01-20-2004 City Council Study Session PacketCity of Grand Island
Tuesday, January 20, 2004
Study Session Packet
City Council:Mayor:
Jay Vavricek
City Administrator:
Gary Greer
City Clerk:
RaNae Edwards
T
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7:00:00 PM
Council Chambers - City Hall
100 East First Street
Carole Cornelius
Peg Gilbert
Joyce Haase
Margaret Hornady
Robert Meyer
Mitchell Nickerson
Don Pauly
Jackie Pielstick
Scott Walker
Fred Whitesides
City of Grand Island City Council
Call to Order
Pledge of Allegiance
Roll Call
A - SUBMITTAL OF REQUESTS FOR FUTURE ITEMS
Individuals who have appropriate items for City Council consideration should complete the Request for Future
Agenda Items form located at the Information Booth. If the issue can be handled administratively without Council
action, notification will be provided. If the item is scheduled for a meeting or study session, notification of the date
will be given.
B - RESERVE TIME TO SPEAK ON AGENDA ITEMS
This is an opportunity for individuals wishing to provide input on any of tonight's agenda items to reserve time to
speak. Please come forward, state your name and address, and the Agenda topic on which you will be speaking.
MAYOR COMMUNICATION
This is an opportunity for the Mayor to comment on current events, activities, and issues of interest to the community.
City of Grand Island City Council
Item -1
Discussion Concerning Use of 1/2 Cent Sales Tax for Fire Station
#1 and Training Center
The replacement of the fire station at Koenig and Pine has been a proposed project for
several years. This station known as fire station one was built in 1936 and has served the
community for sixty five years. The design and location of the station were both appropriate
for their time. Continued growth of the city and changes in the equipment and services along
with deterioration of the building over time has brought this need to the forefront. It is our
hope to develop a plan for this replacement facility that will ensure that the new station will
equal or exceed the value of the service the present building has given to the community.
A Training Center for the fire department is an on going need. Training and education are of
greater importance in the modern fire service than ever before. The Grand Island Fire
Department along with every other fire department in the country is faced with ever
increasing demand for service in a greater variety of situations. The use of chemicals and
transportation of those chemicals in a variety of methods has prompted the development of
Hazardous Materials Response teams. The need for specialized rescue teams for trench,
confined space, vehicle extrication and others requires more training and a need for space
and facilities in which to learn, train, and practice these needed skills. The basic skills for
fighting fires and emergency medical service are best learned and maintained in this type a
facility.
Tuesday, January 20, 2004
Study Session
City of Grand Island
Staff Contact: Jim Rowell
City of Grand Island City Council
Item -2
Discussion Concerning Use of 1/2 Cent Sales Tax for Train Noise
Reduction
The community has discussed noise from train engine horns for a number of years. Kearney
has closed crossings, built over and underpasses, and installed wayside horns on the Central
Avenue crossing with the Union Pacific Railroad mainline tracks. Grand Island has not
proceeded with the wayside horns because the railroads electronic circuitry needs upgraded, a
cost the railroad expects the city to bear. A new rule change was recently approved by the
Federal Railroad Administration that formalizes the requirements regarding railroad
crossings. They allow the use of wayside horns and also “Quiet Zones”. Public Works
Director, Steve Riehle will update the council on the rule change with a series of PowerPoint
Slides.
Tuesday, January 20, 2004
Study Session
City of Grand Island
Staff Contact: Steve Riehle, City Engineer/ Public Works Director
City of Grand Island City Council
1
Railroad Horns
Can we quiet them?
January 20, 2004 City Council Study Session
We have Numerous Railroad Crossings
n 10 on the Union Pacific Railroad Mainline
n 5 on the Burlington Northern Santa Fe
n 6 on the Power Plant Spur
n 4 on the Central Nebraska Railroad
2
Railroad Engine Horns
n When should they Blow
n For 15 to 20 Seconds Prior to Arrival at Crossing
n Sometimes for ¼ mile Prior to Crossing
n If a Vehicle is in the Crossing
n If a pedestrian is on the Tracks
n What Pattern should they Blow?
n Pattern is 2 long -1 short -1 long (and repeated)
n Pattern Can Vary if Crossings are close together
n How Loud should the Horn be?
n Minimum sound level of 96 decibels
n New maximum sound level of 110 decibels
Timeline for Horn Rule Change
n Before 1991 –A few Communities issued Whistle Bans
n 1991 -Federal Department of Transportation issued
an Emergency Order pre-empting “Whistle Bans”
n 2000 -Draft Environmental Impact Statement Released
n December 18, 2003 -Federal Railroad Administration
(FRA) issued Interim Final Rule Making
n December 18, 2004 -Final Rule takes Effect
n Pre-empts State & Local Laws
n Allows Automatic Wayside Railroad Horns
n Communities can create Quiet Zones
3
Wayside
Horns
(Directional or
Automated Horn
System AHS)
would Reduce
Noise Pollution
Sound
Comparison:
Train Horn
vs.
AHS™
4
What is a “Quiet Zone”
n Horns are Prohibited (Whistle Ban)
n Horns will Sound
n If a Vehicle is in the Crossing
n If a pedestrian is on the Tracks
Quiet Zone May be Created if:
n Crossing has a Low Risk of Collision
n All public Crossings have Lights & Gates
n And Either
n The Average Risk at Crossings is below the NSRT
“National Significant Risk Threshold”
Or
n Safety Improvements are made to Compensate for
the Loss of the Train Horn as a Safety Device
5
Establishing Quiet Zones
n Make Safety upgrades
n Four Quadrant Gates
n Median Divider
n Increased Enforcement
n Temporary Closure
n One Ways
n Education and Enforcement
Next Steps
n Put Together a Plan
n Categorize Crossings
n Choose measures to Implement
n Coordinate with
n Hall County
n Nebraska Department of Roads
n Federal Highway Administration
n Railroads
n Must Implement within 8 years if coordinated with
State
Item -3
Presentation by the Humane Society Regarding Wildlife Damage
Control
The Humane Society is interested in providing animal control services for wildlife such as
trapping skunks and other animal species that may be a problem with the current rabies
outbreak in the City and the surrounding areas. The Humane Society would provide this
service through the end of the year. This matter is being brought up for your consideration
at this time because the Humane Society will need to order additional traps to provide these
services this spring when the skunk and rabies problem starts to occur. The Animal Advisory
Board has requested that the Humane Society make a proposal for performing these services
because the Board feels that they will provide this service in an effective and humane manner.
Tuesday, January 20, 2004
Study Session
City of Grand Island
Staff Contact: Doug Walker
City of Grand Island City Council