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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07/09/2003 � • � Traffic Safety Advisory Committee � City of Apple Valley July 9, 2003 7:00 p.m. Municipal Center Minutes l. Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 7:03 p.m.by Chair polan. Members Present: Craig Anglin, Dick Asleson, Linda Dolan, Charles Grawe,Neal Heuer Members Absent: Harald Eriksen,Arthur Zimmerman Consultants Present: Stephanie Jackson, Glen Van Wormer _ _ __ _._ __._ _. _ ___ __ . . _ .._._ - . __ _.. _.._ _ _ _ Others Present: Heather Adelman, Jeff Adelman,Kelly Bringgold,Karen Cass Felling,Karen Hunt,Trudy Koepsell,Dawn Labiosa,Paul Neubauer, Jean Pauly,Kathie Schwalen,Roger Wagner 2. Approval of A e�nda Ms.Dolan requested the addition of an update on a Police Beat public service announcement. MOTION: Mr. Grawe moved, second by Mr.Asleson, to approve the agenda as amended. Motion passed unanimously. 3. Approval of Mav 14. 2003 Minutes MOTION: Mr:Asleson moved, second by Mr. Heuer,to approve the minutes of May 14,2003. Motion passed unanimously. 4. Audience Items There were no audience items. Mr. Van Wormer asked those in attendance if they had seen or read the View From the Road articles in the This Week newspaper. One resident saiu h�hau read the��icles. 5. ReQUest for Three-way Stop at the Intersection of 145th Street Garrett Avenue and Genessee fivenue Mr.Heuer said residents in the neighborhood requested a three-way stop at the intersection of 145th Street, Garrett Avenue, and Genessee Avenue. Currently,there is a ! • • stop sign for northbound traffic on Garrett Avenue and no stop for traffic on 145th Street or Genessee Avenue. Mr. Heuer said he implemented traffic counting devices to gauge traffic speed and volumes. Mr. Heuer said he also conducted an initial study of the intersection. He said that from Garret Avenue,the view to the east is good. There were some visual obstructions to the west that have since been removed. Mr.Heuer said that from Genessee Avenue,there were some visual obstructions to the south obscuring Garrett Avenue that have since been removed. Mr. Heuer said the speed portion of the study revealed that the 85th percentile for eastbound traffic traveling down hill on Genessee Avenue was traveling at 36 miles per hour. The 85th percentile for westbound traffic traveling up hill on 145th Street was traveling at 25 miles per hour. Mr. Heuer said the traffic volume portion of the study revealed 524 vehicle trips per day on the west side of the intersection on Genessee Avenue, 664 vehicle trips per day on the east side of the intersection on 145th Street, and 482 vehicle trips per day on the south side of the intersection on Garrett Avenue. Mr. Heuer concluded that the intersection does not meet warrants for a multi-way stop. He also noted that stop signs are not an effective tool for regulating speed and that speed issues should be addressed by other means. Mr.Asleson requested that Mr. Van Wormer briefly explain the process for installing a - stop sign. Mr.Van Wormer explained that studies have shown that vehicle speeds can actually increase after an inappropriate stop sign is installed. He said motorists also tend to roll through or violate inappropriately placed stop signs. He said the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices establishes warrants that should be met for a stop sign. Mr.Van Wormer said he prefers to treat the problem,rather than focusing on a proposed solution of a stop sign. He noted that the sight distance factors have been addressed. He recommended increasing neighborhood awaxeness of the issues and increasing enforcement efforts in that area. Ms. Cass-Felling expressed concern that the traffic counts might not be accurate since they were taken over the week prior to the 4th of July Holiday. She said she would be open to other solutions that would solve the speed issues. She also expressed appreciation for the line of sight improvements. Mr.Heuer asked if the speeding was occurring at a particular time of day. Ms. Cass-Felling said there is cut-through traffic during the day,but speed issues occur around 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Ms. Labiosa said that some motorists treat the existing stop sign as a yield sign. Ms.Dolan noted that speed is often a neighborhood issue and said the Committee looks for ways to educate the neighbarhood. Mr.Heuer said he would place traffic counters during a more normal week. He said he would also try to use a radar gun operator to record license plates of violators. This information could be used to deteimine if the violators live in the neighborhood or not. Mr.Neubauer requested an unmarked patrol car to enforce stop sign violations. Mr. Van Wornler suggested that�ften businesses vswo�ald prefer to be good neighbors and would use an alternate route if they were aware their route was causing problems in a neighborhood. �?'• A S�?SCL� c��b�,oPSt��T'�viewiug+t,e sit�l�ut1^^wg�u:II:u C�j�t�211beT W�le�t�le�e�2S�J��:: an opportunity to monitor if the situation might have changed. Mr. Anglin said he would like the Public Works Department to gather data before the Police Department implements the speed trailer. He also suggested that if residents want a follow-up on a compliant that they specifically ask for a follow-up when reporting cruninal activity to • � the Police Department. He said the Police Department will send a letter to the registered owner of a vehicle reported to have committed a violation. Mr.Heuer suggested that residents exercise caution and avoid any situation that could create conflict when attempting to record license plates. Ms. Dolan said the issue will be on the September lOth agenda. 6. Request for Installation of"No Parking" Signs on U�per 145th Street Mr.Heuer said residents along Upper 145th Street requested the installation of"No Parking"signs along Upper 145th Street, south of Apple Valley High School. Mr.Heuer noted that similar requests have come before the Traffic Safety Advisory Committee due to students parking in the neighborhoods and not in the High School parking lot. He said students continue to park in the neighborhoods,but keep moving further away from the High School as closer streets are signed"No Parking". Mr.Heuer said that having a petition is helpful in this type of matter because the City can gauge how many residents support the installation of"No Parking"signs and how many oppose it. He also noted that while installing"No Parking"signs can stop unwanted parking; it will nat necessarily address other associated issues such as people - - walking through the lawns or littering on their way to and from school. Ms. Pauly noted that the Hayes Community Center parking lot is open to the students, but that they don't use it. She said students don't park in the High School parking lot due to a parking fee and an inadequate number of parking spaces. Ms.Bringgold said neighbors have tried to address the issues of littering and cutting through lawns with the students,but fear retaliation from the students if they are confronted. Mr.Asleson asked how the School justifies the parking fee. Ms. Jackson said when she was a student,the fee was used to ration the number of spaces used,but also to pay for maintenance and security of the parking lot. Mr.Asleson said"No Parking"signs would likely need to be instalied over a broader area south of the High School,not just Upper 145th Street. Ms.Pauly said that the City should also post signs along Harrington Place. Mr.Heuer noted that the City has contacted the School District about installing a parking lot on the north side of the High School site. Mr. Grawe suggested that the ultimate source of the problem is inadequate parking for students at the High School site and that the solution to this problem is the responsibility of the School District. He suggested that as concemed citizens,the residents of Upper 145th Street might wish to contact the School District. Mr.Anglin noted that"No Parking"signs will be an imposition on the neighborhood as well, as they will sacrifice their ability to park on the street during that time as well. Mr. Asleson said that any changes in the parking should be signed prior to the start of school in the fall. Mr.Heuer said he would like to send a letter to all the residents along ±he strePt exY?aiying the Yro�esed signag�. �Ie said h�:����a?�?a?sc?u�e tc give those residents opposed to the signage an opportunity to express their concerns. He said he would like to have the Council decide on the matter by August 14th. Mr. Asleson suggested that the letter establish the date the item would be on the Council agenda so that people opposed to the proposal could voice their concerns at the meeting. r • • MOTION: Mr. Asleson moved, second by Mr. Heuer,to recommend the City Council authorize posting signs stating"No Parking, 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.,Monday through Friday, during the school year"on Upper 145th Street, on Harrington Place between Upper 146th Street and Upper 145th Street between Hayes Road and Guthrie Avenue, and on Guthrie Avenue between 145th Street and Upper 145th Street. The Committee would also recommend that the Public Works Department send notices to all abutting properties to the afore-mentioned streets advising residents that the City Council would consider the issue further on August 14,2003. Mr.Anglin noted that the Committee might decide to recommend similar parking restrictions on Hallmark Drive and Hanover Lane in the future. Motion passed unanimously. 7. Traffic Concems Communicated to the Citv Mr.Heuer requested that a concern regarding the traffic on 138th Street between Cedar Avenue and Pennock Avenue be considered early as there was a member of the audience - present for that item. Mr.Heuer said he conducted an 'vutial study of 138th Street and found the 85th percentile for eastbound vehicle speed was 40 miles per hour. The road section is posted 30 miles per hour. Mr.Heuer noted that westbound traffic is traveling up hill and is not as fast. A resident requested the installation of a three-way stop at the intersection of 138th Street and Pennock Avenue(south of 138th Street). Mr. Wagner said he believes traffic speed might be due to the down hill slope of 138th Street. He noted that southbound traffic from Pennock Avenue doesn't stop at 138th Street. He said he believes that adding a stop at the intersection of 138th Street and Pennock Avenue (south of 138th Street)would prevent motorists from reaching the higher speeds. He also suggested ideas for speed enforcement. Mr. Asleson noted that inappropriately installed stop signs can cause accidents. He said the City could have a liability if it installed a stop sign inappropriately and an accident occurs at the intersection. He asked if speed was a problem on Pennock Avenue as well. Mr.Wagner said he thought the hilly terrain of Pennock Avenue might act to reduce speeds. There was a brief discussion about traffic flow in the neighborhoods surrounding Pennock Avenue. Mr. Van Wormer said he would like to work with the neighborhood to address the speed issues, but does not want to create a problem elsewhere. He said he would like to study the area more closely and look at possible engineering concepts and bring back his findings at the September meeting. He also suggested that enforcement efforts focus on 138th Str�et and Pennock Avenue. 8. ReQUest for Installation of"No Parkin 'g' Si�ns on Safari Pass Mr. Heuer said he received a request from a resident far the installation of"No Parking" signs along Safari Pass near Brias Oaks Park. He said the City has received similar requests around other parks. Mr. Heuer also noted that parking along the roadway can act to slow and calm through traffic. He noted that speeds would likely increase if"No � � • Parking"signs were installed. He also noted that many City parks rely on some degree of on-street parking. Ms. Jackson noted that only one house on Safari Pass near Briar Oaks Park has a driveway onto Safari Pass. Mr. Asleson recommended that the City address the parks in a uniform manner. He expressed concern that emergency vehicles be able to pass when vehicles are parked along both sides of the street. There was a brief discussion about providing traffic safety information to the athletic participants using the parks so that they are aware of pedestrians around parked cars. Mr.Anglin said he would work with Parks and Recreation Director Randy Johnson and bring ideas back to the Committee in September. 9. Request for Installation of Traffic Signal at the Intersection of Galaxie Avenue and 157th Street Mr.Heuer said he received a request for the installation of a traffic signal at the intersection of Gala�e Avenue and 157th Street. Mr.Heuer noted that this project is in the City's Capital Improvements Program(CIP) for 2006. However,he noted the pace of development around that area will influence the schedule. He said he responded to the resident with this information. 10. Traffic Concerns Communicated to the CitY(continued� A) Police Mr.Anglin said the Special Enforcement Team(SET)is back at full strength. He noted there was a fatal one-car accident on the Lampert's property near Galaxie Avenue. The cause of death is sti??being i��rPst�ga±ed. He noted that there was a fatal accident that appears to have occurred when a motorist ran a red light on County Road 42. There was a brief discussion about strategies for improving speed compliance. Mr. Anglin noted that Eagan has experienced recent success with the implementation of two motorcycle officers. He noted that the cities in Dakota County are attempting to coordinate their enforcement efforts. C) Other Concerns Communicated to the City There were no other concems. 1 l. Traffic Safety Educational Efforts a) Monthly Newspaper Article Mr.Van Wormer said that the City of Golden Valley is also using the Traffic Safety Articles. He suggested adding a graphics component to attract the reader's attention. Mr. Asleson suggested focusing the article efforts on the quarterly newsletter. � • � b) Car Seat Clinic Ms. Dolan said the car seat clinic was very successfuL c) Youth Representative The Committee agreed to continue discussion on the youth representative until the September meeting. d) Police Beat Program Ms. Dolan said she is appearing on the current episode of Police Beat on Channel 16 explaining the role of the Advisory Committee. e) Items for the September Agenda Ms. Dolan requested that the group discuss public service announcement from the Minnesota Department of Transportation and working with homeowners associations on traffic education issues at its meeting in September. _ _.__ __ _ _ _ . . _. 12. Adj ourn MOTION: Mr. Asleson moved, second by Mr.Anglin,to adjourn the meeting. Motion passed unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 10:01 p.m.