HomeMy WebLinkAboutTSMinutes_2011_05_12BROOKINGS TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMITTEE
City Hall meeting room
Thursday, May 12, 2011
12:10 p.m.
The Brookings Traffic Safety Committee held its monthly meeting on Thursday, May 12, 2011, at
12:10pm in the City Hall meeting room.
Members Present: Carol Rettkowski, Daryl Englund, Louis Skubic, Jackie Lanning, Skip Webster,
Keith Bruinsma, Pete Kirchheuel, and Tony Sonnenburg.
Members Absent: Tim Heaton, Brian Lueders, Jeff Miller, and Mike Fossum.
Others Present:
Call to Order: Daryl called the meeting called to order. Webster / Sonnenburg moved to approve the
minutes from the April meeting. All present voted aye.
Addition to Agenda:
Old Business: Public hearing and discussion on request to remove parking on certain streets that
are designated as “Share the Road” (Sharrow) with bicycles as shown on the attached map, which
are:
8th Street from Western Avenue to 7th Avenue
11th Street from 3rd Avenue to Medary Avenue
11th Street from 16th Avenue to 22nd Avenue
8th Street from 14th Avenue to 20th Avenue
20th Avenue from 8th Street to 6th Street.
Mark York one of the SDSU representatives discussed the sharrows around town. He stated that they
haven’t been the most effective because of on street parking. York said they would like to see parking
removed on these streets. They would like to try this on 8th Street from campus to downtown. Marlyn
Hintz, Brookings Christian Church is against removing parking. The Church uses the street for church
parking. Ken VanManen, Brookings Christian Church, is against removing parking. Hey says he
hardly ever sees bikes on 8th Street and would like more attention placed on the bikes that don’t obey
the traffic laws. Mark York addressed the committee and stated a sign that states no parking except
on Sundays could be put up. Marlyn stated they have gatherings throughout the week as well. Guyla
Powers stated with Arts in the Park in July the no parking on 8th from Western to 7th would cause a
problem. Tod Struwe commented on when he has visitors, they park on the street. If parking is
removed, they would have no place for visitors to park. He is wondering if there has been a study to
see how many bikes are in the area. Struwe stated biking is not a year round activity. Bicyclists need
to follow the law. Arlie Steenson is against removing the parking and commented about the water on
the roads in the spring and fall. Paul Moriarty thinks this is a good idea but not in some of these
locations. Moriarty thinks off street parking is needed on 11th Street apartment buildings will need
extra parking. He said one idea would be to put bike baths on the boulevards. On 8 th Street it poses a
problem with visitors not being able to park when they come and visit. Moriarty would like to see a
bike path from 20th Street to 32nd Street along Main with the future development. Rob Rassmuson
doesn’t think that removing parking is necessary but thinks education would help. He has seen in
bigger cities the sharrows can work with education. Kris Struwe is the president of Downtown
Brookings and opposes the no parking, but is in favor of getting the students downtown and would
like to help out in any way they can. She is also a homeowner and has lived in the same are on 8 th
Street for 15 years and hasn’t seen a lot of bikes in this area. She doesn’t think it is truly worth the
removal of parking. Lanning went over the phone calls she received; Cindy and Vern Olson are
against removing parking. This would not have any spots for parking other than the garage. They get
company from time to time and like the option of parking in the street. Pat Fishbach supports
removing the parking on 8th Street in her area. Fishbach does not feel many people use 8th Street for
parking west of Main Avenue. She said the area is used only during First Lutheran Church events and
during the Arts in the Park. She feels more students should be encouraged to bike. Dave Boyland
opposed because he doesn’t see enough bike traffic to remove parking. Tom Bell is against the
removal of parking. Annette Clauson is opposed to the removal of parking. She would like to see the
number of actual riders studied and feels the data should be provided to justify the removal of
parking. Dean Cattleman with SDSU stated the number of bike riders has increased. Bruinsma/
Kirchheuel made the motion to remove parking on 8th Street from Western Avenue to 7th
Avenue. All present voted no. Motion failed.
Lanning/Skip made the motion to remove parking on 11th Street from 3rd Avenue to Medary
Avenue. All present voted no. Motion failed. Skip/ Sonnenburg made the motion to remove
parking on 8th Street from 14th Avenue to 20th Avenue and on 20th Avenue from 8th Street to 6th
Street. All present voted no. Motion failed.
New Business:
Member Reports
The next meeting will be June 09, 2011. Meeting adjourned.
Submitted by: Chris Larson