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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/13/2016 Traffic Safety Advisory Committee City of Apple Valley January 13, 2016 7:00 p.m. Municipal Center Minutes 1. Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Chair Arthur Zimmerman Members Present: Linda Dolan, Nick Francis, Charles Grawe, Fred Puente, Matt Saam, Joe Shaw, Arthur Zimmerman Members Absent: Consultants/Alternates Present: Brandon Anderson, City Engineer Others Present: Chris Purcell 2. Approval of Agenda MOTION: Ms. Dolan moved, second by Mr. Shaw to approve the agenda as presented. Motion passed 6-0 (Mr. Puente abstained). 3. Audience Items Mr. Purcell expressed concern about commercial truck traffic volumes and noise on County Road 46 between Diamond Path and Lac Lavon Drive. Specifically, he expressed displeasure with noise related to engine braking and believes that the drivers are using engine brakes when they are not needed, such as when they are hauling empty loads, and during early morning hours and should be cited for causing a public disturbance. He said he believes the problem may also be caused by modified or non-compliant exhaust systems on the trucks. Mr. Francis explained that the police department is unable to successfully enforce the noise ordinance on vehicles because there is not a court-approved noise measuring device for such circumstances. However, the department is training an officer to be dedicated to commercial vehicle safety enforcement. Safety enforcement addresses the vehicle as a whole and can include many different compliance issues. Mr. Shaw explained that police officers are not able to initiate a public disturbance citation on their own; they need to be responding to a complaint by a third party. Mr. Zimmerman suggested that the Committee could revisit this issue once the officer has completed commercial vehicle inspector training. Ms. Dolan requested that the officer focus efforts on 160th Street once training has been completed. 4. Approval of November 18, 2015 Minutes MOTION: Mr. Francis moved, second by Mr. Grawe, to approve the Minutes of November 18, 2015 as presented. Motion passed 6-0 (Mr. Puente abstained). 5A. Request for Signage, Stop Signs, and Signals 1. Mr. Anderson said the lack of the stop sign at Granite Avenue and 142nd Street was discovered during the review of a proposed development. The intersection already meets the warrant for a stop on Granite Avenue without the proposed development. Staff recommends the installation of the appropriate stop sign. MOTION: Mr. Grawe moved, second by Mr. Saam, to recommends the installation of the stop sign as presented. Motion passed 6-0 (Mr. Puente abstained). 2. Mr. Anderson said the City received a request for a stop sign at 153rd Street and Pennock Avenue. The request was received before staff had an opportunity to conduct any analysis of the intersection. A study of the traffic volumes and vehicle crash report would be necessary to determine if warrants are met. 3. Mr. Anderson said the City received a request for protected left-turn timing from Pennock Avenue onto 140th Street. The request was received before staff had an opportunity to conduct any analysis of the intersection. A study of the traffic volumes and vehicle crash report would be necessary to determine if warrants are met. He also noted that roadway improvements may also be necessary to accommodate such a signal modification and there may not be adequate right-of-way to make such improvements. 4. Mr. Anderson said a resident requested a"No Outlet" or"Dead End" sign for Cimarron Court, a long cul-de-sac in a neighborhood with rural road street designs. The rural road design makes differentiation between streets and private driveways difficult. Such signage meets the Minnesota Manual and Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). The Committee consensus was to install the appropriate sign. 5B. Resident Concern about Traffic near Diamond Path School Mr. Anderson explained that a resident has expressed concern over traffic volumes on Diamond Path in the vicinity of Diamond Path School. The concerns are primarily with school-related traffic. The Committee has reviewed this situation and continues to monitor the issue of traffic congestion associated with school pick-up and drop-off. 5C.Resident Concern about Speeding on Elm Drive Mr. Anderson said an unmarked card was used by the police Special Enforcement Team to enforce speed on the street. As a result, the resident may not have realized that enforcement activity was taking place. The police department will use a more visible marked vehicle for future enforcement there. 5D.Resident Traffic Concerns on Pennock Ave near 1381' Street Mr. Anderson said the City plans to place speed advisory signs in the area, but are unable to access the desired right-of-way locations at the moment. The advisory signs have been placed on existing signs at nearby locations for the current time. 5E.Review Founders Lane (One-way) Wrong Direction Traffic Mr. Anderson noted that this is the only area in the city with one-way streets. He recommended adding rider arrow signs to existing one-way signage to reinforce the correct direction of travel. The Committee consensus was to install the rider signs. 5F. MnDOT Response to Letter Regarding Autistic Child Signs in MUTCD Mr. Zimmerman noted that MnDOT responded to the City's legislative delegation request that it would not include Autistic Child Signs in the MUTCD. 5G.Approve Annual Committee Accomplishments Report MOTION: Mr. Saam moved, second by Mr. Francis, to approve the Accomplishment Report for submission to the City Council. Motion passed 6-0 (Mr. Puente abstained). 6A.Other Traffic Concerns Communicated to the City of Apple Valley Police Concerns Mr. Francis noted that there is a new ticket writing system for the state. The computer-based program is not functioning as anticipated and officers have been reluctant to write tickets with the malfunctioning system and have been issuing more warnings. Public Works Concerns There were no other Public Works concerns. 6B.Educational Issues Ms. Dolan mentioned a Metro Toward Zero Deaths event. 7. Adjourn MOTION: Mr. Francis moved, second by Mr. Saam, to adjourn. Motion passed 6- 0. Meeting was adjourned at 8:35 p.m.