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MINUTES <br />CITY COUNCIL <br />NOVEMBER 8, 2000 <br />costs of upgrading the facilities must be dedicated to making reasonable <br />accommodations. <br />Oertel went onto describe the Public Works Garage property itself <br />describing the site constraints given the shape of the property. <br />Oertel indicated that he has identified three options. One would be to <br />upgrade and expand the existing Public Works building. The other would <br />be to tear down the existing building and rebuild on the current site. And <br />the third option would be to construct a new building in a new location. <br />Oertel also pointed out to the Council some environmental issues relating <br />to the mixing and storing of salt/sand that is used by the Public Works <br />Department. <br />Oertel reported on several studies/projects that he has conducted for other <br />municipalities and counties noting some of the similar issues currently <br />being faced by Little Canada. <br />Pedersen questioned the importance of storing diesel vehicles inside if <br />these vehicles can be stored outside and plugged in. Pedersen pointed out <br />the bus company in Ryan Industrial Park that stores all of its diesel <br />vehicles outdoors. <br />Oertel indicated that storing the vehicles outside is an option. However, if <br />diesel vehicles are stored outdoors, the vehicles are usually started and <br />allowed to run for 20 minutes before use. There is also the factor of <br />washing down the vehicle after it has plowed to get ice, snow, and salt off <br />the vehicle. Washing the vehicle down and then storing it outside can <br />cause problems. Not washing the vehicle down after it has been out <br />plowing results in faster deterioration of vehicles. <br />Morelan asked the rational for parking snowplows with the wings on the <br />floor. Oertel replied that it was preferable to pa~'k snowplows with the <br />wings down on the floor as a safety concern. LaValle pointed out that <br />Ramsey County parks their plows with the wings up. LaValle pointed out <br />that there is a time factor involved in adjusting trucks and dropping plows. <br />LaValle asked how much welding is done at the City Garage. The Public <br />Works Director replied that the City has both an electrical and gas welding <br />system. Minor welding is done at the Garage, and the Director pointed out <br />the benefit of being able to make minor repairs on vehicles and equipment <br />in order to keep vehicles in service. This is especially true when repairs <br />are needed during the middle of the night to keep a snowplow on the road. <br />