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HomeMy Public PortalAbout20120411minutesTRANSPORTATION AND TRAFFIC COMMISSION MEETING Minutes Transportation and Traffic Commission Wednesday, April 11, 2012 8:00 a.m. Attendance Commission Members (Present) July 2011 – June 2012 Jeff Ahlers 5-7 Michael Hughes 6-7 Kevin Kelly 7-7 Mikeal Louraine 6-7 Rick Prather 7-7 Ernest Raub 7-7 Bill Washburn 7-7 Commission Members (Absent) Ron Fitzwater 4-7 Barbara Germann 4-7 Commission Liaisons (Absent) Councilman Rich Koon Sgt. Doug Ruediger Staff Members (Present) Britt Smith, Operations Director, Roger Schwartze, Director of Public Works, Matt Morasch, City Engineer, Todd Logan, Street Department, Drew Hilpert, City Counselor, and Glenna Vernon, Administrative Technician. Guests Madeleine Leroux, News Tribune, Lois Estep, William Anthony, Henry Veltrop, David Imhoff, Steve Erhart, Diane Rodeman, Randy Stokes, Leigh Ann Stokes, Jim Winemiller, Jeanie Hasenbeck, Alice Wekenborg, David Payne and Major Kevin Cedarvall, Salvation Army Corps Representative. The meeting was called to order by Chairman, Jeff Ahlers at 8:00 a.m., and a quorum was present at that time. 1. Introductions Chairman Ahlers welcomed everyone to the meeting and asked all attendees to please sign-in. 2. Acceptance of the March 14, 2012 Meeting Minutes Mr. Kelly entered a motion to accept the minutes as written, seconded by Mr. Washburn. All in favor, motion carried. 3. New Business a) Request for no parking on Skyview Drive. (Requestor: Numerous Citizens). Britt Smith gave a staff report in regards to Skyview Drive indicating a residential area with parking permitted on both sides of the street. Current ordinances recommend residential streets with parking on both sides have a width of at least 34 feet. Skyview Drive has a width of 36 feet. This same request was made to the Commission in September 2010. Staff continues to recommend leaving the parking as it currently exists. Many citizens were present and were given the opportunity to speak and voice their concerns. In general, citizens in favor of the parking removal, stated concerns of congestion when vehicles parked on both sides of the street and vehicles meet at the same point, also the concern of pedestrians walking in the street was raised as well. Residents opposed to the request, raised the issue of increasing speed of passing vehicles, yet if parking was removed, the inconvenience and safety of parking across the street from their residence would be a concern. After a lengthy discussion between guests, staff and the commission, TRANSPORTATION AND TRAFFIC COMMISSION MEETING Mr. Hughes motioned to recommend to the Public Works and Planning Committee to construct a sidewalk on Skyview when funding becomes available, seconded by Mr. Louraine. Motion carried by the following vote: Aye: Jeff Ahlers, Michael Hughes, Kevin Kelly, Mikeal Louraine, Ernest Raub, and Bill Washburn Nay: None Abstained: Rick Prather Mr. Prather then motioned to remove parking on the south side of Skyview Drive in front of the properties addressed as 2924 – 2928. No second was received. Chairman Ahlers made a motion to remove parking from the south side of Skyview Dr ive in front of the properties addressed as 2920 – 2928, seconded by Mr. Prather. Motion failed by the following vote: Aye: Rick Prather Nay: Jeff Ahlers, Michael Hughes, Kevin Kelly, Mikeal Louraine, Ernest Raub, and Bill Washburn Mr. Louraine made a motion to add a centerline on the Skyview Drive and reduce the speed limit to 20 mph, seconded by Chairman Ahlers. Motion failed by the following vote: Aye: Mikeal Louraine and Jeff Ahler, Nay: Michael Hughes, Kevin Kelly, Ernest Raub, and Bill Washburn Abstained: Rick Prather Mr. Ahlers made a motion to request staff to add a centerline marking on Skyview Dr ive, seconded by Mr. Raub. All in favor, motion carried. b) Request to review the traffic flow and improve access at Southwest Blvd. and Cedar Ridge Road intersection. (Requestor(s): Alice Wekenborg and Jeanie Hasenbeck). Britt Smith gave a staff report and stated Cedar Ridge Road is a local subdivision street which connects to Southwest Boulevard, a major arterial street. Staff reviewed crash records for the intersection in which nothing unusual was found. A review of site distance at the intersection found it meets the requirement as well. Given these two findings, staff recommends the intersection remain unchanged. Two requestors were given the opportunity to speak to the Commission in regards to this issue and after a brief discussion; Mr. Prather indicated this might be an enforcement issue. Britt Smith will consult with Staff Liaison Sgt. Doug Ruediger in regards to stepping up traffic enforcement in the area. Mr. Raub motioned for staff to review the area, particular ly with signage options, and speed control issue be referred to the Police Department, Mr. Prather seconded. All in favor, motion carried. c) Request to remove parking (east side) of street on Michigan Street between Missouri Boulevard and Louisiana Street (Requestor: JCPD Staff). Britt Smith gave a staff report and stated Michigan Street has a width of 30 feet and the area has a primarily commercial use with parking permitted on both sides of the street. Current ordinances recommend commercial streets of this general width have parking removed on at least one side. Staff recommends removal of parking on the east side of the street. Two individuals representing businesses on Michigan Street were given the opportunity to voice their concerns which were in favor of the removal of parking on the east side. Also, a request to enforce the area, especially TRANSPORTATION AND TRAFFIC COMMISSION MEETING with abandoned vehicles on the street would be greatly appreciated. After a brief discussion, Chairman Ahlers motioned to eliminate parking on the east side of Michi gan Street between Missouri Boulevard and Louisiana Street, seconded by Mr. Hughes. Motion carried by the following vote: Aye: Jeff Ahlers, Michael Hughes, Kevin Kelly, Mikeal Louraine, Ernest Raub, Bill Washburn Nay: None Abstained: Rick Prather 4. Old Business a) Request to clarify current ordinance to restrict large trucks fro m parking in residential areas (Requestor: Staff) Britt Smith gave a short overview of the information which was tabled for evaluation. City Counselor, Drew Hilpert submitted a memo to the Traffic and Transportation Commission with clarification of commercial vehicles in residential zones, and was present to answer any questions the commission members had. After a lengthy discussion between the commission, Mr. Louraine recommended the City of Jefferson to correct legal language in section (d) and (h) of the memo, which was noted by City Counselor, Drew Hilpert. Mr. Louraine entered a motion to approve the changes to the ordinance with the clarification of language (to be consistant), Mr. Prather seconded. All in favor, motion carried. 5. Other Business Chairman Ahlers offered congratulations to commission member, Mr. Prather on being selected to serve on City Council and thanked Mr. Prather for his time and service on the Transportation and Traffic Commission. Mr. Prather briefly extended his appreciation to the board. 6. Adjourn Mr. Louraine motioned to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Mr. Hughes. Meeting adjourned at 9:45 a.m. Respectfully submitted, Glenna Vernon