HomeMy WebLinkAboutApril 7, 2014
OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS
COLUMBIA HEIGHTS TRAFFIC COMMISSION
MONDAY, APRIL 7, 2014
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Carlson at 5:30 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Members present: Carlson, Clerkin, Doty, Olson, Tyler
Staff present: Kathy Young, Assistant City Engineer
Lenny Austin, Police Captain
Sue Schmidtbauer, Public Works Secretary
Council Liaison: Donna Schmitt
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Motion by Tyler, seconded by Doty, to approve the minutes of June 3, 2013, as presented. Motion carried
unanimously.
OLD BUSINESS
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A. REQUEST TO REMOVE YIELD SIGNS AND INSTALL STOP SIGNS ON 6 STREET AT
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48 AVENUE
The City received a request on behalf of Mr. Joe Berzak to change the YIELD signs to STOP
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signs, stopping traffic on 6 Street. The concern is that drivers are running the yield signs and
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presenting a danger to the kids and vehicles on 48 Avenue.
A letter was sent to Mr. Berzak with background information regarding installation of YIELD
signs at this intersection. In a subsequent telephone conversation, Mr. Berzak requested the item
be placed on the agenda. He suggested one option may be swapping the yield/stop signs from
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this intersection with the intersection at 6 Street and 47 Avenue.
Staff recommends denying the request based on MUTCD guidelines of using a yield sign at
intersections where a full stop is not necessary at all times. The property owner has trimmed the
hedge on the northwest corner of the intersection in compliance with the City’s visibility
ordinance.
RECOMMENDED MOTION: Move to deny the request to replace YIELD signs with STOP
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signs at the intersection of 6 Street and 48 Avenue.
OTHER OLD BUSINESS
None.
NEW BUSINESS
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A.REQUEST TO INSTALL YIELD OR STOP SIGNS AT 7 STREET AND 42 AVENUE
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The City received two e-mails requesting YIELD or STOP signs at the intersection of 7 Street
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and 42 Avenue NE. The concern is the recent number of accidents at the intersection.
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On 7 Street, traffic yields at 41 Avenue and stops at 44 Avenue. On 42 Avenue, traffic
Traffic Commission Minutes – April 7, 2014
Page 2
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stops at 5 Street and Jefferson Street. Visibility at the intersection is good. Westbound
vehicles must approach with caution because of a fence near the northwest corner.
The Police Department reviewed accident records for the past five years. There were two
accidents in 2010, one accident in 2013, and four accidents in 2014 (two in January and two in
February). Extremely cold conditions this past winter resulted in many days of snow and ice
covered streets and higher than normal snow banks. Captain Austin stated that the large amount
of snow and the snowbanks contributed to accidents this winterDoty stated the intersection
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seemed fairly flat and he did not see anything out of the ordinary. He suggested we do a traffic
count now and then another in the summer, as there is a lot of summer traffic due to the church.
Olson stated he went through the intersection today and visibility was good, however,
snowbanks would make difficult. Tyler also went through the intersection and felt the visibility
was good. Out of seven accidents this year, four of them were due to snow. He feels this is a
contributing factor. Carlson stated he waited at the intersection for three minutes and no cars
came through. Doty stated it was an icy winter.
Currently the accident record at this intersection is inconclusive concerning the MUTCD
guidelines for yield or stop signs (MUTCD Section 2B.4 “Right-of-Way at Intersections”,
attached). Staff recommends monitoring the accident record at this intersection to see if a
pattern of accidents is developing.
Amber Burnette who lives at the intersection was present. She stated that three of four accidents
were on all sides of intersection and from what she saw included buses, vans, etc. Last year a
bus was over the curb and in someone’s yard. She stated that accidents were the same this year
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and were not due to ice or snow. Captain Austin stated that the accident on January 25 was a hit
and run and the driver was cited. Carlson stated this is a wide open intersection and he does not
feel a stop sign would help. Cars would just run through and ignore the stop sign, especially in a
spot where it is not needed. Olson asked if this falls under state statute. Young replied that if
you count accidents yes, it meets the number in the guidelines. However, this year was
abnormal due to the weather. We can monitor intersection to see if a pattern is developing or if
this is weather-related for 2014. Tyler feels it is due to the weather. Doty stated he is on an
accident committee and there have been 3-9 times more than the normal number of accidents this
year with the highest number being in February—states this is the highest number of accidents
they’ve ever had. Clerkin likes the idea of keeping an eye on the intersection to see if a trend is
developing. Carlson stated that of all the accidents, four were from this last winter. Monitoring
the intersection sounds good but he feels now that weather is breaking this should handle most of
problem. Tyler is concerned because we run across this a lot so we really need to look at this
carefully to make sure it is warranted. Ms. Burnette stated she has lived here four years and this
is the first place she’s lived where there are no stop signs at all the intersections. She comes
from a small town and stop signs make people stop. Olson stated that historically the more stop
signs that are put up, the more people drive through them. Ms. Burnette asked about a yield sign
so one has the right of way. Tyler stated there is a right of way via state statue. Carlson stated
we will be looking at all four directions of the intersection. Schmitt asked where other stop and
yield signs are located. Kathy provided this information. Doty motioned to monitor traffic at
the intersection and when we receive the information we will review again. Will monitor it now
and then again in summer. Kathy suggested that we wait until the end of the year and then
request that police take a look at the accident record. Doty was thinking of traffic count—when
he was there no traffic. Olson stated that based on what Doty said, he moves to deny a request at
Traffic Commission Minutes – April 7, 2014
Page 3
this time for yield or stop signs at that intersection.
Motion by Olson, seconded by Doty to deny the request to install YIELD or STOP signs at the
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intersection of 7 Street and 42 Avenue.
OTHER NEW BUSINESS
None
REPORTS
A.CITY ENGINEER
1.REQUEST FOR DISABLED PARKING SIGNS
Disabled parking signs have been requested by property owners at the locations listed
below. Signs were installed last fall or will be installed this spring.
A)3702 Polk St NE, Permit Number D03082
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B)404 40 Avenue NE, Permit Number 378420
C)3959 Quincy St NE, Permit Number B21977
B.POLICE
None
C.COMMISSIONERS
None
ADJOURNMENT
Motion by Carlson, seconded by Doty to adjourn the meeting at 5:55 p.m. Motion carried unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Sue Schmidtbauer, Public Works Secretary