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At the request of Chair Stenlund, Mr. Culver advised that the intent was for the <br /> City Council to have an annual fee established versus fees on a case by case basis. <br /> Consensus of the body was that staff return with a revised draft ordinance based <br /> on tonight's discussion. <br /> 6. Pathway Maintenance Discussion (Parks staff) <br /> Parks and Recreation Director Lonnie Brokke was welcomed and introduced by <br /> Public Works Director Schwartz; and Mr. Brokke provided a bench handout, <br /> attached hereto and made apart hereof, consisting of Policy 442 entitled, "Snow <br /> Plowing-Pathway" dated October of 2014. As previously requested by Member <br /> Gjerdingen, Mr. Schwartz provided a copy of the City's Streets and Parking Lot <br /> Snow and Ice Control Policy," also attached hereto and made apart hereof. <br /> Staff's presentation included a map showing plow routes and location of city <br /> parking lots and ice control routes, city and postal installation requirements for <br /> mailboxes, snowplow visibility diagrams, roadway clearing diagram, and other <br /> applicable information in snow removal efforts by staff, noting that snow removal <br /> efforts were a joint responsibility of the Public Works and Parks & Recreation <br /> Departments. <br /> Mr. Brokke noted that the city's park trails and off-road paths consisted of 74 <br /> miles of pathways, with 53 of those miles plowed by staff and the remaining 21 <br /> miles plowed by commercial property owners, with the city's focus on residential <br /> and park areas. Mr. Brokke advised that pathway maintenance included plowing, <br /> estimating that the Parks & Recreation Department was responsible for 95% of <br /> that maintenance, in addition to joint efforts by the departments in trimming of <br /> trees and vegetation, sweeping, repairs and/or reconstruction. Mr. Brokke <br /> reviewed goals of these efforts, including complete plowing within twenty-four <br /> hours to provide passable footing (not bare pavement), and with few exceptions, <br /> and no use of salt and sand to avoid adjacent turf damage. Mr. Brokke noted the <br /> winter season required continual clean-up with freeze/thaw issues, as well as <br /> systematic sweeping and trimming done seasonally as applicable or on an as- <br /> needed basis. <br /> At the request of Chair Stenlund, Mr. Brokke reviewed the types of equipment <br /> used whether by a sidewalk machine (two currently available) with sweeper, <br /> blower or blade attachment for narrower paths, with 8' paths done by truck. Mr. <br /> Brokke reviewed other challenges in keeping the pathway system accessible and <br /> safe in all seasons. At the request of Chair Stenlund, Mr. Brokke also addressed <br /> issues with sidewalk irregularities in some areas, rate of vegetative grown, <br /> competing activities and limited staffing, and storm events. Other variables <br /> addressed by Mr. Brokke included the amount/type and duration of snow and <br /> weather conditions and temperature, equipment failure, and obstructions on <br /> pathways. <br /> Page 8 of 14 <br />