HomeMy WebLinkAboutNovember 7, 2016 Minutes
OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS
COLUMBIA HEIGHTS TRAFFIC COMMISSION
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2016
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 (arrived late), Kevin Doty, and
Leonard Olson
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 Carlson, seconded by Olson, to approve the minutes of October 3, 2016, as presented. Motion
passed unanimously.
PUBLIC HEARING TO DESIGNATE NO PARKING ON THE EAST SIDE OF TYLFROM THE
DRIVEWAY TO 70 NORTH
Residents and others present: Julie Johnson, First Lutheran Church
Jane Pemberton, 4050 Tyler Street
Howard Wigand, 4044 Tyler Street
At the October meeting, the Traffic Commission called for a publesignate No Parking on
the east side of Tyler Street from the parking lot driveway to 7
meeting, representatives of First Lutheran Church and the neighb
Parking location discussed their concerns with parked cars on Tyler Street making it diffic
residents to back out of their driveways.
Ms. Julie Johnson stated two neighbors live directly across from First Lutheran Church on
they have had difficulty over the last couple of years getting out of their driveways. A
grown, the number of volunteers and teachers has also increased and they are sometimes parking on both
sides of Tyler Street. This makes it tight and tricky for Jane and Howard to get out of their driveways. She
would like no parking designated at the grassy area directly across from their driveways, but feels it would
be beneficial to continue to have parking to the north. Olson inquired about the neighbors to the north of
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First Lutheran Church. Ms. Johnson informed him that their driveways open onto 41 Avenue. Doty
asked if the grades will be expanded from K-3 to K-8or K-12. Ms. Johnson stated the schoolcannot
expand any further at First Lutheran. They may have a split with two campuses or they may be moving
out, but nothing has been determined to date.
Motion by Olson to recommend the City Council designate No Parking Anytime on the east side of Tyler
Street from the First Lutheran Church parking lot driveway to 70 north of the driveway. Seconded by
Doty. Motion passed unanimously.
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Carlson informed those present that this will go to council on Monday, November 14. Ms. Johnson asked
Traffic Commission Minutes November 7, 2016
Page 2
if approved, how long it will be for the signs to be put up. Young stated she will work withtheSign
Department this week. It depends on if the signs are in stock or need to be ordered and on the weather.
The plan is to get them up as soon as possible.
OLD BUSINESS
None
OTHER OLD BUSINESS
None
NEW BUSINESS
None
OTHER NEW BUSINESS
This item came in late but there was enough time to gather the information and put it on the agenda.
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AVENUE TO 40AVENUE
A.REQUEST FOR SAFETY CHANGES ON RESERVOIR BOULEVARD FROM 37
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Carrie and Joshua Gille haverequested several changes along Reservoir Boulevard from 37Avenue to
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40 Avenue and 40 Avenue at Tyler Street. The concern is the speed of trafficand drivers not complying
with posted stop signs.
Each of the suggestions listed in the letter will be addressed below:
-Provide residents with yard signs to be placed on the boulevards
Public Works will discuss this idea with the Police and Communitdepartments.
-Put up additional speed limit signs along Reservoir Boulevard.
-Put up SLOW traffic signs along Reservoir Boulevard.
Studies have shown that these types of street signs are not effe
-Paint reflective pedestrian crosswalks at the intersections of Roulevardand its side streets.
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The intersection at 39 Avenue is offset on each side of Reservoir Boulevard. The inter
Place and Gould Avenue are T intersections. Pedestrian crossi
midblock crossings which are unsafe.
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-Put up Pedestrian Crossingsigns at the busiest intersections along Reservoir, particularly Avenue
NE and Reservoir Boulevard.
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The intersection at 40 Avenue and Reservoir Boulevard is Anoka County State Aid Highway Public
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Works will discuss the addition of crosswalk markings and signag Avenue
with Anoka County. There is quite a bit of traffic at this intersection.
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-Put up flashing stop signs at 40 Ave NE and Reservoir Boulevard, as well as 40 Avenue NE and
Tyler Street NE.
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The intersection at 40 Avenue and Reservoir Boulevard is Anoka County State Aid Highway
Anoka County does not install flashing stop signs. A question was raised whether this is also a Minneapolis
Traffic Commission Minutes November 7, 2016
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street. Minneapolis owns the right-of-way but traffic control is managed by either Anoka County or
Columbia Heights. Minneapolis is only concerned about their water mains.
Captain Austin provided accident information but was unable to locate any recent speed data for that
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and 41 Avenues. He currently has the
section. Stated most of the speed complaints are between 44
speed trailer out to gather data for the next meeting. There is a lot of traffic on the road in the mornings.
Motion by Olson to direct staff to request the addition of crosswalk markings and signage at Reservoir
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Boulevard and 40 Avenue. Seconded by Clerkin. Motion passed unanimously.
REPORTS
A.CITY ENGINEER
None
B.POLICE
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Avenue and Fairway
Captain Austin presented the speed data for Stinson Boulevard between 45
Drive. The average speed was 30.86 mph. He also contacted the City of Brighton for accident
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data at 5Street and Stinson Boulevard. There have been five accidents in the last five years. The
bus company has not gotten back to him to date. However, they were going to contact their safety
person to possibly move the bus stop to actually pull out onto Stinson Boulevard rather than stopping
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Street. Captain Austin will follow up.
on 5
C.COMMISSIONERS
Olsonquestioned putting acrosswalkmarkingon Mill Street tothe main entrance ofCity Halllike the
one byMedtronic. Young stated a pedestrian study was doneseveral years ago for Mill Street and
showed that people cross everywhere.
Carlson asked if any changes have been made to the handicap parking spots at Murzyn Hall. Young
stated they added one additional spot near the east door and two more in the parking lot. One was
not added to the west door because its not considered a handicap accessible entrance due to the
steps.
Doty stated he will email Kathy a picture of the seasonal duck crossing sign in St. Anthony.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion by Olson,seconded by Doty, to adjourn the meeting at 5:53 p.m. Motion passed unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Sue Schmidtbauer
Public Works Secretary