Loading...
Memo Ordinance Amending Section 415 City Code House Numbers , , . r~~--~M"<<"<'"l . WI1""::J:::':'::@:'fll':':::::::::::iJ:::::':':::::::"'''=:r~~_.>;~!M .... ". ..... ......'...11. ..... ........ ".<.'.". "c' ..,.7........ .........., ".' ,~"'V' .......... ','_",' :::::;::: : ',. , ::::::::": .....'.L.:~::~:~::: : -' , -::::::;:; .~:::~:::: ;:::::" :~i::::r::::::t,::::'::~i::~:};;:'::;;;:::::~:::::II:r:;t~;::::i:::l~1::;;:::~::\::::::: To: The Honorable Mayor and City Council From: James Gessele, Engineering Superintendent ,.rrq Date: Tuesday, January 10,1995 Subject: Ordinance Amending Section 415 City Code House Numbers Attached you will find Ordinance 95-753 for second reading. Although Council requested a revised ordinance subsequent to the first reading at the January 3 meeting, staff has attached the original draft. In light of the two attached memos from the police and fire departments, staff feels you may wish to reconsider your position on requirement of house numbers at the rear of buildings where they front on an improved alley. Both departments make a case for such a requirement. I am also attaching a draft copy of a flyer prepared by the City's communications . coordinator. This flyer is an excellent community relations education tool in fostering voluntary compliance with the code requirements for house numbers. This is precisely what staff had in mind as a first step in seeking compliance, shy of inspections with compliance orders. Based on the additional input from the police and fire departments, staff recommends adoption of Ordinance 95-753, as originally drafted, for second reading and order published. . l. r MEMORANDUM DATE: January 6. 1995 e TO: Jim Gessele - Engineering FROM: Jim Liddy - Police Dept. SUBJECT: Proposed Ordinance Requiring House Numbering As you and I have previously discussed, we need to address the problem of house numbers being absent or difficult to read on many of the homes In Hopkins. I know you are working on an ordinance which would make this a requirement and dictate the size of the numbers. From a public safety aspect. I cannot stress strongly enough the need for the po 1 ice department to be able to quickly identify the addresses we are responding to. The numbers should be easily visible from the street and at night. It would be extremely helpful to have house numbers not only on the front of a residence, but also at the rear. This is particularly critical for houses which are served by alleys. Many of our ca 11 s require officers to respond to both the front and rear areas of homes, often after parking several houses away and walking up to the area. This type of approach is necessary for officer safety reasons. Without having a visible house number at the rear of a residence, an officer cannot be certain he/she IS at the right location and may end up inadvertantly . in an unsafe location. I strongly urge you, as part of the ordinance. to require permanant house numbers not only to the front of all houses but at the rear of all houses served by alleys. The ultimate would be to have numbers on the rear of ALL houses. In addition to the numbering of houses, the police department would also 1 i ke to see the ordinance require numbers on both the front and rear doors of all businesses. This would be extremely helpful in locations where a number of businesses are located in one contiguous building. Examples of this would be the Westbrooke Square Complex. Suburban Square, Blake Road Building. etc. Officers respond to many business alarm calls and cover both the front and rear. Because numbers are often not on the back doors. officers may have to guess, at least initially. which door they should be watching. Wh i 1 e I speak from the Police Department perspective, I would presume that the fire department and the ambulance services which serve the Ci ty would be in strong support of the requirement for address identification at both the front AND rear of all houses and preferably all buildings whether they be houses, apartments or businesses. . . '. e r"".'-~~-""'~} - To: Jim Gessele From: George Magdal Date: Monday, January 9, 1995 Subject: Alley Addresses You asked me if it would be beneficial for the fire department if addresses were visible from the alley. The answer is yes. Obviously, if there is a major fire in a dwelling a fire company sent to the alley would have no problem identifying which structure it was. Fortunately, most of our emergencies aren't that visible. There have been numerous occasions where a company or the rescue squad has been told to enter from the alley. Usually we depend on somebody to wave us in to the right structure. Addresses in the rear would help us . identify more quickly the building we are looking for. . . . Put Your . Dear Hopkins Business Owner: Seconds count in an emer- gency - precious seconds wasted if Hopkins police offi- cers, Hopkins firefighters, or Hennepin County ambulance paramedics cannot find your business or property. Some businesses in Hopkins have no address numbers visi- ble from the street or alley. Some numbers are hidden behind trees or bushes. Some numbers are dif- ficult or impossible to read because they are too small or blend into the paint. Some businesses don't have any address numbers on them at all. Please, help. . If you don't have address numbers on your business or property, put them up. If you do, check them out - are they clearly visible from the street or alley? Numbers should be: · A minimum of 4 inches high (can be up to 12 inches high); · A different color than the building paint; · Put in a conspicuous location; · Clearly visible from the street or alley. Please, also consider putting numbers on the back or side of your building particularly if you are located on a street corner or adjacent to an alley. If you have any questions, please call Hopkins City Hall, 935-8474. . "Numbers Up' is a city of Hopkins community relations education program. --.- .~-- . '. HENNEPIN COUNTY, MINNESOTA . ORDINANCE NO. 95-753 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 415 HOPKINS CITY CODE RELATING TO HOUSE NUMBERS THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HOPKINS, MINNESOTA DOES ORDAIN: section 1. The Hopkins City Code, section 415.01 is hereby amended by substituting the following paragraphs to read as follows: 415.01 House numberinq. subdi vision 1. Number reauired. It shall be the duty of the owner or owners of any building or buildings in the City, fronting upon any public way or alley therein, to place and keep in a conspicuous place in the front, and the rear where appropriate, of such building or buildings the proper sized house number therefor, the material of the numbers to be suitable and the numbers themselves in accordance with the established numbering system, all as required by this section. Subdivision 2. Size of numbers and location. The . numbers shall be a minimum of 4 inches high and may not exceed one foot in height. In all instances the numbers shall be of sufficient size and contrasting color to be readily distinguishable and readable from the public way. Numbers shall be posted conspicuously on the front, and rear where necessary, of a building, or on a building accessory to such buildings at the rear. When address numbers are proposed to exceed one foot in height, the address numbers are considered an exterior sign and shall be subject to applicable regulations as set forth in the city's sign ordinances. Section 2. The Hopkins city Code, section 415.11 is hereby amended by substituting the following paragraph to read as follows: 415.11 Comoliance. A property owner who fails to comply with the requirements of this section within 30 days from the date of the final inspection of new construction, or in other cases where written orders for compliance have been issued, is in violation of this section. . -.. .--. . . .. . Section 3. This ordinance is effective subject to the following: First Reading January 3 , 1995 Second Reading January 17, 1995 Date of Publication January 25, 1995 Effective Date of Ordinance February 14, 1995 Charles D. Redepenning, Mayor Attest: James A. Genellie, city Clerk Approved As To Form and Legality: . city Attorney Signature Date . . . HENNEPIN COUNTY, MINNESOTA ORDINANCE NO. 95-753 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 415 HOPKINS CITY CODE RELATING TO HOUSE NUMBERS THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HOPKINS, MINNESOTA DOES ORDAIN: Section 1. The Hopkins City Code, Section 415.01 is hereby amended by adding the following paragraph to read as follows: 415.01 SUbdivision 2. Size of numbers and location. The numbers shall be a minimum of 4 inches high and may not exceed one foot in height. In all instances the numbers shall be of sufficient size and contrasting color to be readily distinguishable and readable from the public way. Numbers shall be posted conspicuously on the side of the building facing the public way. When address numbers are proposed to exceed one foot in height, the address numbers are considered an exterior sign and shall be subject to applicable regulations as set forth in the City's sign ordinances. . Section 2. The Hopkins City Code, section 415.11 is hereby amended by substituting the following paragraph to read as follows: 415.11 Compliance. A property owner who fails to comply with the requirements of this section within 30 days from the date of the final inspection of new construction, or in other cases where written orders for compliance have been issued, is in violation of this section. section 3. This ordinance is effective subject to the following: First Reading January 3, 1995 Second Reading January 17, 1995 Date of Publication January 25, 1995 Effective Date of Ordinance February 14, 1995 Charles D. Redepenning, Mayor . ..- -- -- Attest: . James A. Genellie, city Clerk Approved As To Form and Legality: city Attorney Signature Date . .