2018.11.20 Work Session Packet
4141 Douglas Drive North • Crystal, Minnesota 55422-1696
Tel: (763) 531-1000 • Fax: (763) 531-1188 • www.crystalmn.gov
Posted: Nov. 16, 2018
City Council
Work Session Agenda
Nov. 20, 2018
6:20 p.m.
Conference Room A
Pursuant to due call and notice given in the manner prescribed by Section 3.01 of the City Charter,
the work session of the Crystal City Council was held at ______ p.m. on Nov. 20, 2018 in Conference
Room A, 4141 Douglas Dr. N., Crystal, Minnesota.
I. Attendance
Council Members Staff
____ Parsons ____ Norris
____ Adams ____ Therres
____ Budziszewski ____ Gilchrist
____ Dahl ____ Revering
____ Deshler ____ Ray
____ Kolb ____ Serres
____ LaRoche
II. Agenda
The purpose of the work session is to discuss the following agenda items:
1. Commission candidate interview (6:20 – 6:30 p.m.).
2. Winter operations check in.
3. Constituent issues.
4. City manager monthly check in.
5. New business.*
6. Announcements.*
* Denotes no supporting information included in the packet.
III. Adjournment
The work session adjourned at ______ p.m.
Auxiliary aids are available upon request to individuals with disabilities by calling the City Clerk at (763) 531-
1145 at least 96 hours in advance. TTY users may call Minnesota Relay at 711 or 1-800-627-3529.
\Commissions, Boards, Task Forces\Applicants, Renewals, Openings\Application For Board, Commission, Task Force.Doc Page 1 of 3
Please check one: New Applicant Reappointment
Thank you for your interest in serving your community as a volunteer. Please indicate below the board,
commission or task force which you would like to be appointed to. (Note eligibility requirements - a
member of a board, commission or task force must be a lawful resident of Crystal and, if required, a resident
of the Council ward from which they are appointed.) Your application will be kept on file for one year.
Charter Commission
Community Outreach Task Force
Employee Review Board
Environmental Quality Commission
Parks & Recreation Commission (Ward____)
Planning Commission (Ward____)
Watershed Mgt Organization – Bassett Creek
Watershed Mgt Organization – Shingle Creek
West Metro Fire Board
PERSONAL INFORMATION (please print)
Name Length of residence in Crystal _______
First Middle Last
Street Address ___________________________ Zip _________________
Home Phone Work Phone __
Cell Email___________________________
Employer Occupation ____________________________
STATEMENT OF INTEREST
Why are you interested in serving on this City board, commission or task force?________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
IMPORTANT ISSUES FACING OUR COMMUNITY
What do you think are the most important issues facing our community over the next several
years? __________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
Describe what issues and ideas you would like to see addressed by the board, commission or task
force you would like to serve on. _____________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
APPLICATION FOR CITY BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND TASK FORCES
Return application to: 4141 Douglas Drive N, Crystal MN 55422
Fax: (763) 531-1188; Email: trudy.tassoni@crystalmn.gov.
I:\Commissions, Boards, Task Forces\Applicants, Renewals, Openings\Application For Board, Commission, Task Force.Doc Page 2 of 3
COMMUNITY, CIVIC OR VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE
Please list your volunteer experience. _________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
ATTENDANCE AND CONFLICT OF INTEREST
Are you aware of the meeting schedule for this board, commission or task force, and are you able
to attend meetings regularly? Yes_______ No_______
For reappointments only: If you have not been able to attend meetings regularly, please explain:
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
A conflict of interest may arise by your participation in an activity, action or decision from which
you receive or could potentially receive direct or indirect personal financial gain. Do you have any
legal or equitable interest in any business which, in the course of your participation on this board,
commission or task force, could give rise to a conflict of interest? Yes_______ No_______
(If yes, please provide details on a separate sheet of paper.)
As a board, commission or task force member, what issue(s) might cause conflict between your
civic responsibility and personal or professional interests? How would you manage these conflicts?
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
NEW APPLICANTS ONLY:
Have you attended and observed a board, commission or task force meeting for which you’ve
made application?
Yes, on ____________________ Not yet, but I will attend a meeting on ___________________
(date of meeting) (date of meeting)
EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Describe your education and/or professional experience.__________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
REAPPOINTMENTS ONLY:
BOARD, COMMISSION OR TASK FORCE HIGHLIGHTS
Describe a highlight(s) or accomplishment(s) of the board , commission or task force during your
last term.________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
I:\Commissions, Boards, Task Forces\Applicants, Renewals, Openings\Application For Board, Commission, Task Force.Doc Page 3 of 3
IMPORTANT INFORMATION CONCERNING YOUR APPLICATION
DATA PRIVACY NOTICE: Minnesota law requires that you be informed of the purposes and
intended use of the information you are providing on this application. Pursuant to Minn. Stat.
§13.601, your name, address, length of residence, occupation, education, training, civic affiliations,
qualifications and experience are public data and is available to anyone who requests the
information.
The information you provide will be used to identify you as an applicant, enable us to contact yo u
when additional information is required, send you notices, and assess your qualifications for
appointment. This data is not legally required, but refusal to supply the information requested
may affect the City Council’s ability to accurately evaluate you r application.
Should you be appointed to a board, commission or task force, pursuant to Minn. Stat. §13.601,
your residential address will become public information. In addition, either a telephone number
or email address where you can be reached will become public. The purpose is to list contact
information for board, commission and task force members on a public roster.
Please select which of the following you will allow listed on a public roster (you must select either
email or one phone number):
EMAIL OR PHONE (may choose more than one): home work cell
ALL OF THE ABOVE
I have read the data privacy notice given above and authorize investigation into all statements
contained in this application. Furthermore, I authorize the City of Crystal to conduct a criminal
history background check, pursuant to Crystal City Code Section 311.01, Subd. 2, for purposes of
determining my eligibility for a volunteer position with the City.
MN Driver’s License or MN State ID Number:______________________________
If known by previous name, provide:__________________________________________________
__________________________
Applicant’s signature Date
Process
Step 1 Complete an application
Step 2 Return the completed application to the administrative services coordinator
Step 3 Participate in a 10-minute interview with the city council
Step 4 New applicants only: attend a council meeting to be formally appointed to the commission
4141 Douglas Drive North • Crystal, Minnesota 55422-1696
Tel: (763) 531-1000 • Fax: (763) 531-1188 • www.crystalmn.gov
For questions about Crystal snow plow operations, contact Streets Superintendent Bill Bowman
at bill.bowman@crystalmn.gov, 763‐531‐1164.
SNOW PLOWING FAQs
Q. My hill is icy. Can you send someone out to put salt/sand down?
A. Salt request locations will be checked as part of the normal checks of major roads and hills.
Q. My cul‐de‐sac is icy. Can you send someone to put salt/sand down?
A. Major roadways and hills are top priority for addressing ice conditions. The city has a limited
salt supply and budget available. Cul‐de‐sacs have very low traffic volumes and low speeds, and
are therefore a lower priority.
Q. The snow is piled so high it is creating a visibility issue. Can the city come out and remove
some of the snow mounds?
A. After large or multiple snow events, where the snow banks are quite high on streets
throughout the City, equipment is sent out to push back snow piles when needed.
Q. Is the city still plowing? If so, where are they? They have not come down my street yet.
A. When the city gets 1.5 inches of snow or more, it does a full plow of all city streets and
alleys. If there is less than 1.5 inches in accumulation, the city may send out trucks to salt main
roads and hills.
Q. The snowplow hit my garbage/recycling cart, and it’s now in the street.
A. When plowing, snow is pushed from the center of the road to the side of the road. It is
unlikely that a plow pushed it into the road. The city appreciates residents keeping their
garbage carts out of the roadways and a few feet behind the curb.
Q. The snowplow hit my garbage/recycling cart.
A. Trash and recycling carts need to be placed off the street and behind the curb on collection
day. The city is not responsible for damaged garbage/recycling carts. Call your hauler for a
replacement cart if needed.
Q. Can you tell me when the plow will come by my house? I need to leave for work by 7 a.m.
A. After a snowfall of 1.5 inches, all city streets are plowed curb to curb. Crews work
systematically to clear all the streets; however, routes may change due to a variety of factors
such as parked vehicles or traffic. When the weather cooperates, crews start very early in the
morning to clear main roads before the morning rush hour.
Q. If you don’t know when the plows will come by, can residents just plow the street?
A. Residents cannot plow city streets.
Q. Can plows drive slower?
A. Snowplow trucks generally operate below 20 miles per hour while plowing residential
streets. Due to the size of the truck and the noise of the engine, the trucks can appear to be
traveling faster than they are.
Q. Can you lift or turn your plow at my driveway?
A. Operators will not lift or turn their plow at the ends of driveways. Doing so would leave a
large pile of snow in the road, and turning the plow for every driveway is not feasible.
Q. Can you plow the snow away from (out of) the cul‐de‐sac, instead of around the cul‐de‐
sac, leaving all of the snow in my yard?
A. To effectively plow the cul‐de‐sac, snow is pushed to the nearest curb. Cul‐de‐sacs have
limited space for snow storage and it is a challenge to avoid driveways, mailboxes and fire
hydrants.
Q. Why has my street not been plowed all winter?
A. During snow events, the focus is on main roads and hills. After a snowfall of 1.5 inches, all
city streets will be plowed curb to curb. It is unlikely a road would be intentionally missed. If
you think your street has been missed, please contact the Streets Superintendent. With warmer
temperatures and melting snow pack, it may turn slushy. Some residents may see the slush and
think the road has not been plowed.
Q. Can you time plowing to give me time to remove the plow mound from my driveway early
in the morning? When I come home from work I cannot get in my driveway.
A. A full snow plowing cleanup operation typically starts as soon as the snowfall has ended.
When weather cooperates, crews will try and start early in the morning to complete most
streets by 8 am.
Q. Would the snowplow please leave less or no snow at the end of my driveway?
A. The street is plowed by pushing the snow from the street to the side. The operator has very
little control over how much snow is deposited at the end of driveways.
Q. The snowplow damaged my mailbox. Who will fix it?
A. The city will conduct a review of each mailbox incident to determine whether a snowplow
came into direct contact with it or its support structure. The city will only repair mailboxes
actually hit by a snowplow and install it to United States Postal Service Residential Mailbox
Standards. The city is not responsible for damage to mailboxes or support posts caused by snow
or ice contacting the mailbox.
Based on the city’s review, the city will repair the mailbox to an operational state. If the mailbox
cannot be adequately repaired, the city will replace it with a standard size, non‐decorative
metal mailbox. The city may also replace the support post as necessary with a 4” x 4” decay‐
resistant wood support post, if necessary. Dents, scratches, or other superficial damage that
does not prohibit normal use of the mailbox will be considered normal wear and tear and will
not be repaired or replaced by the city.
Q. The snowplow damaged my yard. Who will fix it?
A. The property will be added to a list of repairs. Crews will restore damaged turf in the spring
with dirt and seed. Property owners are responsible for watering, if needed.
Q. How many plows does the city have?
A. The city has six plow trucks, two sidewalk plows and six pieces of various equipment for
plowing cul‐de‐sacs, dead ends, parking lots and trails.
Q. The street is getting narrow, can a plow come widen the road?
A. When plowing, the snow is simply being pushed to the side of the road. Over the course of
the winter, the streets will get narrower as the banks get higher. If necessary, city crews may
deploy equipment to push back snow banks.
Q. Can I push snow from my driveway into or across the street?
A. State Statute 169.42 prohibits snow from being pushed into or across the street.
Q. Can I park on the street after it has been plowed?
A. When a snow emergency is declared, no on‐street parking is allowed until the streets have
been plowed curb to curb. There is no on street parking city‐wide, 2 a.m. to 5 a.m. year round.
Q. How do I find out if a snow emergency has been declared?
A. Residents can find out if a snow emergency has been declared through the city’s social media
accounts, news outlets and the city website.
Q. I am remodeling my home and have a dumpster in my driveway, I am asking the
contractors to park on the street. Can you make sure they don’t get tickets?
A. During a snowfall of 1.5 inches or more, no on‐street parking is allowed until the street has
been plowed curb‐to‐curb. This includes contractors. The parking restriction is in effect to allow
plow operators to clear the entire street curb to curb of snow so the street can be returned to
normal winter conditions as quickly as possible. Vehicles parked on the street not only hinder
this process, they also reduce the efficiency of the plow trucks.
Q. What roads do Hennepin County and MnDOT plow?
A. MnDOT owns and maintains Hwy. 100. Hennepin County owns and maintains county
highways in Crystal: Douglas Dr., West Broadway, Bass Lake Rd., Medicine Lake Rd., Winnetka
Ave., and 42nd Ave.
Q. How is Crystal’s snow plow operation different than MnDOT’s?
A. Hwy. 100 serves nearly 100,000 vehicles per day that typically travel at highway speeds. The
expectations for the road conditions are at a higher level (bare pavement or getting back to
these conditions as quickly as feasible). MnDOT has the staff and equipment to run a 24‐hour
continuous operation, if needed, to get road conditions back to acceptable levels. In the City of
Crystal, the busiest city street is 36th Ave. between Douglas Dr. and Hwy. 100 serving nearly
20,000 vehicles per day. After 36th Ave., the next highest volume streets are less than 4,000
vehicles per day. Over 60% of all the city’s public works staff (across all public works divisions)
have an assignment during a full plow. The city simply does not have the staff to run a
continuous full plow operation. For more information on MnDOT’s plowing operations, please
visit: http://www.dot.state.mn.us/maintenance/faq.html
Q. What are public work’s goals for winter roadway conditions?
A. The city’s goal for the main streets is bare pavement in the wheel tracks. The exception is
36th Ave., where the goal is for bare pavement in each travel lane. For city streets with hills
(not main streets), the goal is a bare pavement strip down the middle of the road. As noted
previously, after 36th Ave., the next busiest streets have less than 4,000 vehicles per day. But
the vast majority of Crystal streets have under 1,000 vehicles per day. This translates to around
one vehicle per minute, even during busier times.
By providing a mostly bare pavement center strip on streets with hills (that are not main roads),
drivers are able to get some of their wheels on bare pavement the vast majority of the time. On
the flatter residential streets, there is not a bare pavement goal. Drivers are encouraged to
drive slower and use care. That said, when the weather gets closer to 30 degrees, city crews go
out and scrape the streets mechanically to remove the snow pack. This is more cost effective
and environmentally friendly than trying to do the same with salt. While the goal is for various
levels of bare pavement, weather conditions can significantly impact how quickly the goal can
be met. Salt is not effective below 15F degrees and extended snow events or ones with
significant accumulation will take longer to recover from.
SIDEWALKS
Q. Can you put salt/sand on the sidewalks?
A. The city does not salt/sand sidewalks. With the available resources it is just not feasible.
Q. Why does the sidewalk plow throw snow all over the steps to my house after I have
already cleaned them?
A. During the snow removal process, it is difficult to see all features along a route due to the
blowing snow. Sometimes the regular route driver is unavailable and another staff member
covers the route who is less familiar with it. Operators try to minimize the amount of snow
placed on already cleared driveways, walkways and stairs, but some snow will miss the target
due to the nature of the operation. If there is a specific concern or question, please contact the
streets superintendent.
OTHER
Q. Does the city clear snow away from fire hydrants?
A. The city does not have the resources to clear snow away from all city fire hydrants. It is
strongly encouraged that the home owner take responsibility for clearing the snow away from a
fire hydrant in their yard. The West Metro Fire Department has an Adopt a Hydrant program.
For more information, please visit: http://www.wmfrd.org/public‐education/adopt‐a‐hydrant.
Q. There is too much snow at the end of my driveway. Will the city plow it?
A. The city is not responsible for plowing privately‐owned parking lots and driveways, and does
not have the resources to do it.
Q. Why is salt bad for the environment?
A. When salt is applied to streets the salt cannot be re‐captured. According to the Minnesota
Pollution Control Agency, one teaspoon of salt contaminates five gallons of water
(https://www.pca.state.mn.us/water/salt‐and‐water‐quality). The salt can also be hard on the
plants and grass along the roadways. The previous link provides the best and most accurate
information regarding the concerns about salt impact on water quality. Some other resources
include this MPR story: https://www.mprnews.org/story/2017/12/06/road‐salt‐water‐pollution
and another MPCA article: https://www.pca.state.mn.us/water/salty‐water‐growing‐problem‐
minnesota
Q. Does salt have a negative impact on infrastructure like it does on vehicles?
A. Salt is corrosive to infrastructure and vehicles. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has a
website with some information on the impacts of chlorides (salt) on infrastructure:
http://tinyurl.com/y8zysjb2. Here is an article from Michigan as well:
http://tinyurl.com/yagpkf8p.
Q. What source does the city use for weather forecast information?
A. Crystal Public Works uses the information provided by the National Weather Service for all
winter operation decision making. This information is free and available to the public at
www.weather.gov/mpx.
Q. What is the most important thing drivers should be aware of when plows are out?
A. The drivers need room to work. This includes backing up. Stay back and do not crowd the
plow.
Q. What is one thing the public may not know about winter operations?
A. During the summer, the city receives various speeding and cut‐through traffic complaints
from residents. The goal of winter operations is to provide improved road conditions on main
roads. A side benefit is that drivers should drive slower on residential streets and stay on main
roads as close to their destination as possible rather than drive through a neighborhood. Snow
removal operations are a balancing act between making the roads operational, environmental
impacts, infrastructure impacts and cost considerations. We do expect drivers to drive slower
on residential streets in the winter, but they should be able to get to and from their home,
which is why the main roads and hills have varying levels of bare pavement goals.
November 20, 2018
Walk down memory lane (17-18)
78.3 inches of snow (54.5 inches is the average)
23.8 inches more
9th snowiest on record
April 2018
26.1 inches of snow (2.5 inches is the average)
11.1 inches on April 14th
#1 snowiest April on record
Seasonal Info
2017-2018 78.3”
2016-2017 32.0”
2015-2016 36.7”
2014-2015 32.4”
2013-2014 69.8”
2012-2013 67.7”
Presentation Goals
Show you there is a method to the madness
Information on equipment and routes
Teach you a bit about how decisions are made
What information we use
Prepare you to respond to resident complaints
Clarify expectations on outcomes
Snow Removal Fundamentals
This is the most visible thing we do for the City
Snow removal is a department-wide, coordinated effort
Input gathered from all staff
We expect minor tweaks to occur based on how things go
Decision Making Process
We do not operate in a vacuum
Consult with our peers
Neighboring Cities
Consult with other agencies
National Weather Service
Hennepin County Emergency Management
Communicate with police and fire
Let them know what our plan is
Let them know who to contact if things come up
Key question
What is it going to take to get the roadway system back
to winter normal?
Will mother nature take care of it?
Plowing needed?
Salt needed?
Future snow events/weather coming?
Give and take
We are not 24/7 like MnDOT
Do not have the staffing for it (and should not)
We do not get speed complaints in the winter
If drivers travel at 20mph, they will generally be fine
This is more effective than signs, speed bumps, and is
done to the City uniformly. For free.
Salt does get down to bare pavement
But the salt is showing up in the surface water, is hard on
concrete, metal items, and vehicles
Salt concerns
One teaspoon of road salt to permanently pollute five
gallons of water.
Chloride corrodes road surfaces and bridges and
damages reinforcing rods, increasing maintenance and
repair costs.
Deicing salt accelerates rusting, causing damage to
vehicle parts such as brake linings, frames, bumpers.
Excess salt can make soil more alkaline and compact,
and less permeable, making it more difficult to store
nutrients that plants need to grow.
Source:
https://www.pca.state.mn.us/water/chloride-salts
Snow Plow Theory
Start where driver is the most efficient
Not rotating starting locations each plow
Going to try salting more streets (but not curb to curb)
Higher volume roads (relative)
Only along the crown
Get a strip of pavement down the middle
Not just at intersections
Most streets only have one car at a time
Potential cost impacts
Environmental impacts
Snow Plow Theory
Not planting trees in the right of way
One of the reasons is to try and reduce shade on the street
in the winter
By getting an exposed asphalt strip down the middle, try
to get better melting
If most of the traffic uses the strip, that will help
Drivers can see some pavement, so it feels like there is
something
Snow Plow Operations
Start times (ideal)
2am main routes
3am pickups and loaders
6am sidewalks
8 hours to plow City streets and alleys
Snow Plow Operations
Six main routes
Six cul-de-sac, alley and parking lot routes
Two sidewalk routes
Operation takes 14 people, plus one supervisor
15/26 (58%) of all PW staff
Does not include ice rinks or sidewalks at City buildings
Remaining staff:
Supervisors
Admin, GIS, Project Manager
5 maintenance workers –utility checks, locates, ice rinks,
City sidewalks, backup operators
Three Truck De-icing Route
Used for smaller snow events
Minimize compaction
Focus on higher volume roads, hills
Intent is to get it done in 2 hours with 3 trucks
Tweak from last year (tried 2 trucks)
Resources
YouTube videos on snow operations
Six videos (none have gone viral)
On City’s channel
City website
Go to “public works”, then “snow plowing”
Frequently Asked Questions
City Code
Section 815 (sidewalks) and Chapter 13 (on street parking)
Snow plowing and ice control policy
Approved Summer 2018
Plow-alongs (public can do this)
Questions / Comments
4141 Douglas Drive North • Crystal, Minnesota 55422-1696
Tel: (763) 531-1000 • Fax: (763) 531-1188 • www.crystalmn.gov
CITY MANAGER WORK PLAN
MONTHLY CHECK IN – November 2018
Objectives:
- Strategic leadership for achievement of Council goals
o Thriving Business Climate
City Code update nearing completion
2018 EDA project – Bass Lake Road streetscape improvements
Updated fire suppression system financial assistance program
Open To Business assistance available
o Create Strong Neighborhoods
Code enforcement – on-going
Implementation of Master Parks System Plan – Welcome Park
improvements complete, Becker Park improvement project
scheduled for Council authorization for bids in December
Home improvement loans/rebates available through CEE
o Fiscally sound and stable policies and procedures – see Financial
Management below
- Financial Management
o Long term financial planning:
2019-2020 budget – 2019 preliminary budget approved 9/4; final
budget on 12/4/18 agenda
Assume no new debt in future
o Financial policies and plan approved 11/8/18
o Utility rate study, including overhauling utility rate structure, approved
11/8/18
o Space needs study in progress
- Service delivery
o Monthly check in with Council
o Constituent Issues – prompt response and resolution – on-going
o Closed constituent issues – monthly report
- Media Relations
o Police incidents – keep Council notified as information available (public
and non-public) – as incidents occur