HomeMy WebLinkAboutDecember 7, 2015 Minutes
OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS
COLUMBIA HEIGHTS TRAFFIC COMMISSION
MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2015
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Ed Carlson at 5:30 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Members present: Commissioners Ed Carlson, Brian Clerkin, Kevin Doty, and Leonard Olson
Members absent: Commissioner Charles 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 Doty, seconded by Olson, to approve the minutes of August 3, 2015, as presented. Motion
passed unanimously.
OLD BUSINESS
None
OTHER OLD BUSINESS
None
NEW BUSINESS
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A. REQUEST FOR NO PARKING ON SOUTH SIDE OF LOOKOUT PLACE BETWEEN JO
STREET
Ms. Veronica Johnson has requested the two short blocks on the s
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Street be designated as No Parking. The concern is the
Jolly Lane/Bakken Boulevard and 5
combination of intersections close together and the width of Loo
months.
Lookout Place is 30 wide. As a comparison, most residential stHeights are 31 to 33
wide. The distance between street centerlines is about 110. T
Lookout Place. Approximately three vehicles can park on each block.
Ms. Veronica Johnson stated that Lookout Place gets very narrow in the winter. Currently there i
parking room for three cars on each block. Stated it is difficult to see around cars between Jolly Lane
and Veterans Way because of the way it is set up In the winter cars park during the night and then get
.
plowed around causing the snow to build up. Ms. Johnson stated theseunits have 4-8 cars per unit. The
association rule in the rest of the development states residents must park vehicles in the garagestwo
in garage and two in driveway. Lookout Place is not part of the association; its a city street.Ms.
Cornelia Boisjoli belongs to the housing association. The association rules state you can park in garages
and driveways but not on the street. She has tried to direct this parking issue through the association
but they state Lookout Place is a city street and they cannot enforce the Citys rules. She has also
Traffic Commission Minutes December 7, 2015
Page 2
discussed this with Captain Austin.The association currently plows Lookout Place as a courtesyto the
City. The association has a No Parkingrule for rest of the streets. Shesupports no parking on the
south side of Lookout Place and would also like no parking on the north side. Fire trucks cannot get
through in the winter. She has almost been hit when leaving the association from the north side of
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Lookout Place and pulling out onto 5Street due to having to pull out further to see oncoming traffic.
Carlson statedcars are not supposed to be parked on street overnight.Ms. Boisjoli stated she has been
calling the police daily to have cars removed because she is concerned about emergency vehicles getting
through. Captain Austin stated he has received complaints in the pastthe police generally hit a few
areas each night and then will focus on a certain area if they receive complaints. Robert Boisjoli agrees
with his roommate. States Lookout Place is the road he turns into to get to his home and it is very
narrow, making it difficult to get in. It is also difficult getting people to not park on the street. He would
like to see the law enforced on that section of street. A resident at 401 Lookout Place would also like
the no parking enforced in winter time, but does not feel it is necessary in the summer. He has four cars
at his home. Street parking does affect him if family members are staying with him. A resident from 409
Lookout Place feels the south side needs no parking but not the north side, feels parking is needed on at
least one side of the street.
Doty suggested no parking on the south side of Lookout Place with signage stating no parking 30 feet
back from each corner on the north side. Residents agreed with this plan.
Wade Felska of Jolly Lane is a board member and feelsstrongly that Lookout Place does not have the
area to support two sides of parking. He supports all statements that have been made.
Motion by Doty to call for a Public Hearing at the next Traffic Commission meeting to designate No
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Parking on the south side of Lookout Place between Bakken Boulevard and 5Street and designate No
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Parking 30 feet from each corner on the north side of Lookout Place between Bakken Boulevard and 5
Street. Motion seconded by Clerkin. Motion passed unanimously.
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B.REQUEST FOR 4-WAY STOP SIGNS AT HUSET PARKWAY AND 5 STREET
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Mr. Sam Kader has requested 4-way STOP signs be installed at the intersection of Huset Parkway
Street. The concern is the speed of vehicles driving through th
and vehicles do not stop or yield for pedestrians.
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Traffic stops on 5Street. Visibility at the intersection is good. The crosswalk
located on the south side of the intersection and is signed as a The Police
Department reviewed the accident record at this intersection for the last five years. There has been
accident.The intersection does not meet the MMUTCD guidelines for 4-way stop signs.
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Mr. Kader stated his children get picked up by the bus at Huset Streetandtraffic is
miserable. Some drivers stop and others drive 40-50 mph. There is a curve on the north side and they
come around it very fast. He is requesting a 4-way stop sign because he feels this would be safer than
just a pedestrian crossing. The pedestrian crossing is on the south side. Mr. Kader states that inthe
morning cars only come to a rolling stop. Cornelia Boisjoli stated she is familiar with that intersection.
She states people do drive fast consistently at 40-50 mph. It would help if there was a speed limit sign
or a larger pedestrian sign, etc. Carlson advised that drivers violate speed limit signs all the time. Ms.
Traffic Commission Minutes December 7, 2015
Page 3
Boisjoli stated there areno speed limit signson that parkway. She would alsolikethe street paintedfor
a pedestrian crosswalk. Young stated thecrosswalk is in and marked. Olson asked about a sign in
middle of road. Young doesnt think a speed limit sign will make a difference; feels emphasis on the
crosswalk is needed. She stated we can put up a Crosswalk Ahead sign and during warmer months
place a portable sign in the street withan arrow. Clerkin agrees with emphasizing the crosswalkand
drivers must stop by state law signage.
Motion by Olson to deny the request for 4-way stop signs based on the fact this doesnt meet MMUTCD
guidelines, and instead add to the pedestrian signs and signage except for snow months. Seconded by
Clerkin. Motion passedunanimously. Itwas also decided that there is a needfor a better paint job and
signage at the crosswalk.
RD
AVENUE AT MC LEOD STREET
C. REQUEST FOR YIELD OR STOP SIGNS ON 43
rd
Avenue,
A resident has requested a STOP or YIELD sign at the intersectio
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stopping traffic on 43 Avenue. The concern is the limited visibility at the intersectin.
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Avenue must turn left or right onto McLeod Street. The hill and
This is a T intersection. Traffic on 43
fence on the northwest corner of the intersection does limit sig
The Police Department reviewed the accident record at this intersection for the last five years. There
has been one accidentand alcohol was a contributing factor in the crash. The intersection does not
meet the guidelines in the MMUTCD for yield or stop signs.
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Motion by Olson to deny the request to install a YIELD or STOP sign at the intersection of 43 Avenue
and McLeod Street based on the information at hand. Seconded by Doty. Motion passedunanimously.
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D.REQUEST FOR NO PARKING ON STINSON BOULEVARD FROM 37 AVENUE TO SILVER LANE
(SAINT ANTHONY)
The City Council has accepted the feasibility study and called f
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Boulevard between 37 Avenue and Silver Lane. The street is proposed to be narrowed f
wide, providing room for a sidewalk or trail on each side of the street
striped with two through lanes and a center turn lane, similar t
provide enough room for on street parking.
The No Parking designation must be approved by the City Council at their next m
the proposed hearing and construction schedule. Residents adjac
opportunity to address the Council at a Public Improvement Hearing.
Part of the funding for the above project is coming from State ANo Parking
resolution from the City Council in order to approve the funds s
in place. Staff will be meeting with residents at the assessment hearing so no public hearing is needed.
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Motion by Olson to designate the west side of Stinson Boulevard Avenue to Silver Lane as No
Traffic Commission Minutes December 7, 2015
Page 4
Parking. Seconded by Clerkin. Motion passedunanimously.
OTHER NEW BUSINESS
None
REPORTS
A.CITY ENGINEER
The City of Fridley is seeking MnDOT funding to improve traffic flow
Central Avenue. According to a study prepared by Bolton & Menk, Inc.,53rd Avenue experiences a
crash severity rate almost fourtimes the state-wide average. The most favorable proposal is to
construct a roundabout near the Target/Medtronic entrance with a
Central Avenue. Traffic from driveways along this section of 53ight out
only. This configuration is expected to improve peak evening traffic flows by reducing conflicting
traffic movements, such as trying to make a left turn from the b
Fridley staff did look at placing a driveway behind the businesses on the north side but the grade is
too steepso this is not feasible. Carlson states the roundabout will mak
Embers. Olson feels the roundabout would put a pinch on businesses and still be dangerous. He
thinks the state needs to change the timing of the eastbound tra
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53, this would get more traffic out and ease the backups, should also have a combined straight
through and rightturn lane to Applebees to provide more relief. The Traffic Commission feels a
roundabout will make things worseand will hurt the businesses. Feels will still have crashes, just at a
lower speed. Austin questioned if this is just a proposalYoung stated we need to get funding from
MnDOT.
B.POLICE
None
C.COMMISSIONERS
Doty asked if we can put a speed trailer on Huset Parkway. Austin stated he can it placed in the
next couple of weeks for the January meeting.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion by Olson, seconded by Clerkin, to adjourn the meeting at 6:18 p.m. Motion passed unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Sue Schmidtbauer
Public Works Secretary