerhead, Angelo said he
concurs with this. Angelo stated that if it were at all possible
to build a turnaround, that would be his' ricommendation.
- k%_ .
The Committee directed the Public Works Dept to work up some
possible conditions of concurrence with the hammerhead type of
solution to this situation and also, directed the Public Works Dept
to come up with conditions relating to approving the vacation.
Committee unanimously agreed that if a solution can be worked out
that is acceptable to the Public Works Dept, than it can be moved
forward to Council as an Other Business item.
In response to Bennett, Wickstrom noted that this does not have any
relationship as to when the hammerhead gets built, - only that what
we want now is to preserve the option of building a hammerhead
turnaround.
R.V. Overflow Parking
Wickstrom said that we have looked for available sites and
concurred that Naden Ave, off of Meeker Street, was the best
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possible location for an R.V. parking area and if Committee wanted
staff to pursue that, than the next step would be to do some cost. _
estimates.
Committee unanimously recommended that staff move forward with this r
and come back to Committee with cost estimates.
Meeker & 2nd Avenue
Bennett stated that on 2nd Ave, south of Meeker on the west side,
there is a sign posted with two spaces identified for parking and
further down there is no identification, creating confusion for the
motorists. Bennett requested that Ed White bring a report back to
him on this. White stated that the current policy from the Police
Dept is that unless a sign is posted, they will not write a ticket.
White stated that something more definitive should be in the Code
which he hopes to do as part of the Downtown Study.
Country View Estates - Bill of Sale
Committee unanimously recommended acceptance of the Bill of Sale
for Country View Estates and bonds released after the one year
maintenance period.
Traffic Signals on James Street
In response to Mann, White stated that he talked with several of
the neighbors who were strongly opposed to the signal at Jason &
James. White said staff has located where the signal should be and
is now waiting for direction from the Committee. White- said that
staff did not receive any feedback from Alvord neighbors.
Committee recommended that further study be done on the signal at
Jason & James. In response to Bennett, White stated that he had a
meeting with the neighbors on James St to listen to their concerns
on the safety issue and staff is preparing responses.
Meeting adjourned at 7: 10 p.m.
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