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4.10. SR 02-17-1998~..~ty of iver TO: FROM: DATE: SUBJECT: Item 4.10. MEMORANDUM Mayor and City Council Phil Hals, Street/Parks Superintenden~--f February 12, 1998 Snowplow Safety Program for Elementary Schools Enclosed please find a copy of a program that the City of Bloomington has done for a number of years. My staff and I feel that this type of educational opportunity would have some positive effects for children's safety as well as good public relations for our department. I asked Dan Collins, principal of Parker Elementary School for his input on such a program. Mr. Collins was very enthusiastic at the concept and offered to work with us to develop a program. The timing is such that I would like to develop a short video and a training program with the intention of doing the actual school presentations in November and December. I think this would be worth the time and effort since the only costs involved would be equipment demonstrations, and in house video, a brochure and staff time. I ask if the City Council would support this venture. 13065 Orono Parkway · P.O. Box 490 · Elk River, MN 55330 · TDD & Phone: (612) 441-7420 ° Fax: (612) 441-7425 Kid's View of Snowplowing Written by: Tom Patterson, Street Maintenance Supervisor, City of Bloomington (Excerpts from an article reprinted from the December, 1993 issue of Minnesota Cities) In the winter of 1987, a first grade teacher from one of the Bloomington grade schools called Bloomington street maintenance and requested that someone visit her class and talk about what we do. It seemed to be a perfect opportunity to discuss snow and ice control and how the students could help us. We took along some equipment, a 950-B Cat Loader with a 12-foot plow and a 12-foot wing. We also brought a single axle dump truck with a 12-foot plow and a tailgate sander. Even though the weather was cold, our first presentation was an overwhelming success. The kids were thrilled to sit in the equipment and actually try the controls (under close supervision of the operators and with the equipment shut down). The biggest thrill was and still is blowing the air horns on the truck. Snow and ice control programs are the most visible activities performed by city maintenance forces. They may also be the most hazardous due to the road conditions, visibility, and traffic. It is extremely important to inform the public - especially children--about the procedures and hazards relating to snow and ice control operations. Since that first visit, street maintenance has been soliciting schools for the opportunity to visit classes and put on the presentation. About 12,000 students attend public and private schools in Bloomington. This means that there are many young people walking to and from school or bus stops, or waiting for the bus on the street comers. The goal of the school presentations is to make students aware of the things they can do to help the snow plow operators - things like walking way up into a driveway when a snowplow is coming, and not building snow forts in the snow piles on the boulevard, or maybe just keeping their sleds away from the street when they are not using them. A major point we make is to stay out from behind the trucks. Trucks back up frequently and visibility to the rear is very limited. We ask the kids to help us by telling their parents to stay way back from the trucks spreading sand, don't pass plow trucks while they are plowing, and keep garbage cans in the driveway if it snows on garbage collection day. After the classroom discussion, the students dress up warm and head outside where the operators show all of the functions of the loader and truck. It is here that the students learn about how the plows and sanders work and where the warning lights are and why they are there. This is also our opportunity to demonstrate the limited visibility directly behind the plows. Kid's View of Snowplowing By Tom Patterson, December 1993 Minnesota Cities Page 2 Our presenter asks the kids for four volunteers, who stand behind the truck in a group. The teacher inside the truck is asked if she/he can see any of them. Of course, the answer is no. A few more kids are asked to stand behind the truck. Again the question and answer is no. This goes on until all of the students (between 60 and 70) and other teachers are behind the truck. Even with that many people, the teacher in the truck still can't see any of them in either mirror. The whole group then moves slowly and carefully away from the truck until the teacher in the truck can see some of the students. The students learn something that stays with them and in many cases teachers are very surprised at the distance behind the truck the students get before they can be seen. After the demonstrations of the functions by the operators and the visibility demonstration, the equipment is shut down with all plow attachments resting on the ground and all hydraulic pressures relieved. When the operators are sure that nothing will move on the equipment, the students are allowed to walk around and get a closer look. With the operators help and supervision, the students can sit in the driver's seat and see what it is like. They can turn the steering wheel or move the levers, and of course, pull the cord for the air horns. During both the classroom discussion and the outside demonstrations, we always encourage the kids to ask questions. The quality of some of the questions asked is amazing. Questions generally cover everything - who, what, where, when, and why plus maybe a why not or a what if. Almost invariably one of the students will ask one of the operators "Is it fun plowing snow?" This usually brings a slight smile from the operator who says "Yes, it is," forgetting for the moment the early morning phone calls, adverse conditions, long hours, and fatigue. This year, the street maintenance department developed and sent to each residence an informational brochure about our snow/ice control procedures. This brochure will also be used at the school presentations as a handout to be taken home. By involving young people in our community and asking them to help with our snow and ice control program, we are taking a positive step toward making the entire program safer and more efficient. Howard R, Green Company CONSULTING ENGINEERS February 16, 1998 File: 801760j-0060 Formerly MSA Consulting Engineers Mr. Pat Klaers City Administrator City of Elk River 13065 Orono Parkway P. O. Box 490 Elk River, MN 55330-0490 RE: TH 10/171ST AVENUE SIGNALIZATION Dear Mr. Klaers: In the past week, we have §poken with Yvonne Crocker of the Metro District of MnDOT and Tom Dumont from District 3 MnDOT regarding the Signal Justification Report (SJR) that was submitted for the intersection of TH 10 and 171st Avenue. Both Ms. Crocker and Mr. Dumont indicated that the S JR had been reviewed and was to be approved. Tom Dumont indicated that District 3 will program $80,000 for their share of the signal installation. It will likely take two to three weeks for the S JR to work its way through the Districts for the appropriate signatures, before we receive a final executed copy back for our files. If the City Council still desires to attempt to get the signal installed at this location in late 1998 or early 1999, we would recommend that the City Council authorize work to begin on the preparation of plans and specifications based on MnDOT's verbal approval of the Signal Justification Report. To that end, I have attached a draft resolution for the City Council's consideration, which will authorize the preparation of plans and specifications for the signal design and the appropriate geometric changes to the intersection. If you have any questions, please call. Sincerely, Howard R. Green Company Terry J. Maurer, P.E. TJM/et Enclosures O:~proj~801760\760-1316.feb 1326 Energy Park Drive · St. Paul, MN 55108 · 612/644-4389 fax 612/644-9446 toll free 888/368-4389 RESOLUTION 98- A RESOLUTION FOR THE CITY OF ELK RIVER A RESOLUTION ORDERING THE PREPARATION OF PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS IN THE MATTER OF THE TH 10/171ST AVENUE SIGNALIZATION AND INTERSECTION GEOMETRIC IMPROVEMENTS OF 1998 WHEREAS, WHEREAS, WHEREAS, a Signal Justification Report has been submitted to MnDOT regarding the installation of a signal at 171st Avenue and TH 10; and MnDOT District 3 and Metro District have reviewed the Signal Justification Report and indicated that the signal is warranted; and the City Council feels that this intersection should be signalized as soon as possible for safety considerations; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Elk River, Minnesota: Howard R. Green Company, Consulting Engineers, is hereby designated as the project engineer for this improvement. The project engineer is directed to prepare plans and specifications for the making of the improvement and the solicitation of competitive bids. Passed and adopted this day of February 1998. ATTESTED: Henry A. Duitsman, Mayor Sandra A. Thackery, City Clerk O:\proj\801760\760-1313. feb