TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION MINUTES

Transcription

1 TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION MINUTES July 7, 2003 The Lawrence Traffic Safety Commission met in regular session at 7:30 p.m., in the City Commission Room in City Hall with Chair Paul Graves presiding and Commissioners Steve Blackwell, Danny Drungilas, Brian Edwards, Robert Hagen and John Ziegelmeyer Jr. present. Commissioners Caroljean Brune and Jeremy Anderson were absent. Staff members David Woosley (Public Works Department) and Officer Mike Monroe (Police Department) were present. ITEM NO. 1: Review and approve the minutes of the Traffic Safety Commission meeting, June 2, MOTION BY COMMISSIONER EDWARDS, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER BLACKWELL, TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE JUNE 2, 2003, TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION MEET- ING. THE MOTION CARRIED (Ziegelmeyer) ITEM NO. 2: Consider request from Lynell Lathrom, 1526B Legend Trail Drive, to establish NO PARKING along one side of Legend Trail Drive. David Woosley reviewed the information provided in the staff report and advised the Commission that Jim Pine, 1532A Legend Trail Drive has called supporting the request, but suggested that the NO PARKING be on the opposite side of the street as mailboxes, however, it would be more appropriate to place the restriction along the inside of the curve to improve sight distance for on-coming vehicles and it may also provide more parking. Commissioner Graves noted that it has been common practice to establish NO PARKING on local streets when requested by residents, especially in duplex areas where there is substantial onstreet parking. Page 1 of 11

2 MOTION BY COMMISSIONER HAGEN, SECONDED BY COM- MISSIONER DRUNGILAS RECOMMENDING INSTALLATION OF NO PARKING ALONG THE WEST SIDE OF LEGEND TRAIL DRIVE FROM 15TH STREET, SOUTHERLY, WESTERLY, NORTHERLY AND EASTERLY TO ITS END. THE MOTION CARRIED 6-0. ITEM NO. 3: Consider request from Ted Boyle, President, North Lawrence Improvement Association, to establish STOP signs at the intersection of 5th Street and Perry Street. David Woosley reviewed the information provided in the staff report. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER DRUNGILAS, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER ZIEGELMEYER RECOMMENDING INSTALLA- TION OF STOP SIGNS ON PERRY STREET AT 5TH STREET. THE MOTION CARRIED 6-0. ITEM NO. 4: Consider request from Rosalie McMaster, 214 Michigan Street, to establish NO PARKING along the east side of Michigan Street between 2nd Street and 3rd Street. David Woosley reviewed the information provided in the staff report and distributed s from Raquel Leanos, 222 Michigan, and Rod and Lupe Kosa, 2nd & Michigan, opposing the request. Michelle Moon, 226 Michigan Street, stated that she was opposed to the request; her husband s truck must park on the street and she has four teenagers that will be driving soon and will need a place to park. Commissioner Hagen noted that removing the parking would increase the speed of the traffic that is also a concern in the area. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER DRUNGILAS, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER HAGEN RECOMMENDING DENIAL OF THE REQUEST FOR NO PARKING ALONG THE EAST SIDE OF MICHIGAN STREET BETWEEN 2ND STREET AND 3RD STREET. THE MOTION CARRIED 6-0. Page 2 of 11

3 The Commission recommended that the minutes be sent to the neighborhood association so that they can visit the issue if needed. ITEM NO. 5: Consider request from Thomas Fritzel, 209 Fall Creek Road, to construct SPEED HUMPS on Fall Creek Road and Running Ridge Road. David Woosley reviewed the information provided in the staff report. Commissioner Ziegelmeyer noted that they had not received a request for traffic calming from a developer in the past willing to pay the cost and build to city standards and wondered if this should have any effect on the request. Woosley advised that the approved policy provides for the city commission to determine how the devices would be funded. Commissioner Graves noted that the reason for having criteria is so that they are not installed where they are not warranted. Commissioner Hagen stated that there might be a design flaw in the way the subdivision is laid-out that permits speeding. Commissioner Ziegelmeyer noted that the speeds in this area are not that high compared to others that have been before the commission. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ZIEGELMEYER, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER EDWARDS RECOMMENDING DENIAL OF THE REQUEST TO CONSTRUCT SPEED HUMPS ON FALL CREEK ROAD AND RUNNING RIDGE ROAD. THE MOTION CARRIED 6-0. ITEM NO. 6: Consider request from the University of Kansas to establish an ALL-WAY STOP at the intersection of Naismith Drive and Allen Field House Drive/Schwegler Drive. David Woosley reviewed the information provided in the staff report and noted that the signs were already in place on the authority of a 90-day memorandum issued by the City Traffic Engineer. Page 3 of 11

4 Commissioner Drungilas asked if the commission needed to take action since the signs were already in place. Woosley advised that action was necessary since the 90-day memorandum was only temporary and an ordinance would need to be approved for permanent installation. John Mullens, KU Public Safety, stated that these signs were necessary in order to handle additional traffic from the adjacent parking lot due to the installation of the partial diverters on 18 th Street and that they were installed quickly in order to get drivers familiar with the change before the influx of students in the fall. Betty Alderson, 1920 Maine Street, expressed concern that the University should wait until after city action before signs are installed. Commissioner Hagen stated that it seemed like a good idea. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER HAGEN, SECONDED BY COM- MISSIONER ZIEGELMEYER, RECOMMENDING INSTALLATION OF AN ALL-WAY STOP AT NAISMITH DRIVE AND ALLEN FIELD HOUSE DRIVE/SCHERGLER DRIVE. THE MOTION CARRIED 6-0. ITEM NO. 7: Consider request from homeowners to completely close Goldleaf Place at 15th Street. David Woosley reviewed the information provided in the staff report and distributed a letter from Eric Graves, 5800 Longleaf Drive, opposed to the request, and a memorandum from the Fire & Medical Department advising that closure would increase response times to the area. Commissioner Graves asked what the increase in response time would be. Woosley advised that it had not been measured, but it would be seconds as opposed to minutes. Rick Gammill, 1413 Goldleaf Place, stated that he had recently visited with virtually everyone in the neighborhood and based on that information proposed three options: 1) remove the existing partial closure and place warning signs, rumble strips and lights on 15 th Street in advance of the intersection, 2) construct the permanent Page 4 of 11

5 partial closure, however, the existing partial closure is not working; motorists drive around it and exit the neighborhood on the wrong side of the street, 3) to close the street completely (from a safety standpoint, better than option 2). Robert Sanders, 5738 Longleaf Drive, stated that he was in favor of closing Goldleaf Place; the partial closure is only partially successful. The temporary closure is ugly and needs to be replaced as soon as possible. John Shultz, 5754 Longleaf Drive, stated that he would like for the street to remain entirely open in order to retain the entrance to the neighborhood; anyone who does not wish to exit the neighborhood on Goldleaf has the option to exit at Redleaf. Shultz also stated he is concerned about the aesthetics of whatever is constructed. Commissioner Drungilas suggested that Goldleaf be designated as a one-way street entering the neighborhood with no barricades needed. Henry Butler, 5746 Longleaf Drive, stated that the current situation is ugly and more dangerous than before and suggested either option 1 or option 3, but it must be attractive. David Kelsey, 5750 Longleaf Drive, stated that when the residents bought their homes on Redleaf they did not expect the entire neighborhood to be using their street to enter and exit. In addition, Kelsey is not sure a complete closure can be done that is attractive. Clint Bowen, 1412 Goldleaf Place, stated that he wanted to make sure that it doesn t stay the way it is; during a two-hour period, six vehicles exited the wrong way. Either close it and make it look nice or open it back up. Chip Cook, 1408 Goldleaf Place, stated that safety at the intersection is his first concern and aesthetics would be second. The hammerhead turnaround may be the best alternative regardless of aesthetics; the last thing he wants is a fatal accident outside his door. John Priddle, 5737 Longleaf Drive, stated that he had argued for the partial closure, but it doesn t work. Commissioner Hagen stated that this is one of the strongest arguments for incorporating safety considerations in the planning stages Page 5 of 11

6 of new developments because it is so difficult to make changes after they are in place. This is something that should not have been allowed. As far as the options proposed, the first option is unacceptable; we should not allow the type of accidents that could occur there. Commissioner Graves stated that he agreed that these needed to be looked at during planning and that the safety issue overrides aesthetic concerns. Commissioner Ziegelmeyer stated that he agreed; it should have been handled before houses were built and it is a terrible burden on the neighborhood; and safety issues override anything else. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ZIEGELMEYER, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER GRAVES, RECOMMENDING IMMEDIATE TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF GOLDLEAF PLACE AT 15TH STREET AND AN EXPEDITIOUS AESTHETIC PERMANENT CLOSURE. THE MOTION CARRIED 6-0. Commissioner Ziegelmeyer requested that the neighborhood be involved in the design of the permanent closure. ITEM NO. 8: Consider amending the City s SPEED HUMP/SPEED CUSHION POLICY. David Woosley reviewed the information provided in the staff report. Commissioner Graves stated concern that residents outside of the 600-foot zone may have to cross the humps. Woosley agreed and advised that input would be considered from the entire neighborhood, however residents immediately adjacent to the location would decide the exact location. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER HAGEN, SECONDED BY COM- MISSIONER DRUNGILAS, RECOMMENDING AMENDING THE CITY S SPEED HUMP/SPEED CUSHION POLICY BY ESTAB- LISHING A 600-FOOT AREA FOR PROPERTY OWNER AP- PROVAL. THE MOTION CARRIED 6-0. Page 6 of 11

7 ITEM NO. 9: Public Comment. None. ITEM NO. 10: Commission Items. None. ITEM NO. 11: Miscellaneous. None. The meeting adjourned at 8:40 p.m. The next scheduled meeting of the Traffic Safety Commission is Monday, August 4, Page 7 of 11

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