Agenda - Council Work Session - 05/13/2014

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September 11, 2002 Current Resident «ADDRESS» «ACITY», «ASTATE» «AZIP» Dear Resident: On August 13, 2002 the Ramsey City Council adopted Resolution 02 -08 -184, which states that all mailboxes must be located outside of cul -de -sac bulbs and located on the straight section of road entering the cul -de -sac. This resolution affects mailboxes in existing neighborhoods as well as all new construction. The reason the resolution was requested by staff was to help expedite our snowplowing operation as well as improve mail service during the winter months. Cul -de -sacs provide many obstacles as far as snowplowing is concerned. With driveways, hydrants, electrical transformers, light poles and cable boxes, there is very little room left for snow storage. Two of the most frequent complaints the Public Works staff receives from residents living on a cul -de -sac are that they receive a disproportion amount of snow in their yard, or the mail carrier won't deliver mail because they are unable to reach their mailbox. In the first instance, one or two yards have more open space than others do and they receive the lion' s share of the snow. It' s not always possible to put snow where individual residents request the snow be placed. Drivers are responsible for approximately 50 cul -de -sacs and other areas on their individual plow routes and need to be efficient as possible. Their main responsibility is to clear the roads as quickly as possible so people can get out. By moving mailboxes out of the cul- de -sac bulb drivers will spend less time handling the snow and will be able to complete their job in less time. The second complaint of snow in front of mailboxes is no mail delivery occurs when the snow banks start to build out into the cul -de -sac. This happens because with a large amount of snow the smaller trucks used to plow cul -de -sacs can not move it completely off the pavement. The snow banks eventually become too large and hamper the mail carrier from driving up to the mail box, which results in a letter to the resident saying mail service will be discontinued until the snow is cleared. By moving the mailboxes out of the bulb the plow trucks will be plowing in a straight line, not on a curve, and will be able to plow closer to the mailboxes and lessen the amount of snow that needs to be cleared by the homeowner. Public Works staff was directed by the City Council to assist homeowners with utility locates and postal regulations pertaining to mailbox installation. Included with this letter are diagrams showing the preferred location and installation instructions, both were supplied by the United States Postal Service. The deadline to move your mailbox is November 01, 2002. Please call the Ramsey Public Works Department at 763 - 427 -8254 if you need assistance with utility locates or have other questions regarding moving your mailbox. Grant Riemer, Street Maintenance Supervisor