Committee Approves Special District Changes, Traffic Camera Updates
The Minneapolis Climate and Infrastructure Committee approved several measures Thursday to streamline special district operations and received updates on the city's traffic safety camera pilot program launching in September.
The committee unanimously approved reducing board sizes for five special service districts to address ongoing quorum issues that have delayed decision-making. Dinkytown, Linden Hills, East Lake and Lyndale-Lake districts will each drop from five to three board members, while Central Avenue will reduce from nine to seven members, according to David Bauer, the city's special districts project manager.
"When quorum is not met, meetings must be rescheduled, delaying decision making and impacting the district's ability to move forward with progress or respond to needs in a timely matter," Bauer told the committee.
The committee also eliminated the sunset provision for the West Broadway Special Service District, which transitioned from self-management to city management in 2020. Bauer said stakeholder engagement showed clear consensus to continue operating under city management.
Ethan Fawley from traffic safety staff provided updates on the camera pilot program, which will launch with five speed camera locations in September. The cameras will issue warnings for first violations and $40 citations for subsequent violations when drivers exceed speed limits by 10 mph or more. All locations will be near schools and clearly marked with signage, Fawley said. The committee also received a comprehensive report on vehicle noise pollution policy from Legislative Policy Research Staff member Dwight Miller, who outlined potential abatement practices including quieter backup alarms and reduced emergency siren usage based on practices in other cities.
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Full analysis
- Minneapolis launching traffic safety camera pilot in September with focus on speeding near schools.
- Concerns raised by Council Member Osman about excluding high-speed county-managed roads like Park and Portland from camera pilot.
- City reducing seat requirements on multiple advisory boards to address consistent quorum failures.
- Noise pollution formally identified as a health issue by city research, with focus on sirens and construction.
- Public support for speed safety cameras remains high at 83% according to city engagement data.
Approval of consent agenda items 3-9
Moved by Katie Cashman
Approval of Special Districts Advisory Board composition ordinance
Moved by Katie Cashman
Approval of West Broadway Special Service District sunset provision elimination
Moved by Katie Cashman
One of the most significant operational hurdles is when a board cannot meet quorum to conduct official business.
If you're going 10 or more miles an hour over the speed limit... Your first violation is a warning for everyone.
The World Health Organization ranks noise pollution second to air pollution... It is also a health issue.
Source document
[0:16] >> GOOD AFTERNOON. WELCOME TO THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE CLIMATE AND INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE FOR JULY 17, 2025. I'M
[0:23] KATIE CASHMAN CHAIRMAN OF THIS COMMITTEE. BEFORE WE CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER, I WANT TO OFFER A FRIENDLY REMINDER TO ALL
[0:31] MEMBERS AND STAFF THAT THESE MEETINGS ARE BROADCAST LIVE TO ENABLE GREATER PUBLIC
[0:37] PARTICIPATION. FURTHER METHOD TO INCREASE THE ACCESSIBILITY OF OUR PROCEEDINGS TO THE COMMUNITY. THEREFORE, ALL
[0:42] SPEAKERS NEED TO BE MINDFUL OF THE RATE OF THEIR SPEECH SO THAT CAPTIONERS CAN FULLY CAPTURE AND
[0:48] TRANSCRIBE ALL COMMENTS FOR THE BROADCAST. THANK YOU. THIS TIME I'LL ASK THE CLERK TO CALL ROLL
[0:56] TO VERIFY A QUORUM.
[1:01] >> COUNCIL MEMBER CHAVEZ. >> PRESENT. >> CHOWDHURY. >> PRESENT. >> VICE CHAIR KOSKI. >> PRESENT. >> CHAIR CASHMAN.
[1:07] >> PRESENT. >> WE HAVE FIVE PRESENT. >> THANKS SO MUCH, CLERK MICHAEL. AND WELCOME TO THIS
[1:12] COMMITTEE AS WELL. WE'RE SO HAPPY TO HAVE YOU. WE'LL START WITH THE CONSENT AGENDA, ITEMS
[1:21] 3-9. THREE IS PASSAGE OF A RESOLUTION. WELCOME, COUNCIL MEMBER OSMAN IS HERE WITH US AS WELL. ITEM 3 IS PASSAGE OF A
[1:28] RESOLUTION ACCEPTING A GRANT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR THE
[1:40] SOUTH- SOUTH-FOLWELL. ITEM TWO IS RESILIENCY GRANT FOR FLOOD
[1:45] MITIGATION PROJECT, AND AUTHORIZING AN AGREEMENT FOR THAT GRANT. ITEM 5 IS PASSAGE OF A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING A LOCAL
[1:55] ROAD IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM GRANT FROM THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR ADA RAMPS IN THE SHINGLE CREEK RESIDENTIAL
[2:00] PROJECT, AND AUTHORIZING AN AGREEMENT FOR THAT GRANT. SIX IS APPROVING AN APPOINTMENT TO THE
[2:07] PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY COMMITTEE. THANK YOU SO ALL THE RESIDENTS THAT APPLIED FOR THIS CITY BOARD. ITEM 7 IS APPROVING
[2:18] RENEWAL OF THE PILOT PROGRAM FOR DELIVERY DEVICES. ITEM 8 IS
[2:27] WALKER ART CENTER AVANT GARDEN EVENT. NINE IS APPROVING TRAFFIC
[2:34] SAFETY CAMERA PILOT FRAMEWORK. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? SEEING NONE,
[2:40] I'LL MOVE APPROVAL OF ALL ITEMS. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> THOSE OPPOSED SAY NAY. ANY
[2:47] ABSTENTIONS? AYES HAVE IT. THOSE ITEMS ARE APPROVED. NEXT UP WE WILL TAKE UP OUR PUBLIC HEARING
[2:53] ITEMS. FIRST UP IS AN AMENDMENT
[3:00] RELATED TO THE SPECIAL DISTRICTS ADVISORY BOARD COMPOSITION ORDINANCE. THIS INCLUDES
[3:07] DINKYTOWN, CENTRAL AVENUE, LINDEN HILLS, EAST LAKE AND LYNDALE-LAKE. -- BEFORE OPENING
[3:16] THE PUBLIC HEARING. WELCOME. >> THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON,
[3:21] CHAIR CASHMAN, MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. I'M DAVID BAUER, PROJECT MANAGER TO THE CITY'S
[3:29] SPECIAL DISTRICTS. SET OF ORDINANCES RELATED TO
[3:34] COMPOSITION ADVISORY BOARDS FOR SEVERAL OF OUR DISTRICTS. THESE PROPOSED CHANGES ARE INTENDED TO
[3:41] IMPROVE THE FUNCTIONALITY AND CONSISTENCY BY LINING BOARD SIZES WITH REALISTIC LEVELS OF
[3:49] COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION. BOARDS MADE UP OF LOCAL PROPERTY OWNERS
[3:55] WITH GUIDANCE. WHILE MANY HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN RECRUITING AND RETAINING BOARD MEMBERS,
[4:00] SEVERAL HAVE EXPERIENCED ONGOING CHALLENGES. ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT OPERATIONAL HURDLES
[4:06] IS WHEN A BOARD CANNOT MEET QUORUM TO CONDUCT OFFICIAL BUSINESS. WHEN QUORUM IS NOT
[4:11] MET, MEETINGS MUST BE RESCHEDULED, DELAYING DECISION MAKING AND IMPACTING THE
[4:16] DISTRICT'S ABILITY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH PROGRESS OR RESPOND TO NEEDS IN A TIMELY MATTER.
[4:23] RECOMMENDING THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCE TO REDUCE THE FOLLOWING NUMBER OF SEATS. THE FOLLOWING IS SUMMARY OF THE
[4:29] PROPOSED DISTRICT SEAT AMENDMENTS. DINKYTOWN WILL CHANGE FROM FIVE TO THREE. CENTRAL FROM NINE TO SEVEN.
[4:36] LINDEN HILLS FROM FIVE TO THREE. EAST LAKE FROM FIVE TO THREE. AND LYNDALE-LAKE ALSO FROM FIVE
[4:44] TO THREE. THESE ADJUSTMENTS WILL HELP ENSURE THAT BOARDS WILL
[4:50] MEET QUORUM RELIABLY. AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THESE CHANGES WILL NOT LIMIT COMMUNITY
[4:56] ENGAGEMENT OR TRANSPARENCY. ALL MEETINGS ARE PUBLIC MEETINGS. MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE
[5:02] WELCOME TO ATTEND AND ALL MEETINGS ARE NOTICED ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE. WE ALSO OBSERVE
[5:08] TIME ON EACH AGENDA FOR A PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, MR. BAUER, FOR THE
[5:17] PRESENTATION. I'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND ASK IF ANYONE HAS SIGNED UP. >> MADAM CHAIR, WE HAVE NOT
[5:22] RECEIVED ANYONE TO SIGN UP. >> IS THERE ANYONE HERE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? ALL RIGHT. SEEING NONE, I
[5:28] WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION FROM COMMITTEE MEMBERS? OKAY. THANK
[5:38] YOU. WITH THAT, I WILL MOVE APPROVAL OF THIS ITEM. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> THOSE OPPOSED SAY NAY. ANY
[5:46] ABSTENTIONS? THE MOTION CARRIES. OUR NEXT PUBLIC HEARING IS AN
[5:52] AMENDMENT ELIMINATING THE SUNSET PROVISION FOR THE WEST BROADWAY IMPROVEMENT SPECIAL SERVICE
[5:57] DISTRICT. WELCOMING BACK MR. BAUER TO PROVIDE A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THIS CHANGE BEFORE
[6:03] WE HAVE THE NEXT PUBLIC HEARING. >> HELLO AGAIN, CHAIR CASHMAN,
[6:09] MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. DAVID BAUER, PROJECT MANAGER TO THE CITY SPECIAL SERVICE DISTRICTS.
[6:14] I'M INTRODUCING A PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE ORDINANCE GOVERNING THE WEST BROADWAY
[6:22] SPECIAL SERVICE DISTRICTS. SUNSET PROVISIONS ARE A POLICY REQUIREMENT THE CITY APPLIES TO
[6:28] SELF-MANAGE SPECIAL SERVICE DISTRICTS TO ESTABLISH A FORMAL CHECK AND BALANCE BETWEEN THE
[6:34] DISTRICT'S REPAIRS AND MANAGEMENT ENTITY. STRUCTURED OPPORTUNITY TO EVALUATE WHETHER A SELF-MANAGED DISTRICT
[6:40] CONTINUES TO OPERATE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF STAKEHOLDERS AND ALIGNS WITH CITY GOALS. FURTHER,
[6:46] THESE PROVISIONS PROMPT FORMAL RENEWAL PROCESSES, STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT, AND REAUTHORIZATION
[6:52] AT DESIGNATED INTERVALS. THE WEST BROADWAY SPECIAL SERVICE DISTRICT TRANSITIONED FROM A
[6:58] SELF-MANAGEMENT MODEL TO CITY MANAGE IN 2020. THE WEST BROADWAY SSD HAS BEEN OPERATING
[7:06] UNDER MANAGEMENT. CITY STAFF HAVE CONDUCTED ENGAGEMENT
[7:12] EFFORTS TO ASSESS SERVICE DISTRICT DELIVERY AND GOVERNANCE PREFERENCES MOVING FORWARD. THE CLEAR CONSENSUS FROM THESE
[7:21] DISCUSSIONS IS TO CONTINUE OPERATING WITH MANAGEMENT FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE. IF THERE
[7:28] IS A FUTURE DESIRE TO RETURN THE DISTRICT TO SELF-MANAGE, THE
[7:34] CITY CAN INTRODUCE SUNSET AT THAT TIME. CURRENT OPERATING REALITY ALIGNS WITH CITY POLICY
[7:41] AND ENSURES CLARITY FOR ALL STAKEHOLDERS. THANK YOU. >> GREAT. THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. I'LL NOW OPEN THE
[7:47] PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS ITEM TO SEE IF ANYONE HAS SIGNED UP. >> MADAM CHAIR, WE HAVE HAD NO
[7:53] PEOPLE SIGN UP FOR THIS ITEM. >> ANYONE HERE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? SEEING NONE, I'LL CLOSE
[7:59] THE PUBLIC HEARING. ASK IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS FROM COMMITTEE MEMBERS. SEEING NONE, I WILL
[8:05] MOVE APPROVAL OF THIS ITEM. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> THOSE OPPOSED SAY NAY. ANY
[8:12] ABSTENTIONS? THE MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU, MR. BAUER FOR THE SMART CHANGES. OUR NEXT ITEM IS
[8:22] TO RECEIVE AND FILE AN UPDATE TO TRAFFIC SAFETY CAMERAS, SPECIFICALLY THE 2025 LOCATION
[8:27] ANALYSIS. AND HERE IS MR. ETHAN FAWLEY TO INTRODUCE THIS ITEM AND PRESENT.
[8:33] >> HELLO, CHAIR CASHMAN, MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. MY NAME IS
[8:39] ETHAN FAWLEY. GREAT TO BE HERE AGAIN WITH YOU ALL TODAY. GOING
[8:49] TO PROVIDE A VERY BRIEF OVERVIEW. WE'LL SHARE THE LATEST ON TIMELINE, AND I'M GOING TO
[8:55] SHARE DETAILS AROUND OUR LOCATION ANALYSIS AND OUR INITIAL PLANNED LOCATIONS. BEFORE I DO THAT, I DO WANT TO
[9:03] RECOGNIZE I'M THE ONE WHO GETS TO COME SHARE THESE DETAILS WITH
[9:09] YOU ALL BUT THERE ARE MANY, MANY OTHERS WHO ARE DOING AMAZING WORK AROUND THIS PILOT AND OTHER
[9:14] WORK AROUND TRAFFIC SAFETY AS WELL. SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE TO RECOGNIZE THE STAFF ACROSS
[9:20] MANY CITY DEPARTMENTS WHO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH ALL THIS WORK AND ARE INVOLVED IN MAKING SURE
[9:27] THIS PILOT CAN LAUNCH. AND IT INCLUDES MY COLLEAGUE KRISTIAN
[9:32] ZIMMERMAN WHO IS HERE AND WAS THE LEAD STAFF ON THE LOCATION ANALYSIS THAT I'M PRESENTING ON TODAY. SO JUST A REMINDER THAT
[9:44] TRAFFIC SAFETY CAMERA WORK IS COMING OUT OF OUR CITY'S ZERO ACTION PLAN. AND THIS IS JUST
[9:52] ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE DOING TO GET TOWARDS THAT GOAL, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING SPECIFICALLY WITH A FOCUS ON
[9:58] ADDRESSING UNSAFE SPEEDING, WHICH IS OUR BIGGEST TRAFFIC SAFETY CHALLENGE IN MINNEAPOLIS.
[10:05] FOR THE TRAFFIC SAFETY CAMERA PILOT IN PARTICULAR, A REMINDER ON OUR GOALS THAT OBVIOUSLY
[10:12] WE'RE TRYING TO IMPROVE TRAFFIC SAFETY. BUT THAT ALONE IS NOT ENOUGH TO FOR THIS PILOT TO BE
[10:18] SUCCESSFUL. WE ALSO HAVE TO BUILD COMMUNITY TRUST BY PROTECTING PRIVACY, DOING IT
[10:25] EFFICIENTLY. THIS COMES OUT OF STATE LAW LAST YEAR THAT AUTHORIZED THIS PILOT AND ALSO
[10:32] REGULATES IT. THAT STATE LAW IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR PROTECTING FOR A LOT OF THOSE GOALS WE JUST TALKED ABOUT. WE ARE CURRENTLY
[10:43] PLANNING TO LAUNCH THE PILOT IN SEPTEMBER. WE'RE WORKING WITH
[10:49] OUR CONTRACTOR NOVOAGLOBAL TO FINALIZE THE EXACT DATE AND HOPE
[10:54] TO HAVE THAT PUBLICLY SOON. WE ALSO THIS WEEK HAVE STARTED A PUBLIC INFORMATION CAMPAIGN TO MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS ARE AWARE
[11:01] ABOUT THE PILOT, HOW IT WORKS, AND THAT WILL INCLUDE SIGNAGE AT
[11:08] ALL LOCATIONS AHEAD OF TIME. AND THEN CERTAINLY ONGOING SIGNAGE
[11:13] AT ALL LOCATIONS AS WELL. SO TO CAMERA LOCATIONS. JUST A
[11:18] REMINDER THAT UNDER THE STATE LAW WE CAN HAVE A MAXIMUM OF 42 CAMERA LOCATIONS AT ANY ONE TIME
[11:24] DURING THE PILOT PERIOD. WE ARE PLANNING TO LAUNCH WITH FIVE SPEED SAFETY CAMERA LOCATIONS.
[11:32] AND THEN FROM THERE, WE ANTICIPATE AS PART OF THIS PILOT, WE'RE TRYING TO LEARN. AND SO WE'LL BE ADDING
[11:39] ADDITIONAL CAMERA LOCATIONS FOR SPEED CAMERAS. WE'LL BE ADDING IN RED LIGHT CAMERAS AS WELL.
[11:44] BOTH OF THOSE IN 2026. WE ANTICIPATE CONTINUING TO ADD LOCATIONS AS THINGS ARE DOING
[11:50] WELL AND WE HAVE CAPACITY TO DO THAT. WE ALSO WILL BE MOVING
[11:57] SOME LOCATIONS AROUND. AND THEN WE DO ANTICIPATE CONSIDERING I GOT A LOT OF QUESTIONS AROUND
[12:02] COUNTY AND STATE ROADWAYS. RIGHT NOW WE'RE ONLY LOOKING AT CITY STREETS. BUT WE DO ANTICIPATE
[12:09] CONSIDERING SOME OF THOSE ROADWAYS IN THE FUTURE. WE DO NEED THEIR SUPPORT FOR THAT. PUBLIC WORKS OVERALL IS
[12:14] RESPONSIBLE FOR DETERMINING LOCATIONS DURING THE PILOT. SO
[12:20] OUR TRAFFIC SAFETY CAMERA ANALYSIS, THIS IS REQUIRED BY STATE LAW. THIS MAP HERE SHOWS SOME OF THE BASICS OF THE STATE
[12:27] LAW REQUIREMENTS MUST BE WITHIN 2,000 FEET OF A SCHOOL. SO THAT'S THE BLUE CIRCLES HERE.
[12:34] THE RED DOTS ARE LOCATION INTERSECTION LOCATIONS WHERE WE HAD AT LEAST ONE INJURY CRASH
[12:41] OVER FROM 2019 TO 2023. SO THAT WAS OUR WAY OF DETERMINING IS THERE AN IDENTIFIED TRAFFIC
[12:47] SAFETY CONCERN. AND THEN THAT WAS SORT OF OUR STARTING POINT
[12:52] FOR ANALYSIS. I WILL NOTE THAT
[12:58] FOR THIS ANALYSIS AND REPORT, WE WERE REALLY FOCUSED ON SPEED CAMERA LOCATIONS. WE'LL BE DOING
[13:05] AN ADDENDUM TO THIS THAT WILL BRING IN RED LIGHT CAMERA LOCATIONS AS WELL. FROM OUR
[13:11] INITIAL ANALYSIS, WE NARROWED TO 51 CANDIDATE LOCATIONS THAT WE PUT OUT PUBLICLY IN FEBRUARY.
[13:20] AND THESE WERE PRIORITIZED BASED ON THAT RECENT INJURY CRASH HISTORY ALONE. ALONG WITH MAKING
[13:27] SURE THAT WE HAD AT LEAST TWO CANDIDATES IN EACH CITY COUNCIL WARD TO MAKE SURE WE HAD SOME
[13:33] SPREADING AROUND THE CITY. I WILL NOTE THAT FIVE CITY COUNCIL
[13:38] WARDS BECAUSE OF LOWER INJURY CRASH HISTORY ON CITY STREETS, WHICH IS GREAT, THERE WAS A
[13:44] LITTLE BIT LOWER THRESHOLD TO GET ON THE LIST THAN IN SOME WARDS WHERE THERE'S MORE INJURY
[13:49] CRASH HISTORY. SO WE DO HAVE INEQUITIES, AS YOU ALL KNOW, AND
[13:55] WHERE CRASHES HAPPEN UNFORTUNATELY, AND WE'RE WORKING TO ADDRESS THAT AS WELL. SO WE
[14:02] HAD A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PERIOD THAT STARTED IN FEBRUARY AND WENT TO MAY. WE HEARD FROM
[14:09] 1200 PEOPLE DURING THAT PERIOD IN A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT WAYS. OVERALL, THE FEEDBACK THAT WE'VE BEEN GETTING HAS BEEN
[14:16] INCREASINGLY POSITIVE AS WE'VE BEEN SHARING MORE DETAILS AND GETTING CLOSER TO THE LAUNCH. IN
[14:21] THIS LATEST ROUND, 83% OF PEOPLE WHO SHARED A PERSPECTIVE WITH US SHARED SUPPORT FOR THE PILOT.
[14:30] 17% SHARED CONCERN. SO THERE ARE DEFINITELY FOLKS WHO ARE CONCERNED. WE'RE JUST HEARING A
[14:35] LOT MORE SUPPORT AROUND THE PILOT. YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THE THEMES HERE AND WHAT PEOPLE ARE
[14:43] PRIORITIZING. WE HEARD MORE SUPPORT THAN OPPOSITION ACROSS ALL THE CANDIDATE LOCATIONS. AND WE HEAR A LOT OF, "CAN I HAVE IT
[14:50] OVER HERE" AND PARTICULAR QUESTIONS AROUND COUNTY AND STATE ROADWAYS. SO WE WERE JUST
[14:57] IF WE THINK ABOUT HOW ARE WE GETTING TO THE DECISION HERE. SO I ALREADY TALKED ABOUT THE FIRST
[15:03] STEP HERE AND THE SECOND STEP OF GETTING TO 51 INITIAL CANDIDATE LOCATIONS. FROM THERE, WE
[15:09] COLLECTED SPEED DATA AT ALL THESE LOCATIONS. WE DID
[15:15] ADDITIONAL CRASH ANALYSIS. WE LOOKED AT THE COMMUNITY FEEDBACK THAT WE WERE GETTING. WE
[15:21] CONSIDERED DETAILS AROUND THE LOCATION AND THE DESIGN, THE STREET DESIGN THERE. WHAT WE
[15:26] DON'T WANT IS WE DON'T WANT LOCATIONS THAT PEOPLE MIGHT SAY, HEY, THAT'S A GOTCHA LOCATION.
[15:32] WHERE YOU'RE JUST TRYING TO SET UP A SPEED TRAP. WE WANT ONES
[15:38] WHERE WE HAVE A TRAFFIC SAFETY CHALLENGE. WE HAVE A SPEEDING PROBLEM, AND THERE'S SCHOOLS AND
[15:44] OTHER THINGS GOING ON THERE AND THE STREET DESIGN IS NOT REALLY PROMOTING SPEEDING AT THAT
[15:50] LEVEL. AND SO WE WERE REALLY INTENTIONAL ABOUT ALL THOSE THINGS. AND THEN WE WERE ALSO
[15:55] INTENTIONAL AS REQUIRED IN THE STATE LAW BUT ALSO TO MEET OUR GOALS OF BALANCING ACROSS
[16:01] GEOGRAPHIC AND OTHER EQUITY PIECES. SO THESE ARE THE INITIAL
[16:11] FIVE CAMERA LOCATIONS WHICH ARE IN YELLOW HERE. PLUS IDENTIFIED 11 ADDITIONAL HIGH PRIORITIES
[16:17] FOR FUTURE EXPANSIONS. THESE ARE ONES IF EVERYTHING IS GOING WELL AND WE HAVE CAPACITY MAYBE THESE
[16:22] ALL GET INSTALLED NEXT YEAR OR
[16:28] IN EARLY 2027. AND I CAN ANSWER
[16:33] QUESTIONS AROUND THESE. THESE ARE ALL OUTLINED IN OUR REPORT. BUT WE'VE BEEN CERTAINLY SPREADING THE WORD ABOUT THESE.
[16:43] WE HAVE ONE DOWNTOWN. ONE ON NORTHSIDE, ONE ON NORTHEAST. ONE
[16:49] NEAR SOUTH AND ONE FARTHER SOUTH SIDE AS WELL. AND FOR ALL THESE
[16:55] 16 LOCATIONS, THERE'S AT LEAST ONE IN EACH CITY COUNCIL WARD AS WELL OR ON THE BORDER OF A CITY
[17:02] COUNCIL WARD. AND WITH THAT, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS
[17:08] THAT FOLKS HAVE. >> GREAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR.
[17:13] FAWLEY FOR THE PRESENTATION. FIRST, I'LL RECOGZE COUNCIL MEMBER OSMAN. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE
[17:18] PRESENTATION. THIS IS A GREAT PILOT PROGRAM AND I HOPE IT BRINGS A LOT OF SAFETY TO OUR COMMUNITY. I DO HAVE JUST A
[17:28] SPECIFIC. I'M LOOKING AT THE LIST OF THE STREETS AND THE ONES THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED, THE ONES
[17:34] I'M AWARE OF IS PORTLAND AND PARK. THAT IS ONE-WAY SYSTEM
[17:40] ROADS. AND THE SPEED LIMIT I THINK IS MAYBE 30 MILES AN HOUR. BUT THE AVERAGE IS 42. PEOPLE
[17:46] SPEED UP THERE A LOT. SO THAT DOESN'T HAVE ANY OF THE PILOTS
[17:52] ARE NOT INCLUDED AND I'M KIND OF SURPRISED. I'M ALSO SURPRISED THINKING ABOUT PORTLAND AND
[17:59] FRANKLIN, WHICH IS MY DISTRICT. THAT IS A VERY HIGH SPEED AREA. WE HAD I THINK ABOUT A YEAR AGO,
[18:05] YEAR AND A HALF AGO, FIVE PEDESTRIANS WERE HIT. AND WE SEE
[18:15] A LOT OF FOLKS JUST NOT OBEYING THE TRAFFIC LIGHTS AND JUST TAKING OFF. SO I THINK THAT IS
[18:21] SOMETHING THAT WE KNOW, MY COMMUNITY MEMBERS KNOW THAT I KNOW, AND THAT IS THE PLACE THAT
[18:28] DEFINITELY NEEDS. SO IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ME AS A COUNCIL MEMBER OR FOR THE COMMUNITY TO
[18:33] STILL THINKING ABOUT A LOCATION IF THAT COULD BE A POTENTIAL FOR THIS PILOT PROGRAM. THANK YOU.
[18:40] >> CHAIR CASHMAN, COUNCIL MEMBER OSMAN, THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION. SO PARK AND PORTLAND
[18:46] AVENUE ARE COUNTY ROADS. SO DURING THIS INITIAL PHASE OF THE PILOT WHERE WE'RE FOCUSED ONLY
[18:52] ON CITY STREET LOCATIONS, WE DID NOT CONSIDER THOSE. >> SURE. >> WE MAY IN THE FUTURE WITH
[18:58] THEIR SUPPORT COME BACK ON THAT POTENTIALLY. I WILL ALSO NOTE THAT THAT'S A REALLY GOOD
[19:03] EXAMPLE OF WHERE WE ARE THINKING HOLISTICALLY AROUND TRAFFIC SAFETY BECAUSE THERE ARE A
[19:09] NUMBER OF SAFETY PROJECTS PLANNED IN THAT AREA THAT COUNTY WILL BE STARTING CONSTRUCTION I
[19:15] BELIEVE NEXT YEAR ON FRANKLIN AVENUE RECONSTRUCTION IN THAT AREA AS WELL. THEY'VE ALREADY STARTED SOME UTILITY WORK OUT
[19:21] THERE. AND THAT WILL INCLUDE A LOT OF SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE BUILT OUT OF COMMUNITY RESPONSE, AND WILL MAKE A BIG
[19:28] DIFFERENCE FOR SAFETY IN THE AREA. THE COUNTY HAS FURTHER IMPROVEMENTS, SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS PLANNED FOR PARK
[19:35] AND PORTLAND AVENUES FOR 2027 THAT WE'VE BEEN PARTNERING WITH THEM AS WELL. THAT WILL BE AN
[19:41] OPPORTUNITY AS WELL. ONE OF OUR INITIAL LOCATIONS IS GOING TO BE TWO BLOCKS AWAY AT CHICAGO
[19:49] AVENUE NEAR FRANKLIN AVENUE, WHICH IS ANOTHER LOCATION WITH A SIMILAR CRASH HISTORY.
[19:54] UNFORTUNATE LEVELS OF SPEEDING THAT WE THINK WE CAN MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE IN. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. THAT
[20:00] EXPLAINS WHY WE DON'T HAVE THOSE ON THE PILOT PROGRAM. THE PUBLIC
[20:08] ARE JUST LEARNING THIS INFORMATION. FOR ME, I DID RECEIVE A PRIVATE PRESENTATION
[20:15] FROM THE STAFF EXPLAINING US HOW THE TICKETING WORKS. CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT JUST THE
[20:22] ACTUAL WHAT WILL HAPPEN. WHAT IS
[20:28] THE PILOT PROGRAM? WHEN THOSE CAMERAS COME ALIVE, WHAT DO THE
[20:33] AVERAGE INDIVIDUAL EXPECT THOSE CAMERAS TO CATCH? IF YOU CAN
[20:39] TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAILS
[20:49] ABOUT. >> CHAIR CASHMAN, COUNCIL MEMBER OSMAN, THIS WILL BE PART OF WHAT WE'RE COVERING OUR PUBLIC
[20:56] INFORMATION CAMPAIGN AND REALLY GETTING OUT THAT INFORMATION SO PEOPLE KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT. SO
[21:01] FIRST OF ALL, ALL THESE LOCATIONS WILL BE SIGNED SO
[21:06] PEOPLE WILL KNOW THAT THERE'S A TRAFFIC SAFETY CAMERA THERE. WE'RE ALSO SHARING WHERE THEY
[21:12] ARE PUBLICLY. WE WANT PEOPLE TO SLOW DOWN. NOW WOULD BE GREAT. BUT BEFORE THEY GET A WARNING OR
[21:19] CITATION WOULD BE GREAT TOO. AND THEN ALL LOCATIONS, FOR SPEED
[21:26] CAMERAS, IT'S IF YOU'RE GOING 10 OR MORE MILES AN HOUR OVER THE SPEED LIMIT. THIS ISN'T LIKE I
[21:33] LOST TRACK AND GOING A MILE OVER THE SPEED LIMIT. THIS IS YOU'RE
[21:40] GOING 25 + IN A 25 MILE AN HOUR SPEED LIMIT. REALLY CONSIDERING
[21:46] OUR GOALS AROUND FAIRNESS, EQUITY, AND PRIVACY. SO THAT INCLUDES, YOU KNOW, THE FINE
[21:52] STRUCTURE. YOUR FIRST VIOLATION IS A WARNING FOR EVERYONE. SO AGAIN, WE'RE TRYING TO JUST
[21:58] REDUCE THAT UNSAFE SPEEDING OR RED LIGHT RUNNING. YOU'LL GET
[22:03] THAT WARNING. IF YOU DON'T DO IT AGAIN AT A TRAFFIC SAFETY CAMERA LOCATION, THEN YOU'LL NEVER GET
[22:09] A CITATION. IF YOU DO, IT'S A $40 CITATION. OR $80 IF YOU'RE
[22:15] GOING 20 OR MORE OVER THE SPEED LIMIT. YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE A FREE TRAFFIC SAFETY
[22:20] COURSE INSTEAD OF PAYING THAT CITATION. IT WILL GO AWAY. BEYOND THAT, YOU JUST HAVE TO
[22:25] PAY THE CITATION. OF COURSE FOLKS CAN ALSO CONTEST, AND THEY'LL ALSO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE
[22:32] INFORMATION. IF YOU PROVIDE A SWORN STATEMENT THAT YOU WERE NOT OPERATING THE VEHICLE AT THE
[22:37] TIME OF INFRACTION, THEN YOUR CITATION WILL BE DISMISSED. IF
[22:43] YOUR VEHICLE WAS STOLEN OR THINGS LIKE THAT. THAT WILL BE INFORMATION PEOPLE WILL GET IN
[22:48] THE MAIL WITH THEIR WARNING OR CITATION AND THEY'LL BE ABLE TO GO IN TO OUR VENDOR'S WEBSITE
[22:54] AND SEE ACTUAL VIDEO OF THE INFRACTION. AND THEN IF THEY WANT TO SHARE ANY OF THAT
[23:00] INFORMATION FOR DISMISSAL, TO BE CONSIDERED FOR DISMISSAL, THEN THEY'LL BE ABLE TO DO THAT RIGHT
[23:06] THERE VERY SEAMLESSLY. SO THAT'S SOME OF THE BASICS. I'LL ALSO
[23:11] JUST NOTE WE WERE REALLY INTENTIONAL PROTECTING PEOPLE'S DATA AND PRIVACY AND HOW WE STRUCTURED WHAT CAN BE RECORDED
[23:17] AND STORED AND ALL THE DATA PRACTICES AROUND THAT. SO THAT'S ANOTHER AREA WE HEAR QUESTIONS
[23:22] ABOUT AS WELL AND WE'VE BEEN REALLY INTENTIONAL ABOUT. >> THANK YOU. MY LAST QUESTION
[23:28] IS WILL THESE CAMERA ONLY CATCH THE VEHICLE INFORMATION? IT
[23:33] DOESN'T INCLUDE FACIAL RECOGNITION OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT JUST TO BE CLEAR? >> CHAIR CASHMAN, COUNCIL MEMBER
[23:38] OSMAN, THAT IS CORRECT. UNDER STATE LAW WE'RE NOT ALLOWED TO -- FIRST OF ALL, WE CAN ONLY
[23:44] RECORD INFORMATION IF THE SYSTEM SENSES A VIOLATION OR A
[23:49] POTENTIAL VIOLATION. AND ANY VIDEO THAT IS RECORDED OR PICTURES CANNOT HAVE ANYONE BE
[23:56] PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER OSMAN. I PUT MYSELF IN QUEUE
[24:02] JUST TO ASK ABOUT WHAT EXACTLY WE NEED IN TERMS OF COUNTY
[24:08] SUPPORT TO MOVE THESE CAMERAS ON TO LAKE STREET, LYNDALE, PARK,
[24:17] PORTLAND. YEAH, WHAT DOES THAT COUNTY SUPPORT LOOK LIKE? >> CHAIR CASHMAN, THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION. WE WILL BE
[24:24] HAVING -- WE STARTED CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM AND WE'LL BE CONTINUING THAT. WE WANT TO GET STARTED WITH THE PILOT AND SEE HOW IT GOES. WE
[24:31] HAVE A LOT OF GOOD SITES WE FEEL ON THE CITY SYSTEM. AND SO THAT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO
[24:37] GET EVERYTHING WORKING WELL. WE'LL BE HAVING SOME ADDITIONAL
[24:43] CONVERSATIONS WITH THE COUNTY AND MNDOT POTENTIALLY PARTNERING ON THE ROADS. THAT CONVERSATION
[24:48] HAS BEEN ONGOING, AND WE'LL BE DOING MORE THERE IN THE FUTURE AS WELL. >> OKAY. THANK YOU. I JUST GET A
[24:54] LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT WHY LAKE STREET, WHY PENN ARE INCLUDED.
[25:01] IT SOUNDS LIKE COUNCIL MEMBER OSMAN GETS THE SAME, PARK AND PORTLAND. HOPING WE CAN
[25:08] COLLABORATE WITH THE COUNTY ON THIS. AND CONTINUE TALKING TO THE COMMISSIONERS AS WELL JUST
[25:15] TO ASK FOR THEIR HELP AND SUPPORT. ANY OTHER COMMITTEE
[25:21] MEMBERS WHO WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS THIS? SEEING NONE, THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR. FAWLEY. AND
[25:27] I'LL ASK THE CLERK TO FILE THIS UPDATE. OUR LAST ITEM TODAY IS
[25:42] RESPONSE TO VEHICLE NOISE POLLUTION POLICY. I'LL ASK THE TEAM TO INTRODUCE THIS.
[26:10] >> GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR CASHMAN AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS, MY NAME
[26:15] IS DWIGHT MILLER AND I'M REPRESENTING THE LEGISLATIVE
[26:21] POLICY AND RESEARCH TEAM. FIRST
[26:27] TO JUST GROUND US IN SORT OF THE LEGISLATIVE BACKGROUND OF THIS REPORT AND THE PRESENTATION. IN
[26:33] MAY, IT WAS DISCUSSED TO REQUEST LEGISLATIVE POLICY AND RESEARCH STAFF WHICH WAS AT THE TIME
[26:40] POLICY AND RESEARCH STAFF TO COVER THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION REGARDING REGULATIONS AND
[26:46] RESPONSIBILITIES OF AUTHORITIES FOR VEHICLE NOISE, ANALYSIS OF LANDSCAPE AND NOISE POLLUTION ABATEMENT PRACTICES ACROSS THE
[26:52] COUNTRY, AND ALSO IDENTIFYING OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES THAT AWAITS THE CITY OF
[26:57] MINNEAPOLIS WHEN PURSUING THESE NOISE ABATEMENT PRACTICES. SPECIFIC ATTENTION TO COMMERCIAL
[27:06] AND PUBLIC SAFETY VEHICLE NOISE. THESE VEHICLES ARE THE PRIMARY FOCUS OF THIS PRESENTATION, AND ALSO OF THE REPORT THAT WAS IN
[27:13] YOUR INBOX. ALTHOUGH SOME OF THE AREAS THAT ARE CONSIDERED FOR
[27:19] THIS VERY NICHE TOPIC CAN BE APPLIED TO GENERAL VEHICLE NOISE POLLUTION ABATEMENT, GENERAL
[27:26] VEHICLE NOISE POLLUTION ABATEMENT WAS NOT COVERED IN THE REPORT AND WAS NOT THE SUBJECT
[27:33] OF THE PRESENTATION. I JUST WANT TO GET THAT OUT THERE. BEFORE WE GET STARTED, I ALWAYS WANT TO GROUND US INTO THE WHY. WHY
[27:39] NOISE POLLUTION? A LOT OF THE TIMES WE THINK OF NOISE POLLUTION, PEOPLE THINK OF IT AS
[27:44] MERELY A COMFORT OR JUST A GENERAL QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUE. BUT IT IS ALSO A HEALTH ISSUE.
[27:53] EXTREME NOISE EXPOSURE CAN CAUSE HEART DISEASE RISK TO INCREASE, IT CAN ALSO CAUSE SLEEP
[27:59] DISRUPTION, AND JUST LONG-TERM MENTAL AND PHYSICAL STRESS THAT IMPACTS THE LONG-TERM HEALTH OF
[28:07] OUR RESIDENTS. THE WORLD HEALTH
[28:13] ORGANIZATION RANKS NOISE POLLUTION SECOND TO AIR POLLUTION. WHEN WE THINK ABOUT NOISE, WE DON'T WANT TO THINK OF
[28:20] IT AS A NUISANCE, THIS IS THE HEALTH OF THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS. IT'S JUST
[28:26] SO WE CAN PUT A DEFINITION ON WHAT IS NOISE POLLUTION. WHAT IS TOO LOUD? THE HEARING -- IT
[28:42] COULD BE A VACUUM CLEANER, WASHING MACHINE. HOWEVER, THE FOUNDATION IN THIS INFOGRAPHIC
[28:48] ABOVE, YOU CAN SEE THERE'S OTHER MARKERS THAT ARE HIGHER THAN
[28:55] 70 DECIBELS. CITY TRAFFIC WHICH IS AROUND 85 DECIBELS. 100 DECIBELS WHEN YOU THINK
[29:01] ABOUT CAR HORNS. AMBIENT NOISE.
[29:10] I SAT OUTSIDE OF CITY HALL AND WAS ABLE TO GET 65 DECIBELS OF JUST GENERAL NOISE VOLUME OF
[29:16] TRAFFIC AROUND. THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF THEATER OF THE MIND IN THIS WHEN WE THINK ABOUT WHAT
[29:21] IS NOISE AS FAR AS THE NOISE AND RISK POLLUTION. WHEN WE TALK
[29:26] ABOUT NOISE POLLUTION, WE THINK ABOUT HOW DO WE ABATE IT.
[29:34] THERE'S THE STATE LEVEL WHICH IS REALLY THE FOCUS OF THE
[29:41] MINNEAPOLIS POLLUTION CONTROL AGENCY. THERE'S THIS REALLY HANDY GUIDE TO NOISE CONTROL IN MINNESOTA THAT THE MPCA GIVES
[29:51] GUIDANCE ON NOISE CONCERNS AND PROPER AUTHORITIES MINNESOTANS CAN USE TO ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES.
[29:57] THE MPCA GUIDE SUGGESTS RESIDENTS CONTACT LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND LOCAL LAW
[30:02] ENFORCEMENT FOR COURSE OF ACTION. GIVEN THAT HENNEPIN COUNTY DOES NOT HAVE AN ORDINANCE RELATED TO NOISE AND
[30:08] NOISE POLLUTION, MOST OF THESE
[30:14] REGULATIONS OF -- COVERS THINGS
[30:19] AS NOISE CANNOT BE APPOSITIVE 10 DECIBELS ABOVE THE AMBIENT
[30:25] NOISE DECIBELS DURING THE DAY, OR 5 DECIBELS ABOVE AMBIENT
[30:34] NOISE AT NIGHT. THAT INCLUDES EXHAUST. AT THE SAME TIME IT
[30:41] OFFERS REGULATIONS, IT ALSO OFFERS EXCEPTIONS FOR EMERGENCY RESPONSE VEHICLES, WHICH IS
[30:46] DIRECTLY TIED TO THE REPORT. WHEN WE THINK ABOUT COMMON
[30:52] SOURCES OF COMMERCIAL AND PUBLIC SAFETY NOISE. AS I WAS DOING THE RESEARCH, I KIND OF WENT INTO THREE DIFFERENT BUCKETS. THE
[30:58] FIRST IS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY VEHICLES IS THE LIGHTS AND SIRENS. LIGHTS AND SIRENS COMING FROM FIRE, POLICE, AND EMS. WHEN
[31:06] IT COMES TO CONSTRUCTION SITE NOISE, PARTICULARLY THERE WAS A FOCUS ON BACK-UP ALARMS OR NOISE
[31:11] OF THE EQUMENT AT THE SITE. ALOS AND JAKE BRAKES FROM SEMI
[31:17] TRUCKS. I WAS ABLE TO FIND
[31:24] ROBUST INFRASTRUCTURE REGULATED -- ALL CONTACTED FOR THIS REPORT AND DID NOT REPORT
[31:32] RECEIVING SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT LIGHTS AND SIRENS. USUALLY THEY SAID IF
[31:39] THEY HAVE A PROBLEM THEY COULD CALL THE FIREHOUSE OR PRECINCT IF THERE'S AN ISSUE. BUT THEY
[31:44] WEREN'T ABLE TO GIVE ME ANYTHING AS FAR AS NUMBERS. HOWEVER, REGARDING CONSTRUCTION SITE
[31:49] NOISE, THERE'S MUCH MORE CLEAR PROCESS FOR RESIDENTS TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE. A DISTINCT DIFFERENCE
[31:56] IN CONSTRUCTION NOISE AND NOISE FROM SIRENS AND ENGINE BRAKES IS THE CONSTRUCTION NOISE IS NOT
[32:02] MOBILE. ALLOWING THOSE HANDING OUT ADVISORIES TO RECEIVE A COMPLAINT, GO AND INVESTIGATE
[32:08] AND DETERMINE WHETHER THE NO
[32:15] NOISE -- SERVE AS A CHALLENGE, WHICH WILL BE DISCUSSED LATER IN THIS PRESENTATION. BEFORE WE GET
[32:26] INTO SOME OF THESE ABATEMENT PRACTICES, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT
[32:31] NOW. NOISE ENFORCEMENT IS REACTIVE. THERE'S NOT REALLY ACTIVE MONITORING OR
[32:37] SURVEILLANCE OF NOISE AND NOISE VIOLATIONS. THE 311 SYSTEM
[32:43] SERVES AS THE POINT OF CONTACT. 311 ALSO RELAYS COMPLAINTS
[32:51] REGARDING GARBAGE COLLECTION, AND ROUTES ALL THE COMPLAINTS TO THE PROPER DEPARTMENT. THERE IS
[32:58] NO FOLLOW UP MONITORING RESOLUTION. ADDITIONALLY, ALTHOUGH THOSE ISSUES ARE TRACKED IN THE SYSTEM, REPORTS
[33:05] CAN BE CHALLENGING WITHOUT GRANULAR KEY WORD REPORTING. THIS COMBINED WITH TRACKING
[33:12] NOISE COMPLAINTS ABOUT HENNEPIN EMS, MPD AND FD -- THE
[33:22] MINNEAPOLIS HEALTH DEPARTMENT ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMS UNIT DOES ADDRESS COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION
[33:29] NOISE. SITE NOISE. PARTICULARLY WHEN IT COMES TO AFTER HOURS.
[33:34] CONSTRUCTION IS PERMISSIBLE FROM 7 A.M. TO 6 P.M. EQUIPMENT NOISE THAT RESULTS IS ALSO COVERED AS
[33:41] AN EXCEPTION UNDER CITY NOISE ORDINANCE. ACTIVITY OCCURRING
[33:46] OUTSIDE OF THOSE TIMES IS CONSIDERED A VIOLATION. THERE IS
[33:52] A GUIDANCE ON HOW TO LOOK UP A PERMIT IF YOU'RE CURIOUS ABOUT IT. NOW BETWEEN JANUARY 2024 AND
[33:59] JANUARY 2025, ONLY 22% OF AFTER HOURS COMPLAINT FROM RESIDENTS
[34:04] ACTUALLY REQUIRED AN INVESTIGATION. WHEN LOOKED INTO IT, THERE WERE A FEW REASONS WHY TO WHY THERE MIGHT BE A GAP.
[34:17] SOMETIMES THERE'S INADEQUATE,
[34:22] INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE. PARTICULARLY DURING DELIVERY
[34:27] TIMES, SITES CAN DELIVER EQUIPMENT BEFORE WORK BEGINS, WHICH IS WHY MAYBE IF IT'S 6:30,
[34:32] YOU HEAR THE BEEP-BEEP TONAL IN THE BACK. THEY'RE DELIVERING THOSE RESOURCES, AND THAT IS
[34:38] ALLOWED UNDER THE CITY ORDINANCE. ALONG WITH THAT BACKUP TONAL ALARMS, EXCEPTIONS
[34:47] ARE NOT CONSIDERED NOISE VIOLATIONS. SO THAT IS SORT OF OUR CURRENT STATE OF PLAY. NOW
[34:54] GETTING INTO NOISE POLLUTION ABATEMENT PRACTICES, I WANT TO FOCUS ON REALLY THREE PARTICULAR
[35:00] PRACTICES THAT WAS FOUND ACROSS THE COUNTRY. ONE CONSIDERING TONAL BACKUP CAMERAS, LIGHTS AND
[35:06] SIRENS, AND ENGINE BRAKES AND JAKE BRAKES. REGARDING BACKUP ALARMS. KIND OF THE STANDARD
[35:12] TONAL BACKUP ALARM IS THE BEEP-BEEP-BEEP YOU MIGHT HEAR IF SOMEBODY IS BACKING UP A U-HALL.
[35:20] THERE'S ALSO GOING TO BE SOME SOUND EFFECTS HERE. TONAL BACK-UP ALARMS, THEY CAN RANGE
[35:27] UP TO 110 DECIBELS. HEALTHY NOISE IS 70 DECIBELS. OSHA
[35:34] REQUIRES WORK VEHICLES WITH OBSTRUCTED REAR VIEWS TO HAVE
[35:40] TONAL ALARMS. THIS THING IS BACKING UP AND CANNOT SEE BEHIND THEM, OR SOMEBODY BEHIND THEM
[35:46] SIGNALING. THE MOST COMMON WAY OF DO G -- DOING THAT IS A TONAL
[35:54] ALARM. BROADBAND BACKUP ALARMS USE MULTIPLE FREAKS AND MAKE AN
[36:00] ALMOST SHHH SOUND. QUIETER, IT'S
[36:08] DR DIRECTIONAL. AND ALSO CAN ADJUST TO AMBIENT NOISE. IF AMBIENT
[36:13] NOISE IS LOUDER SURROUNDING IT, THEN IF IT'S LOUDER, IT GETS
[36:20] LOUDER. IF IT'S QUIETER, IT GETS QUIETER. I'M GOING TO PLAY THIS
[36:26] VIDEO. IT IS NOT WORKING. IF YOU HAVE A FRAME OF REFERENCE, IF
[36:31] YOU EVER HAVE AN AMAZON DELIVERY VEHICLE AND YOU HEAR IT BACK UP,
[36:37] YOU WILL HEAR THE SHHH-SHHH. MY
[36:43] COLLEAGUES HEARD THE SOUND. IT'S PERCEIVED AS A LITTLE QUIETER. NEW YORK CITY IS PERCEIVED SO
[36:50] MUCH QUIETER THAT NEW YORK CITY THROUGHOUT ITS CITY FLEET HAS ADOPTED THE MULTI-FREQUENCY
[36:55] ALARMS FOR THEIR HEAVY FLEET, ALONG WITH MULTI-DECIBEL ALARMS WHICH USE THE TONAL ALARM BUT
[37:01] ALSO ADJUST THE SOUND VOLUME BASED ON AMBIENT NOISE LEVEL SO IT COMES OUT MAYBE INSTEAD OF
[37:08] 110 DECIBELS, IT WILL BE 90 DECIBELS. IN ADDITION TO THIS FLEET ADOPTION, NEW YORK CITY IN
[37:16] 2023 MANDATED ALL CONTRACTORS WORKING ON CITY PROJECTS USE
[37:21] WHITE NOISE ALARMS. THESE ALARMS
[37:27] ARE AROUND IN THE $20 TO $30 RANGE. NOW LIGHTS AND SIRENS.
[37:33] LIGHTS AND SIRENS AS MENTIONED EARLIER ARE SIGNIFICANT SOURCES OF URBAN NOISE. SOMETIMES
[37:38] GETTING UP TO 120 TO 123 DECIBELS IN ORDER TO ALERT PEDESTRIANS AND DRIVERS. SIRENS
[37:43] NEED TO BE THIS LOUD BECAUSE THERE'S INCREASE SOUND PROOFING IN CABINS, AND ALSO DRIVERS ARE
[37:50] MORE DISTRACTED THAN THEY WERE BEFORE BECAUSE OF PHONES. AND ALSO INFOTAINMENT CENTERS. SO
[37:59] CONSEQUENTLY, LIGHTS AND SIRENS ARE THE MOST DANGEROUS PART
[38:04] RESPONDING TO AN EMERGENCY. DUE TO THIS DANGER, MECKLENBURG COUNTY IN NORTH CAROLINA, WHICH
[38:11] IS HOME TO CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA, MECKLENBURG COUNTY
[38:17] MEDIC SERVICE 911 REDUCED SIRENS
[38:22] FOR THEIR DRIVERS. THEY INVOLVED ANY LIGHTS AND SIRENS, AND
[38:27] REVEALED A LOT OF THE CALLS THEY'RE RESPONDING TO FOR LIGHTS AND SIRENS ACTUALLY DIDN'T NEED
[38:35] LIGHTS AND SIRENS AND WEREN'T HIGH CASES. THEY WERE ADJUSTED FOR DISPATCH CALL TO WHERE IT'S
[38:43] ONLY HIGH CASES. IT WAS A 55%
[38:49] POINT DROP. AND A 33% DROP IN COLLISIONS DURING EMERGENCY
[38:55] CALLS. THIS WAS IN 2024. SO THEY'RE IN THE SECOND YEAR OF TRYING THIS OUT. THEY'RE ALSO
[39:01] TRYING, THE PERSON WHO STARTED THIS IN CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA, AND MECKLENBURG
[39:06] COUNTY, IS ALSO TRYING IT IN WAKE COUNTY IN RALEIGH NORTH CAROLINA, IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR
[39:11] WITH IT. I WANT TO PREFACE IT WITH THIS WAS NOT CONSIDERED A
[39:17] NOISE POLLUTION. IT WAS CONSIDERED DRIVER SAFETY PRACTICE WITH THE BYPRODUCT BEING THAT IT'S REDUCING NOISE
[39:25] BECAUSE THERE'S LITERALLY LESS NOISE ON THE STREETS. AND THE LAST KIND OF MAJOR SOURCE IS
[39:34] ENGINE BRAKES. ENGINE BRAKES ARE USED TO ASSIST OVERWEIGHT
[39:39] VEHICLES. GENERALLY THIS IS USED ON HILLS. HOWEVER, IT IS LOUD
[39:44] AND OFTENTIMES THEY CAN REACH 96 TO 106 DECIBELS. MINNEAPOLIS DOES HAVE AN ORDINANCE
[39:51] RESTRICTING ENGINE BRAKES USE AT SPECIFIC SECTION OF I-394. HOWEVER, I WANT TO PRESENT SOME
[39:59] CITY WIDE ENGINE BRAKE BANS TO PUT IT IN SCALE AND HAVE A SENSE OF WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. A LOCAL
[40:05] EXAMPLE, MANKATO, MINNESOTA, PASSED AN ORDINANCE BANNING
[40:11] ENGINE BRAKE USE. OFFICIALS THERE ADMITTED THAT WHILE THE BAN DID PASS IN MAY AND THEY'RE
[40:18] WAITING ON A SIGN, THEY'RE NOT HOPEFUL IT WILL LEAD TO ENGINE
[40:23] BRAKES BEING BANNED OR STOPPING THE USE. THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT CAME UP AS THEY WERE DEBATING IT OVER THE YEARS TO GET THIS BAN
[40:31] PASSED. BUT IT IS A GOOD CASE OF DEMOCRACY WORKING. THAT'S WHAT THE PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICIAL SAYS.
[40:38] COLORADO SPRINGS IS THE LARGEST CITY THAT HAD A CITY WIDE ENGINE
[40:43] BRAKES BAN. HOWEVER, THEIR CITY OFFICIAL SAID THE SAME THINGS AS
[40:51] MANKATO. HOWEVER, THEY WERE ABLE TO SQUASH SOME OF THE NOISE FROM
[40:57] COMMERCIAL VEHICLES FOR REALLY PUSHING FOR THE MUFFLER STATE
[41:02] BAN. IN COLORADO, YOU HAVE TO
[41:09] HAVE A CHAMBER MUFFLER. THE JAKE
[41:15] BRAKE MANUAL SAYS IF YOU USE -- COLORADO HAS A STATEWIDE FOR COMMERCIAL VEHICLE WITH 88
[41:21] DECIBEL LIMIT FOR TRUCKS, AND THEIR PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICIALS IN
[41:28] COLORADO SPRINGS SAID USUALLY THE MUFFLER HANDLES THE ENGINE
[41:33] BRAKING. SAYING HEY, YOU NEED TO CHANGE YOUR MUFFLERS. A LOT OF
[41:39] TIMES LARGER TRUCKER INDUSTRIES ARE NOT NECESSARILY THE CULPRITS. IT'S USUALLY SMALLER
[41:46] INDEPENDENT TRUCKS USING SMALLER TAILPIPES WHICH DOES NOT REDUCE
[41:52] SOUND. SPEAKING OF CAMERAS, I WANTED TO LOOK A LITTLE BIT IN TO NOISE CAMERAS AS WE'RE
[41:58] THINKING ABOUT THIS TRAFFIC CAMERA PILOT. THIS IS A
[42:05] RECURRING PROBLEM. IT'S HARD TO THREAD THE NEEDLE BETWEEN A
[42:12] NOISE VIOLATION HAPPENING. BEING ABLE TO KEEP TRACK OF ALL THE OTHER PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES.
[42:17] NOISE CAMERAS HAVE BEEN ROLLED
[42:24] OUT IN MIAMI BEACH AND KNOXVILLE. NEW YORK CITY IS USING IT TO HAND OUT CITATIONS.
[42:30] AND ALSO DELIVER WARNINGS TO DRIVERS. THE MOST SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGE OF THIS TECHNOLOGY AND IMPLEMENTING THAT IS THE NOISE
[42:38] ABATEMENT STRATEGY FOR MINNEAPOLIS IS THIS LEGAL. WHILE THERE IS A PILOT FOR TRAFFIC
[42:44] CAMERAS IN THE CITY, THOSE LAWS LIMIT TECHNOLOGY TO JUST THOSE PRACTICES AND LEAVE LITTLE ROOM
[42:50] FOR FLEXIBILITY TO INCLUDE NOISE CAMERAS. SO WHERE ARE SOME AREAS
[42:55] OF CONSIDERATION? SO FIRST, JUST INCREASING THE AMOUNT OF EDUCATION FOR CONSTITUENTS ON
[43:01] WHAT IS A NOISE VIOLATION, WHAT IS THE NOISE ORDINANCE LAWS. THERE'S OTHER TOOLS YOU CAN USE.
[43:08] THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMS UNIT ACTUALLY HAVE CONSTITUENTS USE
[43:13] THE TIMESTAMP APP SO THEY CAN TRACK AND SEND IN EVIDENCE FOR
[43:19] AFTER HOURS NOISE COMPLAINTS. ALSO FEASIBILITY OF WHAT WHITE NOISE ALARM ADOPTION AMONG THE
[43:27] CITY'S FLEET CAN DO. FIRST RESPONDERS, MFD, SINCE HENNEPIN
[43:34] EMS, WE DON'T HAVE NECESSARILY JURISDICTION OVER. ADVOCATING FOR MUFFLER LAWS AT THE STATE
[43:41] LEVEL WILL HELP ADDRESS SOME OF THE ENGINE NOISE FROM ENGINE BRAKING. I WANT TO EMPHASIZE
[43:49] IMPROVE DATA COLLECTION. ASKING HOW MUCH COMMERCIAL NOISE OR HOW MUCH PUBLIC SAFETY NOISE FROM
[43:56] VEHICLES OR JUST VEHICLE NOISE IN GENERAL SENT ME TO 311, 911,
[44:01] THE PUBLIC SAFETY AGENCIES, PUBLIC WORKS. SO THERE'S NO SINGLE SOURCE WHERE IT'S LIKE
[44:07] THIS IS HOW MUCH VEHICLE NOISE IS HAPPENING IN OUR CITY. JUST A
[44:13] MORE INTEGRATED SYSTEM TO ANSWER THE WHAT, WHERE, AND HOW NOISE
[44:18] TO HELP US WRAP AROUND AND UNDERSTAND THIS PROBLEM BETTER. THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO LOOK AT THE
[44:25] REPORT IN ITS ENTIRETY FOR MORE DETAILS. I WELCOME ANY QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR.
[44:30] MILLER, FOR THE PRESENTATION. I THOUGHT THIS WAS REALLY COMPREHENSIVE AND ADDRESSED A LOT OF THE QUESTIONS THAT I HAD
[44:36] IN WRITING THE STAFF DIRECTION. I DO GET A LOT OF COMPLAINTS FROM CONSTITUENTS ABOUT NOISE IN
[44:42] WARD 7 PROBABLY BECAUSE IT'S A DENSE AREA OF THE CITY. YOU KNOW, THE EMERGENCY VEHICLES
[44:49] NEAR THE FIRE STATION, YOU KNOW, THE POLICE SIRENS COMING DOWN
[44:58] BL BLAISDALE, COMING DOWN LA SALLE. THESE ARE CONCERNS THAT LOOKING
[45:03] INTO THIS IT LOOKS LIKE WE DO NOT ALLOW AIR BRAKES TO BE USED IN THE CITY. HOWEVER, THEY STILL
[45:09] ARE USED. SO THAT MEANS WE NEED TO DO MORE SIGNAGE OR MORE
[45:16] ENFORCEMENT OR MORE COMMUNICATION WITH MNDOT ABOUT OUR HIGHWAYS TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ENFORCING THIS. I ALSO JUST WANT
[45:23] TO ASK YOU A QUESTION IF YOU DID LOOK AT THE DECIBEL LEVELS OF THE SIRENS THAT WE DO HAVE IN
[45:29] OUR FLEET, AND ALSO IF YOU LOOKED AT EMS VEHICLES. I KNOW IT'S HENNEPIN COUNTY.
[45:35] >> I DID. AND I CAN SEND THOSE TO YOU DIRECTLY. BUT THEY'RE
[45:40] AROUND 120 TO 128 DECIBELS DEPENDING ON WHETHER THEY USE --
[45:45] SO FOR INSTANCE, THE HORN IN THE FIRE TRUCK SEEMS TO BE LOUDER
[45:51] BUT DECIBEL LEVEL TO THE ACTUAL ALARM. BUT THAT'S AROUND THE DECIBEL LEVEL. IF YOU WERE KIND
[45:57] OF FLASHING BACK TO HERE, WE CAN GET A SENSE OF WHERE THAT IS ON
[46:03] THE SCALE OF DECIBELS. >> OKAY. THANKS. IT SEEMS LIKE
[46:09] OTHER CITIES HAVE FOUND LESS INTRUSIVE, LESS POLLUTING WAYS
[46:16] TO HAVE PUBLIC SAFETY VEHICLES NAVIGATE THE STREETS SAFELY, AND
[46:21] MINNEAPOLIS SHOULD BE LOOKING INTO THIS AS WELL ESPECIALLY AS OUR RESIDENTIAL POPULATION
[46:26] GROWS, OUR CITY GETS DENSER. IT IS A QUALITY OF LIFE CONCERN. IT
[46:33] IS A PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERN FOR US TO BE LIVING WITH ELEVATED
[46:38] DECIBELS. AT LEAST THIS IS MY EXPERIENCE, THIS IS SOMETHING I HEAR FROM CONSTITUENTS AND I
[46:44] WANT TO GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE BASELINE HERE IN TERMS OF CITY OF
[46:54] MINNEAPOLIS. NEXT, COUNCIL MEMBER VETAW. >> I LEARNED A LOT. ONE OF THE THINGS I WOULD LOVE TO LEARN A
[47:00] LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT IS HELICOPTERS. I LIVE NEAR A HOSPITAL, AND I DON'T EVEN HEAR
[47:07] THE AMBULANCE AND POLICE AS MUCH AS THE HELICOPTERS. SOME OF US
[47:12] LIVE IN NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE THERE ARE HELLIPADS. IT'S SO
[47:18] LOUD. IT'S A NOISE AFTER MANY YEARS OF LIVING THERE I'VE NEVER GOTTEN USED TO. IT'S TYPICALLY
[47:25] WHAT MY NEIGHBORS COMPLAIN ABOUT. I'D LOVE TO KNOW HOW THAT RATES ON THESE SCALES FOR NOISE
[47:31] LEVELS. I MEAN, YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. RIGHT? THE THING ABOUT THE
[47:37] HELICOPTER IS IT ALSO SETS OFF THE DOGS. WHEN IT'S GOING, THEN ALL THE DOGS IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS ARE BARKING TOO.
[47:43] AND SO THAT'S ANOTHER LEVEL OF NOISE. BUT I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THAT IS LIKE. AND
[47:50] THEN ALSO, I JUST WANTED TO SAY YOU DID A FANTASTIC JOB AT THE SOUNDS. IT WAS SO GOOD. IT
[47:57] REMINDED ME, IN THE '80s THERE USED TO BE THESE MOVIES CALLED
[48:03] "POLICE ACADEMY," THERE WAS A LONG SERIES OF THEM. MICHAEL
[48:10] WINSLOW ALWAYS IMPERSONATED THE SOUND OF THESE EMERGENCY VEHICLES IN THESE MOVIES. YOU ARE SO GOOD. ALMOST AS GOOD AS
[48:17] MICHAEL WINSLOW. YOUTUBE THE VIDEOS. HE WAS IMPRESSIVE. I HAVEN'T SEEN HIM SINCE THE '80s
[48:24] SO MAYBE HE WASN'T AS GOOD AS I THOUGHT. I LIKED THAT ADDED TOUCH TO THE PRESENTATION. THAT WAS GOOD. THANK YOU.
[48:30] >> THANK YOU. >> THANKS, COUNCIL MEMBER. DID YOU HAVE ANY INFO ON
[48:35] HELICOPTERS? WAS THAT PART OF YOUR RESEARCH AT ALL? >> I DID NOT. I DID MAKE A NOTE
[48:40] OF IT BECAUSE THAT'S A CURIOSITY. ESPECIALLY SINCE MY BRAIN IS ALWAYS ON NOISE SINCE GOING INTO THAT PROJECT. I WILL
[48:46] DEFINITELY LOOK INTO THAT. >> ONE LAST QUESTION THAT I HAD
[48:52] IS IN OUR FLEET HERE, WHO DOES SET THE DECIBEL LEVEL AND THE
[48:57] TONE OF THE SIRENS FOR MPD AND MFD VEHICLES, AND WHEN WILL THE
[49:03] CONTRACT BE UP FOR THE SIRENS? LIKE WHEN WILL THERE BE AN
[49:09] INFLECTION POINT TO CONSIDER? >> I DID NOT ASK. THEY DO SOURCE
[49:15] THEM FROM FLEET SERVICES. ARE YOU ABLE TO TURN ON AND OFF THE
[49:22] DIFFERENT TONALS. I KNOW SOME PEOPLE THEY DO, IT'S THE BEEP,
[49:29] IT'S THE EUROPEAN STYLE WHERE YOU HEAR ON "BOURNE ULTIMATUM."
[49:46] IF I'M HEARING CORRECTLY, CAN WE CONTROL DIFFERENT TONES AND ALSO WHERE DO WE SOURCE OUR SIRENS
[49:51] FROM. >> IF IT'S A QUESTION OF PROCUREMENT AND IF WE'RE GOING TO BE MAKING THAT SWITCH, WE CAN
[49:57] MAKE A SWITCH TO SOMETHING HEALTHIER, IN THE SAME WAY WE'RE
[50:02] TRANSITIONING OUR PUBLIC WORKS FLEET TO VEHICLES TO BE HEALTHIER FOR THE CITY AND MEET OUR HEALTH GOALS. WE CAN DO THE
[50:09] SAME WITH OUR SIRENS. I LOOKED AT THE 2040 PLAN TO SEE IF WE HAD ANY NOISE POLLUTION GOALS
[50:15] AND I DIDN'T SEE ANY. ALTHOUGH WE HAD A LOT OF OTHER GOALS IN THAT PLAN. WE HAVE DARK SKIES
[50:23] GOALS WHERE WE CAN SEE THE STARS IN THE CITY. I'M HOPING AS WE START LOOKING AT THE 2050 PLAN
[50:29] THAT WE CAN INCLUDE A NOISE POLLUTION GOAL AS WELL. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM?
[50:34] >> MADAM CHAIR, WOULD YOU LIKE THE TWO QUESTIONS RECORDED FOR A STAFF MEMO?
[50:39] >> THAT WOULD BE GREAT. THANK YOU. >> I'LL FOLLOW UP WITH STAFF. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, CLERK MICHAEL. AND
[50:45] THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR. MILLER, FOR THE PRESENTATION. I WILL ASK CLERK TO FILE THIS REPORT, AND
[50:51] WITH THAT, WE'VE CONCLUDED ALL BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE
[50:57] COMMITTEE. WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE ARE ADJOURNED.
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