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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTSMinutes_2007_09_13BROOKINGS TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMITTEE City Hall meeting room Thursday, September 13, 2007 12:10 p.m. Members Present: Daryl Englund, Bryan Gums, Jackie Lanning, Matthew Nelson, Louis Skubic, Becky Thompson, Skip Webster, Brad Whaley. Members Absent: Dennis Bielfeldt, Connie Bridges, Keith Bruinsma, Tim Heaton, Brian Lueders, Jerry Sikkink, Margie Wagner-Carpenter. Others Present: Dave Erickson, Doug Eidsness, and Mike Johnson. Call to Order: Jackie called the meeting called to order. Skip/Brad made a motion to approve minutes from the August 9th, 2007 meeting. All present voted aye. Motion passed. Matt/Louis moved to approve the additions to the agenda. All present voted aye. Motion carried. Old Business: New Business: 1) Citizen request to remove parking from a portion of Santee Pass. Jackie passed around aerial maps of the area. Mike Johnson feels it is a safety issue because there is a slight bend in the street to the cul-de-sac so it is difficult to see when backing out and when kids are playing. He had taken pictures of the area and said it isn’t conducive to parking and would like it removed from the cul-de-sac. Brad said he didn’t think there was an issue for the street department vehicles, but Mike said he had visited with the mailman and garbage people and they did have trouble at times. Jackie said she drove up there and it felt wide open and didn’t see a problem. All residents have enough off street parking so that wouldn’t be an issue. Jackie will invite the other homeowners for their input next month. 2) Citizen request to remove parking on both sides of 22nd Avenue from the Highway 14 Bypass to the north. Doug Eidsness addressed the group on behalf of the neighborhood, except the rental house. Jackie passed around maps of the area. This area has been single family dwellings until last year. The “barn” as it is called is being renovated into a rental house. It is currently housing 8 college students; the other half will be completed soon and will house 8 more college students. The property owner has provided parking for 8 vehicles per city ordinance. The residents aren’t necessarily the problem, but rather the guests and carry over’s from the weekends that park on both sides of the gravel road. Doug has talked to the students and they said he had to understand there will be 16 people living where there used to be a single family dwelling. And if they all have one friend, that’s 32 cars and where are they supposed to park. The neighborhood is on a less than 20’ un-improved township gravel road and the ditches are very steep. So, you can’t get off the road too far to park or you’ll slide into the ditch and get stuck. It bottle necks everything to the north for 6-7 residents. When vehicles are parked on both sides there is only one way traffic and emergency vehicles would not be able to get through. Brad said the street department couldn’t get through it last year because of the vehicles. The majority of the problem is guest related and usually Friday through Sunday. Everyone else has ample parking on their own property to store their vehicles, toys and for guest parking. Doug passed out letters from all the residents, except the rental property, requesting no parking on either side of the roadway. Jackie wanted to contact the owner of the rental property to give them an opportunity to address this issue before making a decision. This will be put on the agenda for next month. Addition to Agenda: 1) Safe Ride program; some issues with the locations of the signs. Becky received a complaint about some of the Safe Ride bus stops being in no parking zones and one of the stops is in front of the complainant’s rental property. A concern is vandalism being done, by intoxicated riders, to his renter’s property. He wanted the stop area to be moved from his property which is also in a no parking zone. Jackie said when they were setting up the route she thought they were avoiding no parking areas but Bryan said at least four of them are. At one of the stops, the bus will actually block the view of the stop sign at the corner which concerns Bryan. Jackie said she would look into it and report back to the committee next month. 2) Speeding on 5th Avenue in the Central School area. Lt. Dave Erickson expressed his concern for traffic along 5th Avenue by Central School and would like to see timed flashing amber lights installed. A letter was passed out outlining his concerns and his request. A major problem is lack of awareness and unlike the other school zones, this street is used by a lot of motorists other than parents dropping off or picking up their kids. Bryan said he would check into the costs but has looked for grants in the past when this issue was brought up. Dave will contact other communities that have these lights and see how they went about getting them installed. 3) Remove parking on the east side of 32nd Avenue and install a right turn lane onto 6th Street. Matt addressed the committee regarding traffic east of the interstate. He is requesting removal of parking on the east side of 32nd Avenue north to 6th Street and then installing a right turn lane onto 6th Street to help the flow of traffic. This will be put on next month’s agenda and Jackie will notify business owners in the area inviting them to the meeting. 4) Remove parking from both sides of Lefevre Drive from the circle to Cenex. Matt said this is also an issue as semi trucks tend to park on either side, the east/west portion. Because of the narrowness of the street, the quality of the street, water issues, and lots of traffic he felt it would be a good idea to remove parking along there altogether. This will also be put on next month’s agenda. Member Reports Meeting adjourned. If you require assistance, alternative formats, and/or accessible locations consistent with the American with Disabilities Act, please contact the City ADA Coordinator at 692-6281 at least 48 hours in advance.