Loading...
6. Memo - Public Nusisances Speeding and Reckless Vehicle OperationPage 1 of 1 City of Scandia 14727 209th St. N., Scandia, Minnesota 55073 Phone (651) 433-2274 | Fax (651) 433-5112 | www.cityofscandia.com DATE: Wednesday, June 1, 2022 FROM: Ken Cammilleri, City Administrator TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members RE: Discussion and Consideration of Adoption of Mitigation Measures to Address Speeding and Reckless Operation of Motorcycles in the Village Center and the City at Large In June of last year, the City Council had its first conversation as to how to mitigate concerns about speeding, reckless motorcycle operation, and excessive noise of motorcycles in the Village Center. Since that time the City and County have taken several steps to help address these issues: - Installation of digital radar speed sign westbound Oakhill Road N into the Village Center (Installed this month by Washington County Public Works). - Focused patrol of the Village Center by the Sheriff’s Office. - Establishment of a $20,000 budget as a resource for 2022 to implement a Sheriff’s Office Special Detail Program and/or Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) surveillance on the 14800 Block of Oakhill Road. - Adoption of Chapter 91, a new set of nuisance regulations that include criminal and civil provision specifically directed at this issue. - Successful identification of individuals involved in the activity. Recent reports to the Washington County’s 911 Communication Center and direct complaints received by the City indicate that issues regarding this disruptive nuisance have not been resolved. I would also like to point out that progress has also been made in researching CCTV options. Public Works Director Fischer has been working with the Washington County Public Works Department to identify installation options and potential costs. This includes implementing a camera test to determine the effectiveness of certain equipment. As of this point, we can say that the light post needed to mount such a system is currently estimated to be between $7,000 to $9,000. That cost estimate does not include the costs of trenching or camera equipment, which are still being investigated. Given the imminent need to address this concern sooner, I recommend the City Council authorize the use of this year’s budget for addressing this concern for a special detail program with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office. I have confirmed that Scandia Contract Deputy Boesel would be willing to take some of these shifts. The timing of shifts will be arranged so as to maximize the coverage of the time periods of the day when these instances have most frequently occurred. Our goal will be to create a climate in which motorcycle riders are reluctant to take the risk of taking on disruptive and reckless behavior in the city. The goal would be to reduce the frequency of issues while wisely managing available budget resources. In the meantime, we will continue to investigate CCTV options to allow the Sheriff’s Office to observe activity remotely. Please note that none of the $20,000 allocated addressing nuisance concerns have been expended. The Council is requested to provide guidance and direction as to next steps to be taken. Please let me know if you have any questions.