Loading...
09-08-09 PSC AgendaOTSEGO POLICE UUMMISSION AGENDA SEPTEMBER 8, 2009 1. Call meeting to order. 2. Consider Agenda 3. Consider the following minutes: August 11, 2009 4.Open Forum (5 minute limit ) 5. Old Business A. Road clean up meet date B . Festival work times C. Nixle 6. New Business 7. Line Items Aug 24 - Linda 8. Council Meeting Assignments Sept. 14 Sept 28 9. Adjournment **Next meeting, October 13, 2009 Open Forum: If you have any questions ,comments, or information regarding an item on the agenda, please step forward to be recognized by the police commission during "OPEN FORUM" item on the agenda. State your name and address for the record. ITEM 8_2 August 193 2009 I;s Otsego Park and Recreation Commission 8899 Nashua Avenue Otsego, MN 55330 Dear Members of the Otsego Park and Recreation Commission: I am writing this letter to you, Mayor Stockamp, Council Members Darkenwald, Heidner, Thorsted and Scharber, and Otsego Elementary Principal Talley. With the safety of our community's children in mind, I am requesting a change in the speed limit and signage on the 8100 and 8200 block of Parell Avenue, Otsego. I have been a resident of 8187 Parell Avenue since 2001, when I built my home. I am employed as a Sheriff's Detective for the Hennepin County, Sheriff's Office and am aware of safety issues regarding traffic and pedestrians, especially children. I have been employed as a licensed Peace Officer since 1995. I have concerns for the safety of not only my two children but also the children of my neighbors on the block and in the area. The speed limit on our block is the typical 30 MPH city street limit. Our two -block section travels north and south; on the north end the street curves to the west. We constantly have vehicles traveling at a high rate of speed around the curve coming south. At times, vehicles are traveling so fast around the corner I can hear the tires squealing as they approach my residence. When vehicles travel that fast there is no possible way they have the reaction time necessary to avoid something in the road around the curve. This problem is greatly enhanced if there are vehicles parked on the street, especially on the west side. They just can't see what is in or coming into the street. This also goes for children entering the street looking for cars. When they stop and look north for cars coming, they can't see what is coming around the curve. It's even worse for the kids trying to see when there are cars parked on the west side of the street. I can honestly say I don't feel comfortable traveling more than 20 MPH around this curve. I have continuing education every two years on the capabilities of a vehicle; how long it takes to observe, comprehend, react and avoid, or come to a complete stop. I assure you, from my training and experience, there is not enough time to react or stop when coming around this corner at 30 MPH, let alone faster. I can make any stopping distance available to you as it compares to vehicle speed, time of observation, comprehension and reaction time to a complete stop. If you are interested please let me know. Directly to the east of our neighborhood is Otsego Elementary. Directly from the front parking lot of the elementary school is a paved park path that comes to the 8100 block of Parell Avenue. This path also gives access to the Otsego Elementary playground and baseball fields and School Knoll Park, located northwest of the school. This causes a high volume of foot and bicycle traffic to and from the path' at all times, not just before and after school. There is no sidewalk on our street so pedestrians and bicyclists share the street with vehicles. This is the only path to the park and school for the many homes located to the west. As you can imagine, the majority of the traffic is kids on foot, bikes, scooters, etc. I have seen many "close calls" with children and vehicles. I have, on a few occasions, yelled out to drivers traveling at a high rate of speed to "slow down." Usually the drivers don't even look up as they are driving while talking on the phone, texting or with their music turned up. The texting really scares me; a driver when texting is just simply not looking at what's ahead of them. I have, on a couple of occasions, even observed other neighbors shout out to drivers to slow down. I have observed drivers stop, get out, and get into verbal altercations with the neighbor shouting out. These 4Boo Olson Memorial Highway, Suite 2W, Golden valley, MN 55422 Telephone: 763.231.2555 Facsimile: 763.231,2561 planners@nacplanning.com TO: Otsego Mayor and City Council Otsego Parks and Recreation Commission Otsego Police Commission FROM: DATE: RE: NAC FILE: Daniel Licht, AICP 1 September 2009 Otsego —City Code; Special Vehicle Use 176.08 Ms. Diann Norfolk has inquired at City Hall about the use of a motorized golf cart upon City trails and streets. This issue is being forwarded to the Parks and Recreation Commission relative to trail use and to the Police Commission related to street use for recommendations to the City Council. Exhibits: A. MN Statutes 169.045 NALYSIS irrails. Section 6-7-4.N of the City Code regulating parks and trails prohibits the use of any motorized vehicle on or across any portion of a City park or trail (other than a driveway or parking area). The prohibition of motorized vehicle on City trails is intended to avoid conflicts between the size and speed of the motorized vehicle with pedestrians, bicyclists, rollerblades, etc. There is also potential for damage to the trail surface, which is not designed to accommodate the weight of motorized vehicles or their frequent use. City staff does not recommend amending the City Code to allow for motorized vehicles on City trails. Streets. Use of motorized vehicles such as golf carts having an engine displacement of less than 600cc or weight of less than 800 pounds upon City streets is allowed only if the City adopts an ordinance specifically authorizing such vehicles pursuant to Minnesota Statutes 169,045, Otsego has not adopted an ordinance allowing these types of vehicles to operate upon City streets making them prohibited. Consideration may be given to amending the City Code to authorize these vehicles to operate on City streets. Potential concerns with these vehicles operating on City streets would include conflict with automobile and truck traffic and enforcement of traffic laws. C®NCLUSI®N Allowance of motorized vehicles such as golf carts to operate upon City streets is to be considered by the Police Commission at their meeting on 8 September 2009 at 7:00 PM and by the Parks and Recreation Commission at their meeting on 9 September 2009 at 7:00 PM. City staff is seeking a recommendation to the City Council from both commissions as to whether the City Code should be amended to allow operation of these vehicles upon City trails and/or streets. c. Mike Robertson, City Administrator Tami Loff, City Clerk Andy MacArthur, City Attorney Diann Norfolk, 14281 78t" Street NE 2 1 MINNESOTA STATUTES 2008 169.045 169.045 SPECIAL VEHICLE USE ON ROADWAY. Subdivision 1. Designation of roadway, permit. The governing body of any county, home rule charter or statutory city, or town may by ordinance authorize the operation of motorized golf carts, or four-wheel all -terrain vehicles, on designated roadways or portions thereof under its jurisdiction. Authorization to operate a motorized golf cart or four-wheel all -terrain vehicle is by permit only. For purposes of this section, a four-wheel all -terrain vehicle is a motorized flotation -tired vehicle with four low-pressure tires that is limited in engine displacement of less than 800 cubic centimeters and total dry weight less than 600 pounds. Subd. 2. Ordinance. The ordinance shall designate the roadways, prescribe the form of the application for the permit, require evidence of insurance complying with the provisions of section 6513.48, subdivision 5 and may prescribe conditions, not inconsistent with the provisions of this section, under which a permit may be granted. Permits may be granted for a period of not to exceed one year, and may be annually renewed. A permit may be revoked at any time if there is evidence that the permittee cannot safely operate the motorized golf cart or four-wheel all -terrain vehicle on the designated roadways. The ordinance may require, as a condition to obtaining a permit, that the applicant submit a certificate signed by a physician that the applicant is able to safely operate a motorized golf cart or four-wheel all -terrain vehicle on the roadways designated. Subd. 3. Times of operation. Motorized golf carts and four-wheel all -terrain vehicles may only be operated on designated roadways from sunrise to sunset. They shall not be operated in inclement weather or when visibility is impaired by weather, smoke, fog or other conditions, or at any time when there is insufficient light to clearly see persons and vehicles on the roadway at a distance of 500 feet. Subd. 4. Slow -moving vehicle emblem. Motorized golf carts shall display the slow -moving vehicle emblem provided for in section 169.522, when operated on designated roadways. Subd. 5. Crossing intersecting highways. The operator, under permit, of a motorized golf cart or four-wheel all -terrain vehicle may cross any street or highway intersecting a designated roadway. Subd. 6. Application of traffic laws. Every person operating a motorized golf cart or four-wheel all -terrain vehicle under permit on designated roadways has all the rights and duties applicable to the driver of any other vehicle under the provisions of this chapter, except when those provisions cannot reasonably be applied to motorized golf carts or four-wheel all -terrain vehicles and except as otherwise specifically provided in subdivision 7. Subd. 7. Nonapplication of certain laws. The provisions of chapter 171, are not applicable to persons operating motorized golf carts or four-wheel all -terrain vehicles under permit on Copyright ©2008 by the Revisor of Statutes, State of Minnesota. All Rights Reserved. 2 MINNESOTA STATUTES 2008 169.045 designated roadways pursuant to this section. Except for the requirements of section 169.70, the provisions of this chapter relating to equipment on vehicles is not applicable to motorized golf carts or four-wheel all -terrain vehicles operating, under permit, on designated roadways. Subd. 8. Insurance. In the event persons operating a motorized golf cart or four-wheel, allAerrain vehicle under this section cannot obtain liability insurance in the private market, that person may purchase automobile insurance, including no-fault coverage, from the Minnesota Automobile Assigned Risk Plan at a rate to be determined by the commissioner of commerce. History: 1982 c 549 s 2; 1986 c 452 s 19; ISp1986 c 3 ar t 2 s 12; 1987 c 337 s 121,122; 1997 c 159 art 2 s 18 Copyright ©2008 by the Revisor of Statutes, State of Minnesota. All Rights Reserved.