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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/13/2013 Traffic Safety Advisory Committee City of Apple Valley November 13, 2013 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: Todd Blomstrom, Charles Grawe, Mitch Scott, Laura Turek, Arthur Zimmerman Members Absent: Linda Dolan, Joe Shaw Consultants/Alternates Present: Dave Bennett Others Present: Ben Glaser, Glen Glaser, Laura Glaser, Marty Glaser, Sonia Glaser 2. Approval of Agenda MOTION: Mr. Blomstrom moved, second by Mr. Grawe to approve the agenda as presented. Motion passed 5-0. 3. Approval of September 11, 2013 Minutes MOTION: Mr. Scott moved, second by Mr. Grawe, to approve the Minutes of September 11, 2013 as amended. Motion passed 5-0. 4. Audience Items There were no audience items. 5A.Resident Concerns with Sight Lines at Johnny Cake Ridge Road and 144, St. At the previous meeting, several residents expressed their concerns with sight lines at Johnny Cake Ridge Road and 144th Street. Specifically, a wooden privacy fence and hedge row along the property abutting the Johnny Cake pedestrian trail obscure the view of motorists at the stop sign at 144th Street. The Committee directed staff to review and report. Mr. Bennett reported that the ordinance as it applies to setbacks and sight lines is met. However, the distance between the street and pathway is unusual and puts the pathway in a situation where the street traffic is visible, but not the path traffic. The resident to the south voluntarily allowed the hedge row to be cut back to increase visibility. The resident to the north requested the City explore a stop bar as an interim solution, but was open to further discussions. Mr. Bennett reported that a stop bar would not be an effective solution given the unique elements involved. MOTION: Mr. Blomstrom moved, second by Mr. Scott, to request City staff explain the issues with the stop bar with the resident to the north and see if the resident would be amendable to some form of modification to their fence in order to help improve visibility. Motion passed 5-0. 5B.Resident Petition for 4-way Stop at 147th Street and Johnny Cake Ridge Road Mr. Bennett distributed a memo from the traffic engineer studying the intersection and determining if warrants are met. The memo found that justification for an all-way stop was met. MOTION: Mr. Grawe moved, second by Mr. Zimmerman, to recommend the City Council direct installation of an all-way stop as justified in the engineer's memo. Motion passed 5-0. 5C.Speed Limit along Flagstaff Avenue from 140th Street to 1,350 feet south of 140th Street Mr. Blomstrom reported that MnDoT is still evaluating the speed limit. 5D.Resident Concern with Traffic Volumes and Speeds on Walnut Lane Mr. Bennett took traffic counts on Walnut lane and found Average Daily Totals of 607, 492, 232, and 295. These are all very low counts and are slightly lower than counts taken in June of 2007. A normal residential street could expect an ADT as high as 1,100. He recommended conducting another count next June and continuing enforcement efforts. MOTION: Mr. Blomstrom moved, second by Mr. Scott, to direct staff to continue with enforcement efforts and to notify the resident that current counts are within anticipated residential volumes and the City will continue to monitor traffic volume. Motion passed 5-0. 5E.Resident Concern with Westview Elementary School Traffic Mr. Blomstrom reported that the large volume of parents picking their children up after school is exceeding the school's parking capacity, leading to cars parked on the street and in some cases, blocking both lanes of traffic. MOTION: Mr. Blomstrom moved, second by Mr. Scott, to recommend the City establish a "no parking" zone on the west side of Garden View Drive across from the school, establish a loading zone on the east side of Garden View Drive adjacent to the school property, encourage the school to allow three lanes within the north parking lot, two exit lanes and one entrance lane, and to set the no parking time for 3:00 to 4:00 pm. Motion passed 5-0. 5F. Resident Request for Parking Restrictions on Exley Avenue Cul-de-sac Mr. Bennett explained the original concern was that people would use the cul- de-sac as a parking lot due to easy access onto nearby sports fields. However, it appears that the parking is generated by parents parked for a short period of time while picking their students up from school in an attempt to avoid the traffic on the school property. Mr. Scott said the Police Department will monitor this situation and count the vehicles parked in the cul-de-sac. 6A.Other Traffic Concerns Communicated to the City of Apple Valley Police Concerns Mr. Scott reported no new police concerns. Public Works Concerns Mr. Blomstrom provided a brief update on the ISD 196 project at its Diamond Path campus that had raised some traffic concerns. 6B.Educational Issues The Toward Zero Deaths conference is coming up. 6C.Adopt 2014 Meeting Schedule MOTION: Mr. Grawe moved, second by Mr. Blomstrom, to adopt 2014 meeting dates of January 8th, March 12th, May 14th, July 9th, September 10tH and November 12th. Motion passed 5-0. Ad,ourn MOTION: Mr. Scott moved, second by Mr. Grawe, to adjourn. Motion passed 5- 0. Meeting was adjourned at 8:52 p.m.