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HomeMy WebLinkAboutOctober 19, 2021 Minutes TRAFFIC COMMISSION City Hall—Council Chambers, 590 40th Ave NE Tuesday, October 19, 2021 6:00 PM APPROVED MINUTES CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Schluender at 6:01 p.m. ROLL CALL Members present: Ciesynski, Davis, Nekora, Schluender Members absent: Finkelson Staff present: Kathy Young, Assistant City Engineer Captain Markham, Police Sue Schmidtbauer, Administrative Assistant Council Liaison: Amáda Márquez Simula (Absent) APPROVE MINUTES 1. Motioned by Davis, seconded by Ciesynski, to approve the minutes of September 21, 2021 as presented. Motion passed unanimously. PUBLIC HEARINGS 2. REQUEST FOR STOP SIGNS AT THE INTERSECTION OF 6TH STREET AND 41ST AVENUE thth Residents Present: Alexandra Evens, 4040 6 Street Martha Grave, 4048 6 Street thth Brad Walters, 4044 6 Street Adam Dodge, 4048 6 Street th Krista Ehrenberg, 4044 6 Street At the September Traffic Commission meeting commissioners called for a Public Hearing to install stop signs at the intersection of 6th Street and 41st Avenue stopping traffic on 6th Street. th Ms. Alexandra Evens lives at 4040 6 Street. She attended the Traffic Commission meeting two months ago in support of the stop signs. She feels they are absolutely needed and will make things a lot safer. She is here today to again express her support for the stop signs. th Brad Walters lives at 4044 6 Street. He was involved in the accident on August 14 and is lucky to have survived. He has seen multiple non-conforming accidents at this intersection where someone could thst have lost their life. There was also a recent accident on 7 Street and 41 Avenue. Mr. Walters stated st he was eastbound on 41 Avenue at a standstill and the other driver was traveling northbound at approximately 65 mph when he was hit. States they see this every day, vehicles are never going less than 35 mph. There are children and dogs in the neighborhood. He wants a stop sign. Krista Ehrenberg, Mr. Walters’ fiancée, stated she is lucky to have him with her after the accident. She was informed at the scene the person who hit him did not have a license or insurance and was a repeat offender. She thanked the commission for bringing this forward and putting in the stop sign. City of Columbia Heights MINUTES October 19, 2021 Traffic Commission Page 2 th Martha Grave lives at 4048 6 St. She and her husband were home when Brad was hit and it was horrifying. There are a lot of children in the neighborhood. If a child would have been playing outside they would have been killed. She’s doesn’t think a stop sign will prevent accidents but feels drivers th need some signage to give them direction. This intersection is one block from 40 Avenue with no warning that it is an uncontrolled intersection so feels a stop sign is warranted. Ciesynski asked the residents which direction would be more effective for the stop signs, east-west or th north-south. Mr. Walters feels north-south on 6 Street would be better; there’s more north-south th traffic than east-west, especially with the traffic that comes off 40 Avenue. Davis advised that per discussion at the previous meeting, commissioners also felt stopping traffic north-south would make the most sense. th Motion by Davis to recommend the City Council install stop signs at the intersection of 6 Street and stth 41 Avenue stopping traffic on 6Street. Seconded by Nekora. Motion passed unanimously. OLD BUSINESS None NEW BUSINESS th st Davis asked Captain Markham about the accident on 7Street and 41 Avenue. Captain Markham did not have the report in front of him but thinks it was a violation of the yield sign. Davis asked if this will give the commissioners another opportunity to take a look at that intersection and look at Finkelson’s th suggestion to alternate stop signs--this may be the opportunity to put an east-west stop sign on 7 Street. Captain Markham will gather more information. Davis stated he lives in the apartment building at 3932 Central Avenue across from the Heights Theater. There are only 11 parking spots and one is handicapped so there is not enough parking for everyone. There is two hour parking outside of the building. Tenants used to park in the vacant lot at the library, then they went to the east side but the new City Hall is being built there, so that leaves the lot next to Fairview which is currently under maintenance. This leaves them in a difficult position. Citations were issued to at least three tenants so he is requesting the two hour parking in front of their building be modified or removed. He knows this is an apartment building and typically this is the responsibility of the owner so he’s not sure how this will work. Young advised staff can notify the residents of the building. Davis would like to call a Public Hearing to get input from community members to see what would be most beneficial. He would like to see the hours changed. Young cautioned against making a motion today and to just modify the two hour parking if calling for a Public Hearing. Motion by Davis to call for a Public Hearing at the next Traffic Commission meeting for modification to the two hour parking zone in front of 3932 Central Avenue. Seconded by Ciesynski. Motion passed unanimously. REPORTS City Engineer The bicycle lane striping is completed on Reservoir Boulevard. Staff is still waiting for symbols and signs for the bicycle lanes. City of Columbia Heights MINUTES October 19, 2021 Traffic Commission Page 3 th The flashing lights and stop bars were added at 50 Avenue and Jackson Street. th A disabled parking sign was installed at 5141 4 Street and one is or will be installed at 4208 Monroe Street. Police Chief None Commissioners Schluender stated he talked to a couple people over the last month which raised some questions regarding general street safety plans and asked if the City has any policies for this. Young advised the City has not adopted the Complete Streets policy citywide but as we redo streets we do look for th opportunities to improve safety; one example being extending the trail on 37 Avenue to the east in thth 2023 and adding a connection between 37 Avenue and Stinson Boulevard along 37 Place. Staff does try to improve safety as they are designing projects. If residents want to speak with someone directly they can speak to Kevin Hansen, if they have a more formal request they can submit it to Traffic Commission. th Ciesynski asked about the pedestrian crosswalk at 49 Avenue and Washington Street. Stated there are a lot of drivers that are confused and are stopping there. Young advised the intent was to remind motorists that if a pedestrian is waiting to cross the street they need to stop. If there is no one waiting to cross, traffic does not need to stop. Markham advised that if someone is in the crosswalk vehicles need to stop. Young advised part of this is due to the school and there were a couple of calls regarding residents trying to get across and having trouble. This is marked as a school crossing. Davis suggested a yield to pedestrians sign instead of stop for pedestrians sign may work better. He’s seen both versions. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Davis, seconded by Schluender to adjourn the meeting at 6:25 p.m. Motion passed unanimously. 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