2009-07-28_PWETC_AgendaPacket - Laserfiche WebLink

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Discussion ensued on changing school bus routes and the challenge of providing safe walkways for pedestrians, and encouraging reduced heavy traffic on roads, thus reducing maintenance costs. Chair DeBenedet suggested that the City Council consider three different consid-erations to assist with infrastructure maintenance for streets: build more pathways; regular maintenance schedules; and reducing heavy vehicle traffic (i.e., buses and garbage trucks) on city streets. Discussion continued in noting the desire of citizens to walk, but the need for safety in their doing so; noting those intersections that were deemed unsafe within the community; recent improvements in design of the Rice Creek interchange pro j ect with reconstruction of Rice Street at Highway 36; the vital part a pathway system would play in Neighborhood Enhancement Program achievements; and whether a Pathway Master Plan should be part of any future referendum in con junction with Park and Recreation improvements by endowing and incorporating both of those needs, if so indicated by community support. Some discussion was held on whether it would be prudent, while politically un-popular, for the City to consider organized waste collection to further reduce heavy truck traffic on residential streets for safety and maintenance reasons, and in providing an overall cost to citizens. Discussion continued on state statutes and procedures related to this issue; and whether additional review was needed, based on new energy and recycling efforts, and the need to educate the public on both sides of the issue before making a decision. Chair DeBenedet led a discussion on possible review of the City's storm water ordinance, and whether existing ordinances should be combined for easier en-forcement and applicant understanding with proposed projects; and the need for commitment from the City Council for any recommended policies for enforce-ment (i.e., illegal discharge into the City's sanitary and/or stormwater systems); and the PWET's interest in working on a comprehensive ordinance and recom-mendation for consideration by the City Council for staff management of that function. Chair DeBenedet and Commissioners opined that the least expensive way, when funds were limited, to clean stormwater was to keep construction run-off from entering the system, and to increase street sweeping. The PWET sup-ported the City's purchase of a vacuum street sweeper to reduce phosphorus load-ing of waterways; and noted recent j oint purchase of that equipment by the Cities of Falcon Heights and Little Canada, and whether the City could partner with those communities. Commissioners suggested the PWET's further study of how erosion control permits were enforced; and the ability to compost seeds and leaves if swept up before they became dredge material; and preference for a stormwater quality control ordinance rather than erosion control ordinance. Commissioners noted their frustration that there remained a number of people in Roseville who continued to illegally dump paint and/or motor oil in the storm-sewers, and the need to increase education efforts to alert them to the impacts of this practice.