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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999 Edition 120 December Edition 120 December 1999 Cl Wat A newsletter for residents of the City of Brooklyn Center Brooklyn Center Cares Thanks to generous volunteers, Brooklyn Center Cares is beginning its third successful month. Since '- September, volunteers s 't have assisted persons in •� need with raking, interior home cleaning and exterior home repairs. Brooklyn 1 Center Cares works to match residents of Brooklyn Center Cares volunteers assist resident. Front Brooklyn Center with row: Nancy Curtis, Elsie Hawthorne, Tessa Curtis —Back individual volunteers row: Doug Curtis, Gary Curtis, Gary Ellis, and Daryl and organizations that Hansen. coordinate volunteers. Our goal is to meet needs for minor home repairs and yard maintenance assistance. If you would like more information about Brooklyn Center Cares or if you or your c>\ organization would like to volunteer to assist in this effort lease contact Anne Finn g effort, Center Cares at (612) 569 -3437 or e-mail afinn @ci.brooklyn- center.mn.us. volunteer aides resident in home repair needs. Inside This Issue Carbon Monoxide Detectors .................. 2 Y g insi Random Acts of Kindness .................... 3 Adopt- A- Park/Trail/Street Volunteers .......... 3 Capital Improvements —Streets ............. 4 -5 • • _ • • about _ Capital Improvements—Parks 6 -7 rea City's Y2K Neighborhood Traffic Report ............... 8 -9 Assist M anager - Chambers Earle Brown Heritage Center New Space ....... 9 at • • • Winter Parking Regulations ................. 10 or - Safe Winter Driving Tips .................... 10 jcham bers@ci . brooklyn-center . mn . us Snow Removal Operations ................... 11 Informational Materials Available ............ 12 Carbon Monoxide Ala M ay Not Mean Immediate Danger Sometimes called "The Silent It is recommended if your CO Symptoms Of Carbon Killer," carbon monoxide (CO) is a detector is sounding or if you have tasteless, odorless, colorless gas that a reading of 15 ppm and there are monoxide poisoning: can cause illness and even death in no apparent symptoms of CO today's tightly insulated homes. poisoning, you should contact a -Dizziness qualified technical person such as CO is a gas produced by incomplete the gas company or other heating -Headache combustion. Improperly adjusted and appliance technician to check burners, poorly ventilated flues, or your home for possible sources of -Nausea or vomiting damaged or inadequately carbon monoxide. maintained fuel- burning appliances -Unconsciousness can result in carbon monoxide accumulation in the home. you're going ' carbon Most Carbon Monoxide should consider purchasing If you suspect carbon Alerts Are Pre - Emergency only the type of unit that has a monoxide poisoning: The Occupational Safety and Health weighted averaging, has at Association (OSHA) has established least an 80 decibel alarm, and -Remove victim to that exposure to levels of CO of 35 has a test and reset button. fresh air and keep ppm (parts per million) should not Without a test and reset victim warm. be exceeded over an eight -hour button, once the detector period of time. Most CO detectors it can take a number of , on the market are calibrated to for the unit to -Call 911 and inform sound an alarm if CO I emergency personnel concentrations exceed 15 ppm over of a possible carbon eight hours. At this level, most L monoxide poisoning. people will not experience adverse Before you install a carbon effects of CO poisoning. monoxide detector, you should -Contact a qualified If the activation of a CO detector is consider having your fuel burning technician t o an emergency, someone in the appliance checked for safety and investigate the source household will a robbl be efficiency by a qualified service P Y of the problem. technician. You may also want to experiencing symptoms of CO have your chimney inspected and poisoning. If the CO alarm goes off cleaned out if it is of masonry yet no one in the home is experiencing dizziness, headaches, construction. Also, be sure your CO Fire personnel are not trained to nausea, or vomiting, the alarm is detector is installed properly adequately detect the actual most likely for a pre - hazardous according to the manufacturers source of carbon monoxide. condition. In that event, it is not recommendations. Their primary responsibility is to necessary to call 911 but you should If you have questions about carbon help in vacating the occupants open a couple of doors or windows and to remove the immediate li e and call a service technician. monoxide detectors, call Fire Chief .f Ron Boman at (612) 503 -3160. safety hazard by ventilating the premises and to help find a If someone in the home is experiencing symptoms of CO qualified technician to check the poisoning, remove the victim to source of the problem. fresh air, keep the victim warm and at rest and dial 911 to alert emergency personnel immediately. 2 Random Acts of Kindness Random Acts of Kindness recognition was held for the third year by the Brooklyn Center City Council. Nominees were given certificates at the City Council meeting of November 8, 1999. Letters of nomination were displayed at City Hall during October and November. Those nominated represented a variety of "kind" undertakings that are daily practiced throughout Brooklyn Center. Nominees receiving certificates for the 1999 "Kindness, no matter how small, is never wasted." Random Acts of Kindness recognition included: Aesop ❖ Jean Schiebel ❖ Don Buckingham ❖ Nancy Curtis ❖ Gloria Bedbury ❖ Len Larson ❖ Tessa Curtis ❖ Carol Weber -*.-Unknown Bus Driver ❖ Gary Ellis ❖ Doris Patterson ❖ Brooklyn Center Firefighters ❖ Daryl Hansen ❖ Norma Kinghorn ❖ Doug Curtis ❖ Brooklyn Center Lions Club ❖ Ray Zirkle -*.-Gary Curtis ❖ Karen Youngberg Adopt- A- ParkfTrail/Street Volunteers The City's Adopt- A- Park/Trail/Street Program plays an important role in helping maintain City parks, trails, public grounds, and streets. In its eighth year, the program continues to grow with a high level of participation, indicating a great amount of community support for the City's extensive park system and a desire to maintain its quality. At its November 8, 1999, meeting, the City Council recognized the following individuals, organizations, and groups for their commitment to the City of Brooklyn Center 1999 Adopt- A- Park/Trail/Street Program: ❖ Girl Scout Troop #1469 ❖ Orchard Lane Elementary ❖ Brookdale Chrysler Plymouth Arboretum Kylawn Park Wangstad Park ❖ Brooklyn Center Lioness Club ❖ Park and Recreation Commission ❖ Willow Lane Student Council Bellvue Park Lakeside Park Willow Lane Park ❖ Todd Paulson Family Marlin Park ❖ Brooklyn United Methodist Church Bob Cahlander Park ❖ Girl Scout Troop #1789 County Road 10 ❖ Garden City Elementary Lions Park ❖ Loonie Weavers Brooklane Park ❖ Cub Scout Pack #299 Dupont Avenue North ❖ Brooklyn Center Rotary Club Northport Park ❖ Barnacle Bill's Steak & Seafood Central Park ❖ Cub Scout Pack 401 Freeway Boulevard East ❖ Evergreen Park School & PTO North Mississippi Regional Park ❖ Minneapolis North Hilton Evergreen Park ❖ Kids On the Move Daycare Freeway Boulevard West ❖ Bullfrogs & Butterflies Childcare Orchard Park ❖ Target, B.C., "Good Neighbors" Evergreen Park ❖ Cub Scout Pack #454 Shingle Creek Parkway South ❖ Brooklyn Center Charter Commission Palmer Lake East Park ❖ Allina Receivable Services Firehouse Park ❖ Palmer Lake Elementary Summit Drive ❖ Friends of Freeway Park Palmer Lake West ❖ Riverwood Neighborhood Association Freeway Park ❖ Friends of Riverdale Park West River Road ❖ Brookpark Dental Center Riverdale Park ❖ Brooklyn Center Lions Club Garden City Park ❖Children's Residential Services Lilac Drive Trail ❖ Earle Brown Elementary Shingle Creek Park North ❖ Rise Creative Partnerships Grandview Park ❖ Ray Beach Palmer Lake Trail ❖ Boy Scout Troop #401 Twin Lake North ❖ Boy Scout Troop 454 Happy Hollow Park ❖ Tim Olson Shingle Creek South Trail Twin Lake Peninsula 3 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS STREETS Taking Care of City Streets: Reconstruction Projects Progress Through City Enhances Six years ago, Brooklyn Center began a long -term program to reconstruct or Neighborhoods rehabilitate the streets and utilities in the City. Most of the streets in town are Many improvements are done 30 -40 years old. Through an aggressive maintenance program helped by during street reconstruction to favorable natural conditions such as good soils, street maintenance crews enhance neighborhoods. Old have been able to get considerably more life out of the pavement than the 20 street lights are replaced with years typically found elsewhere. However, like a roof which has been re- more decorative lights on shingled several times and eventually has to be replaced, Brooklyn Centers fiberglass poles; sidewalks are streets need to be rehabilitated. The Neighborhood Street and Utility Program repaired or replaced; boulevard is intended to systematically reconstruct or rehabilitate all the streets in the trees lost to construction are City. replaced; and concrete driveway This Neighborhood Street and Utility Program will take about 25 years in aprons are installed. total to cycle through all the streets in the City. The neighborhoods which are selected to be improved first are those which have the highest combination of needs. The condition of pavement is only one factor which goes into the identification of needs, and in fact, some neighborhoods which end up high on the priority list may have pavement which with careful maintenance could last another several years. However, what usually drives the selection of neighborhoods is under ground the condition of sanitary sewer main, the need to upgrade or install new storm sewers, the condition of the water main. Before Reconstruction Project Many homeowners take advantage of the construction to have their driveways replaced, and may also have roofs or MH siding redone. The end result is a rejuvenated neighborhood, with streets and utilities good for M another 40 years. ® + City of Brooklyn Center Reconstructed City Streets After Reconstruction Project 4 5 -YEAR PLAN Looking Back Projects paid for through combination of funds During the past six years, Reconstruction projects are paid for through a combination of funds. Water and about 28 miles of the City's sanitary sewer improvements are paid at this time entirely from the water and 102 miles of streets have been sanitary sewer utility funds which have been built up over the years through the reconstructed. In most cases, rates paid on quarterly utility bills. Storm sewer improvements, where storm this means the streets have sewer is being installed or upgraded, are paid for by a combination of special been totally removed, the assessments and the storm drainage utility fund. Street improvements are paid utilities excavated and for through a combination of special assessments, General Fund (property tax replaced as necessary, and the revenue), and some state aid which is specifically for street reconstruction. street reconstructed with concrete curb and gutter. A The City's Special Assessment Policy requires assessments on single - family significant amount of new lots be a uniform rate, that is, each house is assessed the same amount storm sewer has also been regardless of its size or the value of the house, or if it's a corner or interior lot. installed, along with several So, for example, all the single - family lots in the neighborhood reconstructed storm water detention and in 1999 paid $2,120 each for street improvements and $690 each for drainage treatment ponds. improvements. Townhouses, apartments, schools, churches, and businesses all pay different rates based on the size of the property. All rates increase every and year to keep up with inflation. Looking Ahead E Each year, the projects for the coming five years are 2004 I reevaluated. These are 200 summarized in the City's ® �, Capital Improvement Program, which is reviewed at the Truth - s in Taxation hearing in 2001 ®� ® ®� December the same time as the City's budget and tax levy.' Prior to considering the ® ® MMMMI ® ® ®® construction of an actual 200 0M ® ®1 project, City staff hold two or more informational meetings ` ® ®� with the neighborhood, and the 200 ® ® ®� ® City Council holds a public ® MMIMM "�;.., hearing. o � „ . For more information on ' the 5 Year Plan, the Capital 2002 ; City of Brooklyn Center Improvement Program or 3 Ci Streets Proposed improvement projects in to be Reconstructed general, call the City Engineering Office at (612) -- - - 569 -3340. 5 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PARKS Park Improvements Continue Several shelters take Systematic park improvements continue to be made. The most visible on new look improvement made so far has been the replacement of most of the old One major change which will wooden playground equipment with new metal and plastic modular occur as park improvements are playground equipment. made is the replacement of Future improvements several old warming house type z include shelter shelters with open picnic x replacements, lighting shelters. improvements, and I ballfield upgrades. �9 The City's parks are classified as either New modular playground community parks, neighborhood parks, tot lots, or special use parks. The significance of this classifications system is that major facilities which are especially costly to build and maintain, such as extensive ballfield lighting, tennis courts, and warming houses, Open picnic shelter at Bellvue Park will be focused on the community parks. The community parks will also be fully accessible to persons with disabilities. Neighborhood parks will New warming houses will be continue to be improved with playgrounds, basketball courts, picnic constructed at the five shelters, trail lighting, and smaller ballfields. Improvements in tot lots "community" parks, vary, but tend to be limited to a small playground and a basketball court. Central/Garden City, Special use parks are unique, and are generally focused on natural features Evergreen, Grandview, or trail systems. Kylawn, and West Palmer, and at two other parks which have Impro vements Planned for very active hockey programs, p Northport and Willow Lane. Palmer Lake Basin A thorough study of the Palmer Lake Basin has been completed by an environmental consultant, and a number of improvements are P lanned, to be constructed over the next few years. From an environmental perspective, the most important improvements will be the construction of storm water detention ponds on the periphery of the New shelter at Evergreen Park basin, where storm sewers now discharge directly into the lake and At the parks where existing wetlands. These ponds will cleanse the storm water of the sediment and warming houses will eventually pollutants which have been accumulating in the storm water channels. be replaced with picnic shelters, Trail segments which often flood will be raised or relocated. Future skating rinks may still be made improvements will include additional ponds, some dredging in channels at the request of the and the lake, and enhancements to the Palmer Lake Park trailhead on 69th neighborhoods, but there will be Avenue. no warming house facility. 6 5 -YEAR PLAN Long -term plan What's developed new A long -term plan has been developed to schedule the at improvements to the City's twenty -one parks. Each year Central this plan is reevaluated, and some projects may be Park rescheduled based on a reprioritization, neighborhood Reflecting the trend of improving Brooklyn Center requests, or maintenance need. Over the years, the City's premier softball fields in Central Park had settled Park improvements scheduled almost two feet, and were for 2000 are: often wet or flooded by Shingle Creek. City crews hauled more than 10,000 • Northport: build soccer cubic yards (one- thousand field in rink area truckloads) of material • East Palmer: replace �►;�, ii (much of it material warming house with picnic excavated from Centerbrook shelter; replace lights; build Golf Course) to the fields, ponds and relocate trails raising and regrading them to • Firehouse: replace warming drain better. A new park Improving for the future house with picnic shelter, shelter will be constructed in replace lights the area between the two backstops, and a drinking fountain added. The • Freeway: replace lights softball and baseball fields will be irrigated. • Garden City: build pond and relocate trail; relocate The Plaza is undergoing rehabilitation as well, enhancing its reputation as a and pave hockey rink; build great place for wedding pictures. The pergola and boardwalk next to the pond soccer field; expand parking are being rehabilitated and refinished, and the north pond shoreline has been lot stabilized with keystone • West Palmer: rehab tennis blocks. �. courts • Happy Hollow: replace Next spring the south warming house with picnic pond will be landscaped shelter, replace lights with aquatic flowers and • Central: replace lights; plants and the picnic rehab landscaping on Plaza; , ° tables and benches will improve trail signage be replaced with colorful • Arboretum: add new units. Finally, all the landscaping landscaping will be rehabilitated. Sights and sounds of the country within the City 7 Ne ighborhood Traffic Report Traffic on neighborhood streets is second only to code enforcement when neighborhood livability issues are discussed by residents. The most common complaint is too many cars driving too fast. And the most common questions are: "Why can't the City put up a Stop sign ?" and "Why aren't the speed limits enforced ?" Traffic volumes, speeds, and complaints are regularly reviewed by City staff. The City's Administrative Traffic Committee (ATC) recently completed a Neighborhood Traffic Report that reviewed various traffic issues, and 700 copies of a summarized version of that report were distributed to Neighborhood Watch groups on National Night Out. Is There Too Much Traffic on Is Traffic Moving Too Fast? Why Not Install Stop Signs? Brooklyn Center Streets? There is a nationally accepted standard A common suggestion when speeding There are two important factors to for what defines a "speeding problem." is suspected is that Stop signs be consider: 1) there is no accepted It is the 85th percentile speed, which installed, with the standard for volume of traffic on means 85 percent of traffic expectation that they will is traveling at or below SPEED prevent vehicles from In 1990, 513,130 Metro that speed. If the 85th LIMIT "getting up speed." percentile is five mph or 30 However, numerous national households had two or more more over the posted speed studies have shown that Stop cars. limit, then the street is signs do not have any lasting considered to have a speeding impact on vehicle speed. Stop neighborhood streets —there is no problem. signs tend to reduce speed only magic number which says `if you have in the immediate vicinity of the more vehicles than this you have too Speed surveys have been taken in sign; vehicles are able to much traffic'; and 2) there has been many neighborhoods over the past accelerate to the previous speed tremendous growth in traffic in the several years. No neighborhood very quickly beyond the Stop sign. In Metro Area: there are more vehicles streets have been found to have a fact, speed often increases as motorist than ever before, and we are all driving systematic speeding problem. What try to make up for time lost at a Stop more. In 1958, only about 84,000 typically is found when speeds are sign. Metro Area households had two or surveyed on a local street is that most more cars; in 1990, 513,130 A Stop sign has only one function: to households did. In the 1960s many Radar surveys show most people indicate which vehicle or vehicles have families got along with only one car. are driving at or below the the right of way when regular rules of Now, many families have at least speed lim the road, sight obstructions, or traffic three —one for each spouse plus a volumes make that unclear or difficult teenager. vehicles are at or within a few mph of or dangerous to judge. Because Stop the speed limit, but a few vehicles are signs play such an valuable role in Some people do not like the fact that indeed speeding. These "random traffic control, it is important not to some drivers from outside their speeders" are a very small proportion inappropriately use them. Excessive neighborhood use "their" street, of the overall traffic, and are very use of Stop signs desensitizes drivers perhaps as a cut - through. While this difficult to catch. Very often these to them, not only reducing their can be annoying, it is important to few random speeders are what effectiveness but also endangering understand that public streets are people notice, and are the source of other drivers who assume the other dedicated to the public use. Everyone complaints that there is a "speeding driver will stop at the sign instead of has a right to use a public street, problem." Another factor is that rolling through it. Stop signs also whether they live in that neighborhood people have different ideas of how fast increase fuel consumption, noise or not. is too fast. A car going by at 30 mph pollution, and auto emissions. looks like its going too fast when your child is out playing near the street. 8 Neighborhood Traffic Report What About Children at Play Signs? What About Speed Enforcement? Some residents request "Children at Speed enforcement has proved to be want more information Play" signs. Brooklyn Center, like the most effective strategy for most other cities, no longer installs reducing speed. The Police on neighborhood Department has placed a renewed traffic issues? emphasis on enforcing speed limits. In "Children at Play" signs give 1997, a total of 559 speeding citations Request the SMART radar parents a false sense of security, were issued, while in 1998, 975 and have no impact on traffic citations were trailer on your street. speed. issued. Even more citations are being Call the issued in 1999, Engineering Division these types of signs. The signs give with more targeted %' parents a false sense of security enforcement. The (612) 569 -3340 because they believe their children are SMART trailer is or the safer, when in reality they are not, as used regularly to Police Department most motorists pay little attention to monitor speeds. (612) 569 -3333. such signs. Since there are children on virtually every city block, drivers are encouraged to expect children on every and any residential street. Ribbon Cutting Ceremony of New Space at Earle Brown Heritage Center In the last issue of City Watch, the photo of the May 18, 1999, official opening of the new addition to the Heritage Center incorrectly identified the persons cutting the ribbon. The correct identifications are now on the picture. Councilmember Kay Lasman, Mayor Myrna Kragness, Representative Phil Carruthers, Councilmember Debra Hilstrom. Through a grant from the State Legislature, the City was able to acquire the land necessary to provide adequate parking and improve it with asphalt. The grant from the Legislature also funded construction of the G barn. The construction of the G barn completes the original restoration project. All of the convention and conference facilities are now linked thanks to this project. The new space has been well- received and many events are booked in them. This additional space allowed the Heritage Center to host the recent Hazelden reunion which brought people from across America into Brooklyn Center. 9 Winter Parking Regulations Residents are reminded to follow City parking ordinances and not to park overnight on streets; especially - - during and after a snowfall. Vehicles will be ticketed and towed away, if necessary, when obstructing snow NO removal operations. The police department continues to enforce the parking ordinance which prohibits parking on City streets between 2 a.m and 6 a.m. Vehicles cannot be parked on a City street more than six PARKING consecutive hours at any time. Parking in alleys is not permitted at any time. Parking and/or storage of construction equipment or commercial vehicles with a length greater than 21 feet, a height greater than 8 feet, or a gross vehicle weight greater than 9,000 pounds is prohibited for more than two hours in a 2 A.M. residential area. Strong enforcement of the parking ordinance enhances public safety by minimizing motor TO vehicle accidents, vandalism, and theft from vehicles parked on the street overnight. Streets that are clear 6 A.M. of parked cars also assist public works in their street maintenance projects including snow plowing, street sweeping, and other routine street maintenance. Safe Winter Driving Tips With the winter season fast approaching, it is important that we reacquaint ourselves with safe winter driving habits. Cold weather, snow, and ice are demanding on both vehicle and driver. Cold weather can reduce the effectiveness of your vehicle's battery by at least 50 %. It can freeze tires flat on the bottom for at least the first half -mile of travel. It can thicken your car's lubricants, making starting harder and engine warm -up an absolute necessity before leaving the driveway. Be able to see and Be gentle. Turn into the You can avoid a be seen. A light foot on the direction of a skid. collision. Clean frost and snow off accelerator is less likely You can easily regain When faced with an all windows, mirrors, to produce wheel control of your car when emergency situation, you lights, and reflectors. Be spinning on ice and it begins to slide by might consider certain your vehicle is snow. Braking is best turning into the direction intentionally steering equipped with good accomplished by an of a skid. Anticipate a your car off the road and wiper blades and an easier pumping action on second small skid in the into a snow bank to avoid ample supply of the pedal. Locking the opposite direction as the a collision. You may get windshield washer fluid. brakes will cause loss of car straightens and be stuck, but you'll avoid Be certain your steering control. (Drivers prepared to counter this the collision and possible headlights are on when operating vehicles action as well. serious damage and visibility is poor or when equipped with anti -lock injury. precipitation is falling. braking systems do not Scattered slippery pump the brakes in icy spots. Get a feel for the weather.) Ice patches cause Further winter driving road. problems. Bridge decks tips are available Careful acceleration to Make turns slowly are the first roadways to test wheel spin and and gradually. freeze and the last to from: gentle braking to test Heavily traveled thaw. When approaching skidding will dictate how intersections may scattered slippery spots Minnesota Department of fast you may safely become "polished" by do not use the brake, take Public Safety, travel. repeated slipping and your foot off the gas and auto clubs sliding of tires. Be steer as straight as and the media. Stretch your certain to brake before possible until you y ou come to a turn not following distance. Y are through the slippery Ice or snow can increase while you are in it. conditions. your stopping distance from three to ten times that of dry pavement. 10 Snow Removal Oper ations Snow Removal Keep Fire Hydrants Clear Boulevard Maintenance Policy Street snow removal operations will Please help keep fire hydrants clear Residents are reminded that by City begin when there has been a of snow. In the event of a fire, ordinance items such as landscape snowfall of more than 2 '/z inches or valuable time may be lost if the fire rocks, sprinkler systems, fences, if other conditions warrant plowing. department has to locate and/or bollards, timbers, shrubs, retaining Sidewalk snow removal will occur remove snow from a hydrant. walls, gardens, and large permanent when there has been a snowfall of mailbox installations (constructed of one inch or more. Crews will begin Mailboxes — Installation and concrete, brick, wood, etc.) are not plowing as soon as the storm Damage allowed on the boulevard, that is, subsides. The City streets are Standard mailbox and post from the edge of the street back 10- divided into ten districts, with plows installations meeting U.S. Postal 15 feet. The boulevard area is assigned to each district. The arterial regulations are allowed within the reserved for snow storage and for streets will be cleared first, followed boulevard area. You should check utility placements. On occasion by the residential streets. The snow your mailbox and post installation objects in the boulevard are plow must make several passes up each year to prevent problems which damaged during winter and down the street to remove the typically occur during the winter snowplowing operations when they snow; two to clear the center and months, making repairs difficult and are struck by heavy snow and ice or two or more to widen the street causing a delay in mail delivery. snowplowing equipment. The City gutter to gutter. Because plowing Check mailbox posts for signs of cannot accept responsibility for routes are sometimes long, it may be rotting wood or rusted metal. private property located on City one hour or more between the Typically, when a post has been in right -of -way and will not repair or clearing pass and the final widening the ground for a few years, a wood replace immovable items placed in pass. post will rot off and a metal post will these areas. Property owners should rust at the base. Rotted, rusted, or remove items or place them at least Child Safety unstable installations need to be ten feet behind the curb line or the Please remind your children not to replaced with a sturdy 4" x 4" post edge of the street. build snow forts or play in the snow and the mailbox and paper box piles made by the plows. The plow must be installed a minimum of operators often cannot see children 45" above the street surface to in the snow banks, and they could be accommodate the height of the plow. buried in the snow or seriously hurt. The City will repair or replace When driving allow ample distance properly installed mailboxes which FThe ic Works garage between your vehicle and the are damaged by direct contact with rmally open snowplow. Snow conditions often snow removal equipment. The City to 3:30 P.m. require that the snowplow driver will not assume responsibility for Monday through Friday. stop and back up before continuing; damage simply caused from snow this can create a potential accident pressure. To report snowy or icy when vehicles follow too closely. conditions outside of these Driveways i snow lows are Garbage/Recycling Containers We apologize in advance for hours f p Garbage and recycling containers plugged driveways, which are operating, a public works must be placed so they are accessible unavoidable side effects of well- dispatcher may be available for pickup, but during the snow plowed streets and sidewalks. To at (612) 569 -3380. season they may not be placed in the reduce the frustration of shoveling road or on the sidewalk. To assist out the end of your driveway twice, If there is no answer, please snowplowing operations, place the we suggest you wait until the street call the non - emergency containers in the driveway. is plowed to its full width before Police at (612) 569 -3333. tackling the windrow. Informational Materials City of Brooklyn Center 6301 Shingle Creek Parkway Available to Brooklyn Center Brooklyn Center, MN 55430 Residents e -mail the City at. infogci. brooklyn- center.mn.us The 1999 Water Quality Report for the City Hall and TTY (612) 569 -3300 City of Brooklyn Center has been distributed to all households. This report Recreation (612) 569 -3400 shows the results of monitoring performed on your drinking water for the Emergency 911 1998 calendar year. If you did not receive a copy of this report, please call Police non - emergency (612) 569 -3333 the Brooklyn Center Water Utility Division at (612) 569 -3390. Job Information Line (612) 569 -3307 Mayor Myrna Kragness '— .......... Councilmember Debra Hilstrom The 1999 -2000 Recycling -- Councilmember Kay Lasman and Materials WYN a „' Councilmember Ed Nelson Management Guide has y Councilmember Robert Peppe been distributed to all City Manager Michael J. McCauley households and { tom» businesses. If you did not '.� City Council meetings are held the 2nd and 4th receive a copy, please call Monday of the month at 7 p.m. in the City Hall Council (612) 493 -8006 to have Chambers. Informal Open Forum is held at 6:45 p.m. one mailed or pick up one } before Regular Session Council meetings. Watch City at Brooklyn Center City Council meetings live on cable Channel 37. Replays Hall customer service shown at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and 6:30 a.m. and counter. I 12:30 p.m. on Wednesdays following City Council - - - -^ meetings. Call City Hall to verify meeting dates, (612) 569 -3300. Your Y2K guide inside! Printed on recycled paper RECYCLE 3 City or Bulk Rate BROOKLYN U.S. Postage CENTER PAID 6301 Shingle Creek Parkway Mpls., MN Permit No. 2170 Brooklyn Center, MN 55430 i