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Columbus City Council reviews use of shared driveways |
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Wednesday, 20 February 2008 |
Mary Bailey
Columbus Reporter
What standards should be required for a shared driveway? Does it depend on how many homes use the driveway? Should the homeowners be required to pay for an inspection? These questions were discussed by the Columbus City Council at their meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 13.
Two families have shared a driveway for years, and now a third home is being added. Complicating the issue is a wetland that limits road footage.
In Columbus, existing driveways are not subject to inspection. The city code does not specifically address the issue of shared driveways.
The city could require that the driveway be wide enough and strong enough to support a fire truck or ambulance, and include space for emergency vehicles to turn around.
An informal way to do this would be to have the fire department drive a truck on the driveway once a year, in the spring: If the driveway failed to support the equipment or was not wide enough, it would need to be upgraded.
The council will address this issue at a future meeting, when information on any legal liability the city might have is available.
Mayor Mel Mettler summarized the situation: “We can’t approve something that’s not safe.”
The planning commission recommended that the homeowners create a maintenance agreement among themselves.
Ordinance changes
The council approved several changes to the zoning and subdivision regulations of the city code, and directed the staff to develop a summary for publication.
The changes include new residential zone business standards, provisions for private streets in certain districts, and new rules on metes and bounds subdivisions.
Water, sewer issues
The city authorized final payment of $23,450.72 to E. H. Renner & Sons for construction of Wells 2 and 3. The total project cost of $242,638 was $25,921 less than the original bid.
While the new wells provide more water than planned, and at a lower construction cost, there will be additional expenses for upgrades to the pump and motor.
The city accepted the Ziegler bid of $69,436 for a 150 kW portable generator. It will provide two voltages, one to power all lift stations and Well 1, and one to serve as a back-up for the public works garage.
To provide auxiliary power to the fixed generator for Pump House 2, the city can choose diesel fuel or natural gas. While diesel is cheaper, it must be stored on site, using additives to keep it fresh.
City Administrator Elizabeth Mursko said the surrounding communities all use natural gas for this purpose.
City Engineer Larry Bohrer said that in the case of a natural gas shortage, this use would be considered an essential service and would not be cut off.
But Council members Jeff Duraine and Denny Peterson believe it would be short-sighted to rely on a public utility for an emergency generator and prefer to use diesel.
The city will apply for a variance with the Department of Health to provide auxiliary power to the fixed generator with diesel fuel.
A variance is required because the well code prohibits storage of fuel within 50 feet of a pump house.
Roads, bridges and busing
Council members approved the 2008 plans and specifications for seal coating blacktop roads and authorized advertisement for bids. Bidding will open Wednesday, March 19.
A total of 250,000 square yards will be treated at an estimated cost of $330.000, using trap rock from Dresser, WI.
Council member Renae Fry reported that there have been a number of complaints of potholes on Potomac Street, especially from Broadway south. At the appropriate time, the road crew will address this.
At the request of the public works road paving subcommittee, for a fee of $300 City Engineer Bohrer will update the 1980 report comparing costs of gravel and blacktop maintenance.
The council designated the city engineer as the Columbus representative in Anoka County discussions of the CR-83 overpass (11th Ave. in Forest Lake), which would go over I-35 south of the rest area and connect with Howard Lake Drive in Columbus. Mursko said the technical advisory panel plans final design in 2009 and construction in 2011.
For the Highway 97/Interstate 35 interchange, the council authorized the city engineer to spend up to $1500 to explore options, including creating maps and plans, and recommend spacing guidelines for the west side of the freeway.
Fry volunteered to be the contact person for North Metro Park & Ride, because she fills a similar role for Rush Line.
Other items
The original harness track proposal called for the east part of the gravel parking lot to provide RV parking. As this would also require a dump station, Running Aces has revised site plans to show a holding tank dump station. Sewage will be pumped out and hauled away.
Mursko was appointed responsible authority for administration of the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act, and in her absence, Deputy Clerk Emmy Robinson.
This state law controls how government data are collected, created, stored, used, and released.
In addition, Mursko was named Data Practices Compliance Official, to receive questions or concerns regarding problems in obtaining access to city data.
For a proposed boundary change between the Rice Creek and Coon Creek watershed districts, based on hydrologic data on water flow, the council will submit a statement of concurrence conditional on receiving appropriate approval from the Rice Creek Watershed District board.
Also, the Rice Creek Watershed District is seeking applicants for its citizen advisory committee. Details will be posted on the city’s web site.
Request Declined
The council declined to sign a resolution from Minnesota House Minority Leader Marty Siefert calling for a capital investment bill that spends at least 50 percent of its total on roads and bridges in Minnesota.
“It might not be in your favor to go on record supporting such a specific proposal,” advised Attorney Joanna Vossen, adding that doing so may compromise some of the city’s other goals in front of the legislature.
“It’s a very partisan issue, and we have friends on both sides. We don’t have to be clear if we’re Democrats or Republicans,” Mettler added.
Council member Renae Fry agreed, saying, “Let’s stay out of this particular issue.”
After review by the city attorney, the council approved the 2008 Criminal Prosecution Services Agreement with Coon Rapids law firm Barna, Guzy and Steffen and Prosecutor James Hoeft, to serve as municipal prosecutor.
The prosecutor administers through the criminal justice system all misdemeanor, gross misdemeanor, and petty misdemeanor level offences which the city is obligated or authorized to prosecute.
The 2008 fee for this service is $14,400. One change was made in the contract to require written notice of termination.
The city approved the 2008 Customized Training Contract for $750. Hennepin Technical College will provide the public works department with training for OSHA compliance. The instruction will occur at the Forest Lake Senior Center on the second Thursday of each month.
After the three-year warranty period ends on April 1, the city’s 10 portable radios will be covered for repairs through the Anoka County Central Communications Radio Service.
The radio maintenance contract costs $2.95 per month, or $265.50 for nine months of coverage.
Other business
In other business on the agenda last week:
The council approved the Columbus Parent-Teacher Organization request to conduct two bingo fund-raisers: Family Fun Night on May 2, 2008, and Turkey Bingo on November 14, 2008.
The license is processed by the state and must be approved by the city.
Council member Jeff Duraine reported there were 17 structure fires last year, and the average response time was eight minutes.
Nine of the 36 firefighters live in Columbus. A new engine and rescue truck are scheduled for purchase in 2009.
Fry reported that since the new city forester started field inspections in September, 100 oaks trees have been identified as having oak wilt.
Thirteen sites were treated with root cutting and 35 are slated for removal.
Council member Denny Peterson showed the final choices for the freeway billboard sign. The sign chosen reads, “You are here [arrow]: City of Columbus. Commercial lands for sale. Locate your business here!”
The local board of appeal and equalization will meet on April 7 at 7 p.m. The planning commission will meet on February 25th.
Arbor Day plans include raffles, a lottery to give away 70 trees, and a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new maintenance building.
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