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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 st 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. th 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. THTH AVENUE TO 40AVENUE A.REQUEST FOR SAFETY CHANGES ON RESERVOIR BOULEVARD FROM 37 th Carrie and Joshua Gille haverequested several changes along Reservoir Boulevard from 37Avenue to thth 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. th 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. th -Put up Pedestrian Crossingsigns at the busiest intersections along Reservoir, particularly Avenue NE and Reservoir Boulevard. th The intersection at 40 Avenue and Reservoir Boulevard is Anoka County State Aid Highway Public th Works will discuss the addition of crosswalk markings and signag Avenue with Anoka County. There is quite a bit of traffic at this intersection. thth -Put up flashing stop signs at 40 Ave NE and Reservoir Boulevard, as well as 40 Avenue NE and Tyler Street NE. th 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 Page 3 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 thst 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 th Boulevard and 40 Avenue. Seconded by Clerkin. Motion passed unanimously. REPORTS A.CITY ENGINEER None B.POLICE th 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 th 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 th 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