10. Discusson Seasonal Road Weith Restrictions File PW-320 1
1 CITYOF .
CHANHASSEN
1 • 690 COULTER DRIVE • P.O. BOX 147 • CHANHASSEN, MINNESOTA 55317
(612) 937 -1900 • FAX (612) 937 -5739
1 Action by City Administrate+
MEMORANDUM b►dorsed ✓ D w F1
Modified
TO: Don Ashworth, City Manager Rejected
tY g DAP 3 1 - 93
Date Submitted to Commission
' FROM: Charles Folch, City Engineer
Dete S iLm tted to Council
DATE: March 15, 1993 3 - aa - 1
SUBJ: Discussion on Seasonal Road Weight Restrictions
File No. PW -320
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As I am sure you are aware, each spring the City of Chanhassen imposes seasonal weight
limit restrictions on its streets during the frost thaw period. Typically, the Minnesota
Department of Transportation will determine each season the beginning date for the weight
restrictions for their highways and then most county and local jurisdictions will follow suit.
Spring weather (temperature and moisture) conditions have a significant impact on when
the seasonal weight restrictions are imposed and when they are lifted; however, it is quite
common for these restrictions to be in effect for an approximate two -month duration
1 beginning around March 15 and ending around May 15 of each year. Chanhassen seasonally
reduces 9 -ton roads to 7 -ton, 7 -ton residential roads to 5 -ton and 4 -ton limit on some of the
very poor conditioned streets.
I i staff has been contacted recently three licensed garbage haulers (Aagard West,
City sta as bee co tacted ece y by ee rased g ag e ( g ,
Chaska Sanitation and Woodlake Sanitary Service) who provide service to Chanhassen
residents, requesting permissions to exceed the seasonal load weight restrictions on
Chanhassen streets. Quite honestly, in years past, enforcement of the seasonal load limits
has been kind of a guessing game with the garbage haulers as to where the scales might be
located and where they will attempt to travel to avoid being weighed. The success of last
year's stepped -up enforcement appears to have at least been a factor in these haulers'
willingness to come to the table to deal with this issue. In fact, staff from the Engineering,
Street Maintenance and Public Safety Departments have recently held a meeting with these
garbage haulers to discuss some of the factors involved in this issue.
Mr. Chris Boatright of Aagard West, Mr. Gary Lano of Chaska Sanitation and Mr. Tom
Moline of Woodlake Sanitary Service were present at this meeting. These haulers are
contending that they cannot provide service to their customers in Chanhassen with their
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Don Ashworth
1 March 15, 1993
Page 2
current fleet of equipment and be able to meet the imposed seasonal weight restriction. In
I fact, they claim that a number of their vehicles would exceed the 5 -ton residential street
restriction with an empty payload condition. When posed with the question of acquiring
I vehicles which would provide the hauling service yet meet the weight restrictions, the
haulers' general consensus was that this would not be economically feasible from a capital
equipment or staffing standpoint.
1 While staff may empathize with these haulers' operational contentions, we are more
concerned about the potential damage and subsequent reduced life expectancy which may
I occur to our local streets due to excessive load weights during the spring thaw period. The
deterioration of our local streets during this vulnerable time period has a significant
financial impact on the City from a street maintenance and eventual reconstruction
I standpoint. The City has nearly 80 miles of streets under its jurisdiction. Employing a
replacement cost of $150 per lineal foot, it would be fair to estimate that this City has a
street infrastructure investment worth over $60 million.
I The City currently has 11 licensed garbage haulers for the City. The three previously
mentioned haulers (Aagard West, Chaska Sanitation and Woodlake Sanitary Service) were
I cordial enough to furnish me information as to their route areas. In reviewing these maps,
it is quite clear that each of these three haulers currently provide service to nearly every
street within the City. This, in essence, means that each street within the City will have a
1 loaded garbage vehicle potentially exceeding the seasonal load limit at least three different
time a week. This does not take into consideration the other 8 licensed haulers for the City.
1 It is not staff's intent to place the entire blame for this problem on the garbage hauling
service; however, staff is very concerned at the fact that there are nearly a dozen garbage
haulers providing service to the City residents who may be exceeding the local street
I seasonal weight restriction. Staff believes that it is imperative that this issue be resolved.
If the present situation continues, the City may indeed cite a number of violators, including
I garbage haulers; however, inevitably the haulers will continue to exceed the limits on other
streets during the period which will continue to damage our City streets.
I Staff has identified the following options to deal with this issues:
1. Continue to impose seasonal weight restrictions and cite violators accordingly.
1 2. Grant permits to exceed weight limits and establish a road impact or damage fee to
be paid by applicant.
1 3. Reduce the number of garbage trucks on local streets by establishing City garbage
service districts and bidding out annual or biannual contracts.
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Don Ashworth
March 15, 1993 I
Page 3
4. Do nothing.
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Option No. 1 proposes to continue the status quo on this issue; however, it is not feasible
to catch all violators of the seasonal weight limit, thus damage to local streets will inevitably I
continue. Option No. 2 could be implemented, however, it is likely that a study would need
to be conducted to develop the permitting program and establish the financially appropriate
road impact fees. Option No. 3 is viewed as the best option to protect the useful design life I
of the roadway since the number of heavy loads impacting the streets would be significantly
reduced, not only during the seasonal spring thaw but throughout the entire year as well.
This option would also require additional effort in establishing city -wide garbage hauling I
districts and program. Option No. 4 is self - explanatory; however, it is probably the most
irresponsible and short - sighted option to take considering the City's substantial investment
in streets.
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All of the licensed garbage haulers for the City will be invited to attend the Council meeting
to discuss this issue.
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ktm
Attachments: 1. City Code Section 12 -11. I
2. List of licensed garbage haulers.
c: Scott Harr, Public Safety Director I
Dave Hempel, Assistant City Engineer
Chris Boatright, Aagard West, Inc. 1
Gary Lano, Chaska Sanitation
Tom Moline, Woodlake Sanitary Service, Inc.
Admiral Waste Management, Inc.
1
BFI
Haugens Haulers Sanitation I
Nitti Disposal, Inc.
Quality Waste Control, Inc.
R & W Roll -Off Service, Inc. I
Waconia Sanitation, Inc.
Waste Management- Savage
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§ 12 -10 CHANHASSEN CITY CODE
trunk highway shall be so designated unless the consent of the commissioner of highways to
' such designation is first secured.
(Ord. No. 3H, § 8, 8 -1 -77)
' State law references — Authority to designate through streets, M.S. § 169.04(5); author-
ity to designate one -way streets, M.S § 169.04(4); through streets, M.S. § 169.20, subd. 3.
' Sec. 12 -11. Seasonal weight restrictions.
The city may prohibit the operation of vehicles upon any street under his jurisdiction or
1 impose weight restrictions on vehicles to be operated on such street whenever the street, by
reason of deterioration, rain, snow, or other climatic conditions, will be seriously damaged or
destroyed unless the use of vehicles on the street is prohibited or the permissible weights
1 thereof reduced. The city shall erect and maintain signs plainly indicating the prohibition or
restriction at each end of that portion of the street affected. No person shall operate a vehicle
on a posted street in violation of the prohibition or restriction.
(Ord. No. 3H, § 9, 8 -1 -77)
State law reference — Seasonal load restrictions authorized, M.S. § 169.87.
' Sec. 12 -12. Establishment of safety zones, lanes of traffic, etc.
To assist in the direction and control of traffic, to improve safe driving conditions at any
' intersection or dangerous location, and to warn pedestrians or drivers of motor vehicles of
dangerous conditions or hazards, the city may establish safety zones, lanes of traffic, and stop
intersections, and may install stop signs, yield signs, warning signs, signals, pavement
' markings, or other devices. No regulation may be established on a trunk highway unless the
consent of the commissioner of highways is first secured.
(Ord. No. 3H, § 10, 8 -1 -77) •
Sec. 12 -13. No parking, stopping or standing zones.
' The city council may by resolution designate certain streets or portions of streets as no
parking or no stopping or standing zones, and may limit the hours in which the restrictions
apply. The city maintenance superintendent shall mark by appropriate signs each zone so
' designated. Except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with
the directions of a police officer or a traffic- control device, no person shall stop or park a
vehicle in an established no stopping or standing zone when stopping or standing is prohibited.
(Ord. No. 3H, § 11.04, 8 -1 -77)
State law reference — Authority to regulate parking, M.S. § 169.04(1).
1 Sec. 12-14. Fire lanes.
(a) The fire department is authorized to recommend to the city council the establishment
of fire lanes on public or private property as may be necessary in order that the travel of fire
equipment may not be interfered with, and that access to fire hydrants or buildings may not
be obstructed.
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GARBAGE HAULERS LICENSED IN CHANHASSEN - 1993
FIRM AND ADDRESS PHONE NO.
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Aagard West Inc.
P 0 BOX 115
1
Norwood, MN 55368` 332 -8412
Admiral Waste Mgmt. Inc.
8925 13th Ave. East
P 0 Box 377
Shakopee, MN 55379 496 -3053
BFI (Commercial Only)
9813 Flying Cloud Drive
Eden Prairie, MN 55347 941 -8394
Chaska Sanitation
731 Victoria Drive
Chaska, MN 55318 448 -2547
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Haugens Haulers Sanitation (Construction Debris Only)
7386 31st St. SE
Rt. 3, Box SA10
Buffalo, MN 55313 477 -4120
Nitti Disposal Inc. (Construction Debris Only)
4325 66th St. E.
Inver Grove Hts., MN 55076 455 -8634
Quality Waste Control, Inc. 1
1901 West 144th Street
Burnsville, MN 55337 435 -3454
R &W Roll -Off Service, Inc. (Commercial and Construction Debris Only)
5525 Co. Rd. 50
Carver, MN 55315 448 -7833
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Waconia Sanitation, Inc. (Construction Debris & Commercial)
P.O. Box 196 1
Waconia, MN 55387 442 - 2444
Waste Management- Savage
12448 Pennsylvania Ave. S
Savage, MN 55378 890 -1100
Woodlake Sanitary Service, Inc.
9813 Flying Cloud Drive
Eden Prairie, MN 55347 941 -5174
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