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<br />Motion carried. Voting Yes: Councilmembers Olson and Dehen. Voting No: None. Abstain: <br />Chairperson Elvig. <br /> <br />Case #5: <br /> <br />Parking Ramp Safety Concern <br /> <br />City Engineer Janl(owsl(i stated a disposal chute was incorporated into the design of the <br />municipal parl(ing ramp in an effort to assist in the efficient removal of snow. The snow disposal <br />chute is located in the southwest corner of the ramp and has openings on the top of the ramp as <br />well as on the third level. At street level there is an opening facing Civic Center Drive large <br />enough to allow tandem axle trucks to enter beneath the chute and be loaded. This truck access is <br />secured by two large doors. Mr. Janl(owsl(i explained it has been brought to the attention of staff <br />that a safety issue may exist in that the openings could allow an inattentive bicyclist to crash and <br />project over the wall and into the snow chute. There are sloping concrete baffles designed to <br />breal( the fall of deposited snow. These baffles would prevent a direct fall to the bottom. <br />However, once at the bottom of the chute, a victim would have little means of summoning help. <br /> <br />The Committee discussed the following options suggested by staff for eliminating or mitigating <br />the consequences of the potential hazard: <br /> <br />Option A - Remove the doors at street level securing the snow chute. <br />This option would not eliminate the hazard itself but would allow the victim to be readily visible <br />and obtain help. There would be little cost associated with the removal of the doors which could <br />be facilitated by the Public W orl(s Department. <br /> <br />Option B - Install a removable or hinged grate on the top floor <br />This option would insure that anyone falling over the top rail would be prevented from a <br />debilitating fall. <br /> <br />Option C - Remove doors at ground level and refit them to the 3rd level chute opening <br />This option would eliminate the possibility of a fall from the 3rd level by effectively shutting this <br />opening to the public. The doors would only be opened during snow removal operations. The <br />cost of this option would be relatively minimal as it would require primarily the time on the part <br />of the Public W orl(s Department in making the modifications. <br /> <br />Councilmember Olson suggested input from the Building Maintenance Staff that does the <br />plowing in the parl(ing ramp. <br /> <br />City Engineer Jankowski indicated Public Works has lool(ed into removing the doors at ground <br />level and feels it could be done mostly with the expenditure of time. They are still waiting for <br />costs on the other options, but it might be helpful to have feedbacl( from the Committee on how <br />big of a concern this is. <br /> <br />Chairperson Elvig indicated he does not see this as a big hazard. <br /> <br />Public Works Committee / March 20, 2007 <br />Page 13 of 14 <br />