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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDecember 5, 2016 OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS COLUMBIA HEIGHTS TRAFFIC COMMISSION MONDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2016 CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Ed Carlson at 5:32 p.m. ROLL CALL Members present: Commissioners Ed Carlson, Brian Clerkin, Nick Novitsky, and Leonard Olson Staff Present: Kathy Young, Assistant City Engineer Ted Fisher, Police Sergeant Sue Schmidtbauer, Public Works Secretary Council Liaison: Not present APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion by Olson, seconded by Clerkin, to approve the minutes of November 7, 2016, as presented. Motion passed unanimously. OLD BUSINESS Residents present: None ND A.REQUEST FOR YIELD OR STOP SIGNS AT THE INTERSECTION OF MADISON STREET AND 42 AVENUE nd In August, Nicole Miller requested YIELD or STOP signs at the intersection of Madison Street and 42 Avenue. The Traffic Commission denied the request based on adequate visibility at the intersection. Since August there have been two additional accidents at the intersection, one reported. With this new information, Ms. Miller has requested the Traffic Commission review the intersection again. Her concern is lack of traffic control and the number of accidents/near misses at this intersection. The Police Department reviewed the reported accident records for the past five years; one accident in 2012, one accident in 2013, three accidents in 2014 and two accidents so far in 2016. Memos from Captain Austin are attached. strdnd On Madison Street traffic stops at 41 Avenue and 43 Avenue. On 42 Avenue traffic stops at Jefferson Street and Quincy Street. The MMUTCD guidelines to consider traffic control are five crashes within a three-year period and three crashes within a two-year period. Novitsky stated the last accident qualifies this intersection for traffic control. Olson stated this area gets worse and worse and there are already too many signs. He agrees the little mound on the southwest house does interfere slightly, but feels motorists will continue to drive right through another sign as they currently disregard the existing signage. However, because of activities, accidents, and pressure from the neighborhood, we may have to push it through even though the area is already saturated with signs--maybe we should call for a public hearing. Young Traffic Commission Minutes –December 5, 2016 Page 2 advised that if the commission feels there should not be a stop sign at this location, they could deny the request and Ms. Miller can appeal it to the City Council. Novitsky believes this is Ms. Miller’s third time with this request. Young also questioned that because this is one of the only uncontrolled intersections in the vicinity, drivers may be expecting it to be controlled. Novitsky reiterated what Ms. Miller said at the last meeting, that if she doesn’t see a sign her way she doesn’t look the other way. He stated that’s the problem with drivers, they’re not observant and they expect the other driver to be observant. Olson feels it would make more sense to make the north/south controlled, otherwise stndrd vehicles won’t stop. Other corners stop at 41, 42, and 43. The best we can expect is a rolling stop. Officer Fisher stated he stops at all intersections because drivers do run stop signs. There’s quite a bit of squad traffic in that area because it’s at their back door. Novitsky stated Ms. Miller’s main concern is for the children in the neighborhood. He inquired about yield signs. Olson feels they will just drive right through a yield sign; however, Carlson feels it’s a little better than nothing. Novitsky advised it does assign right of way. He is concerned that if we continue to say no and then a child gets injured it will come back to us. Clerkin is against putting up more signs as he’s seen so many drivers run them, the most he would do is agree to a yield sign. Motion by Olson, seconded by Clerkin to deny the request. Motion passed with three ayes and one oppose. OTHEROLDBUSINESS None NEW BUSINESS Residents present: Ziyad Bakri THTH A.REQUEST FOR 30 MINUTE PARKING ON 40 AVENUE IN FRONT OF 332 40 AVENUE NE th Mr. Ziyad Bakri is the owner of a new convenience store at 332 40 Avenue NE (west half of the th building at 334 40 Avenue NE). Mr. Bakri has requested “30 MIN PARKING, 7:00 AM TO 9:00 PM” th signs be installed on the south side of 40 Avenue for two spaces directly in front of the building. The main problem is Sarna’s employees parking in front of his store. Staff recommends 1 HOUR PARKING signs be installed as this is consistent with other designated parking signs throughout the City. Commissioners and Mr. Bakri agreed with the staff recommendation. Young advised Mr. Bakri that we will send him a notice regarding the public hearing. Motion by Clerkin, seconded by Novitsky to call for a public hearing at the next Traffic Commission th meeting to designate “ONE HOUR PARKING, 7:00 AM TO 9:00 PM” on the south side of 40 Avenue th adjacent to 332 40 Avenue NE. Motion passed unanimously. OTHER NEW BUSINESS None Traffic Commission Minutes –December 5, 2016 Page 3 REPORTS CITY ENGINEER nd January 2 is a holiday so the Public Hearing will be held in February. We cannot pound signs in during this time of year anyway. So, there will be no meeting in January and the Public Hearing will be scheduled th for February 6. POLICE CHIEF Sergeant Fisher disclosed the results of the speed survey on Reservoir Boulevard. The average speed was 30 which is a very low speed for the amount of cars. There were 15,161 vehicles over several days (a lot of traffic) with only a few speeders. COMMISSIONERS Novitsky stated that at 43-1/2 Street and Pierce Street the signs designate a three-way stop but there are only two signs there. Young feels a sign is probably missing and made note of it. th Carlson had a request regarding installation of a right turn lane on 44 Avenue from westbound to northbound onto University Avenue. The Commissioners all agreed the Service Drive would be a problem. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Olson, seconded by Clerkin, to adjourn the meeting at 5:48 p.m. Motion passed unanimously. Respectfully submitted, Sue Schmidtbauer Public Works Secretary