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
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Residents Present: Alexandra Evens, 4040 6 Street Martha Grave, 4048 6 Street
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Brad Walters, 4044 6 Street Adam Dodge, 4048 6 Street
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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.
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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.
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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
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have lost their life. There was also a recent accident on 7 Street and 41 Avenue. Mr. Walters stated
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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
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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
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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
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north-south. Mr. Walters feels north-south on 6 Street would be better; there’s more north-south
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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.
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Motion by Davis to recommend the City Council install stop signs at the intersection of 6 Street and
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41 Avenue stopping traffic on 6Street. Seconded by Nekora. Motion passed unanimously.
OLD BUSINESS
None
NEW BUSINESS
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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
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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.
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Traffic Commission Page 3
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The flashing lights and stop bars were added at 50 Avenue and Jackson Street.
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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
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opportunities to improve safety; one example being extending the trail on 37 Avenue to the east in
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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.
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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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