HomeMy WebLinkAboutTSMinutes_2013_06_13BROOKINGS TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMITTEE
City & County Government Center
Thursday, June 13, 2013
12:10 p.m.
The Brookings Traffic Safety Committee held its monthly meeting on Thursday, June 13,
2013, at 12:10pm in Conference Room 241 of the City & County Government Center.
Members Present: Skip Webster, Carol Rettkowski, John Howard, Tim Heaton, Gary
Gramm, James Weiss, Jackie Lanning, Jeff Miller, and Pete Kirchhevel.
Members Absent: Daryl Englund, Mike Fossum, Brian Lueders, Gregg Jorgenson, and Tony
Sonnenburg.
Others Present: None
Call to Order: Webster called the meeting to order. Gramm / Heaton moved to approve the
minutes from the March meeting. All present voted aye.
Additions to Agenda: None
Old Business: None
New Business:
Request to remove parking from one side of Rapid Valley Street. Lanning passed out an
aerial map of this location. She explained to the committee that Rapid Valley Street is a
narrower street and removing parking on one side of the street will help with safety and
congestion. Lanning spoke with Scott Hodges, the developer of this area, and they both
agree that removing parking from the north side of the street would be the best option. There
would be more parking available on the south side of the street, especially adjacent to the
City park. If parking is removed from the south side of the street, the curbs could be painted
yellow by the hydrant and mailboxes. Kirchhevel explained that the Street Department would
like to see parking removed on the south side of the street. This would allow them to hang
“No Parking” signs on the utility poles that BMU will be installing. Lanning will talk with BMU
to see if light poles can be installed on the north side of the street instead. Miller/Howard
made the motion to remove parking from the north side of Rapid Valley Street and to
paint yellow near the hydrant and mailboxes on the south side. All present voted aye.
Motion passed.
Discussion about safety at the intersection of Sawgrass Drive and 15th Street South. John
Howard explained that vehicles are currently parking on both sides of the street and the
street has many parked cars during the school year. Lanning stated that currently the street
has no parking on the south side and when she drove to inspect this area she didn’t see any
obstructions to cause a safety hazard. The committee noted there is a stop sign in place at
this intersection. Howard explained that vehicles are parking too close to the stop sign and
the traffic rarely stops at the sign. Kirchhevel suggested that the Street Department could
paint the curb yellow 20 feet from the crosswalk and he also suggested stenciling “Stop” on
the road prior to the intersection. Chief Miller stated that officers will be monitoring that area
again this fall. Kirchhevel/Miller made the motion to paint the curb 20 feet from the
sidewalk, stencil on the street leading up to the intersection and also increase police
patrol during heavy times. All present voted aye. Motion passed.
Member Reports:
Gramm commented that he appreciated the article that the Register published regarding the
road markings and the paint quality. Kirchhevel said the Street Department is working on
finding better paint. Lanning explained that they have recently been completing striping on
road projects using the grooving process which lasts longer than painting. .
Rettkowski commented that she is concerned about bike safety in town. Miller said they are
still offering Safety Town to children, but he has observed that the problem isn’t the younger
children. He stated the older bike riders are not being safe.
Rettkowski also is concerned about the intersection at 3rd Ave and 3rd Street. The vehicles
coming from the south around the curve are driving fast, making them hard to see. The east
leg of the intersection has difficult visibility to the north and south. The Committee may need
to consider removing some parking along the streets at this intersection.
Lanning updated the committee on the 6th Street and Western Ave Project and Western
Avenue has been opened. .
Gramm also noted that the “Crime Stopper” sign at 8th Street S and Southland Lane seems to
obstruct visibility for drivers. The Street Department will look at moving this sign to take care
of this issue.
Lanning told the committee that there will be a daycare opening soon near Moriarty Park
along Pebble Beach. There may be a possible request for the removal of parking from 17th
Avenue South to Moriarty Drive.
The next meeting will be July 11th, 2013. Meeting adjourned.
Submitted by: Lana Schwartz