According to the Bassett Creek Watershed Management Commission (BCWMC), with the exception of flood levels in Medicine Lake, the overall risk of snowmelt-related flooding is low in the Bassett Creek watershed. A snowmelt with 6 inches of runoff over a 10-day period, or a 9-inch runoff over a 30-day period, result in similar flood levels as the 1 Percent Flood (also known as the 100-year flood). While there is a concern for snowmelt flooding, the greatest potential for springtime flooding would occur if a moderately heavy to heavy rainfall occurred during the snowmelt.

Based on a BCWMC study of snowmelt runoff when the flood control project was designed in the mid 1980s, an urbanized watershed such as Bassett Creek is typically more susceptible to flood from short duration, high intensity rainfalls associated with thunderstorms. The study compared flood levels for snowmelt events to flood levels resulting from summer rainfall events with a 1 percent probability of occurrence.

Additional snow or rainfall in the next several weeks or during the snowmelt would increase runoff and raise flood levels. Also ice in the creek channel and in culverts can increase flood levels upstream of crossings and storm sewer outlets.

Assess Your Risk, Then Prepare

To learn if your home or business is at risk for flooding this spring, go to www.floodsmart.gov and input your address into the Flood Risk Profile. The website also provides basic information about flood insurance in your area. Keep in mind that flood insurance policies are not activated until 30 days after the premium is paid in full.

Taking a photo inventory of your building and its contents will help properly document your assets in case of a flood. Checklists are available at the Minnesota Department of Commerce website.

If you have questions regarding flood insurance, contact the Minnesota Department of Commerce at 651-296-2488 or go to www.commerce.state.mn.us.

You can also get more detailed information about flooding from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

Protecting Your Property

The City of Golden Valley’s primary responsibility during floods is protecting its public infrastructure, such as streets, sanitary sewer lift stations, and other facilities. Property owners are responsible for protecting their homes and businesses.

To purchase sand bags, check with the businesses listed below. They may also be available at home improvement and hardware stores near you. To obtain sand to fill the bags, contact landscaping companies or sand and gravel suppliers (check the Yellow Pages or online to find these companies).

Berg Bag
410 3^rd Ave N
Minneapolis, MN  55401
612-332-8845 (day and evening)

North Star Packaging
(has several public warehouses)
952-249-0661
After hours: Scott Lindgren, 218-779-8249

Jacobs Trading Company
8090 Excelsior Blvd
Hopkins, MN  55343
763-843-2029
763-843-2045
After hours: 612-719-3698 or 651-276-4415

To properly deal with a flooding or drainage problem, first determine its source by asking these questions.

This is important information for anyone who is moving, hauling, or planning a construction project. You may have to use smaller trucks or lighter loads.

The City may issue a load limit waiver for a single trip with a maximum load of 7 tons per axle. Only one waiver will be issued per project per season. Please submit your waiver application to the Public Works office in person or email it to rnims@goldenvalleymn.gov. Be sure to include a sketch showing project location and proposed haul route.

Spring load restrictions are used as a pavement preservation strategy in regions with freeze-thaw environments. The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) sets the starting and ending dates for spring load restrictions. Like most local road authorities in Minnesota, the City of Golden Valley follows the dates established by MnDOT.

According to MnDOT, ending dates for spring load restrictions are based on how the weather is affecting roadway strength. These dates are established by monitoring roadway strength as weather conditions change. Therefore, the ending date for spring load restrictions varies from year to year. Over the past 25 years, the average ending date is April 27. UPDATE: The City’s spring load restrictions will expire in accordance with MnDOT’s restrictions on Monday May 2, 2011, at 12:01 am.

If you have questions about restrictions on roadways in Golden Valley, contact the following authorities:

City Streets
Golden Valley Public Works Office
763-593-8030

Hennepin County Highways
Permit Office
612-596-0339
(leave a voicemail for a return call)

MnDOT Highways
651-366-5400

Vehicle detection loops are used for more effect traffic signal operation. The detectors send a signal to the signal controller when a vehicle passes over them. Once the signal is received, the traffic signal either gives the vehicle more green light time or starts the process of changing the light from red to green.

Detection wires are installed by making cuts into existing pavement. These cuts are sealed, but water can still leak in. When water seeps into the cuts and freezes, it can damage the wires.  The rainstorm the last week of December, followed by the cold temperatures in January, created prime conditions for damage to detection loops. Currently, only the Xenia Ave /Golden Hills Dr intersection has been observed to have a detection loop problem.

The City has 16 skating rinks. During extreme cold or warm weather, rinks and shelter buildings may be closed. Check by calling 763-512-2350 before dropping children off. “Closed” signs are also posted on park shelter doors. If you have concerns or questions about ice conditions or rink maintenance, call Park Maintenance at 763-593-8045.

Golden Valley offers several winter activities for residents of all ages. Check out the Parks and Recreation Winter Brochure or view a list of upcoming special events. 

• Yield to snowplows. They may be traveling at slower than posted speeds.
• Do not pass a snowplow on the right. That is where they are generally pushing the snow from the road.
• Give snowplows plenty of room to do their job. Stay at least 50 feet behind the plow at all times, as illustrated in this graphic from the Maine Department of Transportation.
• Be observant. At intersections snowplows may need to back up to re-position themselves to push snow out of the way or start plowing a different street.
• Be patient. Snowplows are out on the road to clear it and help you get to your destination safely.
• Do not cut the snowplow off. Keep in mind that snow plows weighs 17 times as much as a car and their stopping distance, especially on snow, is a lot longer than a car’s.
• Turn your headlights on. This makes you more visible to plow drivers (and other drivers).

The Minnesota Department of Transportation made a short video during the Dec 11, 2010 snowstorm to show what it’s like to drive a snowplow. To see the snowplow driver’s view from behind the wheel, forward the video to 1:00 and 1:36. 

Be prepared for this week’s snow. Brush up on City snow removal and parking ordinances, stay informed of weather forecasts, and move your vehicle from the streets whenever snow is in the forecast. The City of Golden Valley emails or texts snow emergency alerts–sign up here. The Snow Emergency option is at the bottom of the list, under the subhead “Streets and Utilities.”

For more winter safety information, including links to National Weather Service updates and 511 information for travelers, visit the Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s Winter Hazard Awareness website.

“We’ll be chasing this storm for a couple of weeks,” says Street Maintenance Supervisor Chuck Perkins.

As the snowstorm built, Golden Valley plow crews started up around 4 am Saturday, Dec 11, and worked 15 hours straight, plowing about 90 percent of city streets twice. Three sidewalk clearing machines started working around 8 am and continued for the next 12 hours. At that point crews were just trying to keep up with the snow, plowing the center of each street so traffic could get through.

“It was snowing so fast that by the time we finished round one, it didn’t look like we’d plowed at all,” says Public Works Maintenance Manager Bert Tracy.

After-Storm Clean-Up
The storm was over Sunday, and the entire crew was back to work at 4 am for another nine hours, plowing streets curb to curb, de-icing, and doing clean-up. They were back again at midnight to do more de-icing and to start hauling snow from critical areas. Crews also began a 16-hour split-shift sidewalk clearing operation. 

“We can usually clear up to three miles of sidewalk per hour with our equipment, but after a storm like this, we’re clearing less than one mile per hour,” Perkins says. “When the snow has nowhere to go, banks get high and sidewalks can’t get cleared until the snow is removed.”

On Monday and Tuesday, crews started hauling snow from areas where there is no room for storage and where accumulated piles of snow create hazardous conditions. Using a large snow blower on the front of an end loader, crews remove snow from the sides of bridges (like the Winnetka Ave bridge over I-394) and similar areas and haul it to the City’s snow storage site. These snow clearing and clean-up operations continue, by priority, until the situation is under control on all City streets.

“Our successful snow management operation is due to Golden Valley’s commitment to quality and a high level of service,” says Tracy. “We’re fortunate that we have enough equipment and manpower to handle the snow expediently.”

“We also appreciate the cooperation from our residents,” adds Tracy. Very few cars were tagged by the police because of failure to move them off the streets in accordance with the City ordinance.”

Street Priorities
During and after a storm, the City clears streets based on how they are classified regarding function, traffic volume, and importance to the welfare of the community. Minor arterial and collector streets are plowed first. These are high volume routes that connect major sections of the city and provide access for emergency, fire, police, and medical services. Second priority streets provide access to schools and commercial businesses, and third priority streets are low-volume residential streets. Fourth priority areas include alleys and City campus parking lots.

Important Snow Management Issues
After a large storm is a good time to remind citizens of their own snow management responsibilities, says Tracy.

Parking
Parking is prohibited on any public street after a snowfall of at least two inches until the snow has been plowed to the curb line. Vehicles in violation are cited by patrolling police. Vehicles found to be obstructing traffic or snowplows, and those still in violation after 24 hours, may be towed.

Stay informed of weather forecasts and move your vehicle from the streets whenever snow is in the forecast. The City of Golden Valley also emails or texts snow emergency alerts–sign up here. The Snow Emergency option is at the bottom of the list, under the subhead “Streets and Utilities.”

Private Snow Removal
According to Minnesota statute and City ordinance, snow cannot be moved from any private property to the street, public right-of-way, or to another private property. When snow is being removed from your driveway or parking lot (whether you do it or hire someone to do it), make sure it stays off of roadways, sidewalks, and adjacent property.

Mailboxes
When large volumes of snow are moved from streets to boulevards, mailboxes can be affected. The City repairs or replaces mailboxes only if they are actually hit by a snowplow.

Streets reconstructed in the 2010 PMP

Northwest Asphalt, the City’s contractor for the project, finished paving and placing sod in all 2010 construction areas this fall. Streets were reconstructed to City standards, including concrete curb and gutter. The project also addressed necessary repairs to the storm sewer, water mains, and sanitary sewer mains.

2011 and 2012 PMP

The City Council approved the 2011 and 2012 PMP projects at a public hearing Nov 16.

The 2011 PMP will include the Lawn Terrace area of Golden Valley, which is between Hwy 100 and Turner’s Crossroad and I-394 and Glenwood Ave.

The 2012 PMP will include Circle Down north of I-394 and east of Turner’s Crossroad, King Hill Rd and King Creek Rd south of Glenwood Ave, as well as Welcome Ave, Welcome Circle, and Phoenix St south of Golden Valley Rd and west of Hwy 100.

Both projects are in the preliminary design phase, which includes surveying, soil borings, and neighborhood participation. The City begins preliminary survey and design work and meets with affected property owners at least one year before a proposed project is presented to the City Council at a public hearing. The City sends public hearing notices to each resident along streets being considered for rehabilitation at least 10 days before the hearing.

The City will complete the plans for both projects and go out for bids for the 2011 PMP in January. The City will bid the 2012 PMP in January 2012.

For more information, see Pavement Management Program.

The Golden Valley City Council approved several parking, drop-off, and pick-up changes, and in the coming weeks the City will remove the old signs and install the new ones. Please watch for these changes and pick up/drop off children in the appropriate locations (see diagram).

• A new zone was created that prohibits stopping, standing, or parking from the school zone sign north of the school driveway to the Hampton Rd intersection from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. No passengers may be dropped off or picked up in this area between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday.

• The loading zone south of the Hampton Rd intersection has been improved with a concrete boulevard. All passenger drop-offs and pick-ups must occur in this area.

These modifications will improve safety at the school by:

• allowing students to walk to/from the loading zone into the school without having to cross a driveway or street

• enabling maintenance crews to clear snow from the concrete boulevards more efficiently and effectively, thus providing safer access for pedestrians in traveling from their vehicles to the sidewalk

• improving sight distances at the Noble School driveway, which will help busses safely enter and exit the driveway during arrival and dismissal times and which will benefit all vehicles entering and exiting the driveway throughout the school day

• improving the visibility of school staff stationed at the driveway entrance during arrival and dismissal times

• enabling pedestrians to get between the vehicles and sidewalk without crossing grass or mud during rainstorms or the spring thaw

For the safety of the students, Noble School policy allows only school busses in the parking lot from 9 to 9:20 am and 3:30 to 4 pm on school days. Please use the improved loading zone on Noble Ave to safely drop off and pick up students who are not riding the bus.

Safety is a team effort, and everyone needs to take an active role in keeping kids safe on their way to and from school. For more drop-off/pick-up information please view the parent handbook .

Crews found that a stuck pedestrian button had created a significant problem with the traffic signal coordination and resulted in southbound traffic having a shorter green light than usual.

Traffic signals along state highways are owned by MnDOT. If you notice a signal malfunctioning on a state highway (such as Hwy 55), please visit the MnDOT website for information on who to contact.

The traffic signal at Hwy 55 and Douglas Dr is reaching the end of its service life and is scheduled to be replaced in summer 2012. The project is included in the 2011-2014 State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) program and will cost an estimated $300,000. Funding for the project will come from the Trunk Highway Fund and other sources.

To view a layout of the new exit ramp configuration go to http://www.dot.state.mn.us/metro/projects/cmsp/images/planned.pdf. For more information about the project in general visit MnDOT’s project website at http://www.dot.state.mn.us/metro/projects/cmsp/index.html.