HomeMy WebLinkAboutTSMinutes_2013_07_11BROOKINGS TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMITTEE
City & County Government Center
Thursday, July 11 , 2013
12:10 p.m.
The Brookings Traffic Safety Committee held its monthly meeting on Thursday, July 11,
2013, at 12:10pm in Conference Room 241 of the City & County Government Center.
Members Present: Skip Webster, Carol Rettkowski, John Howard, Gregg Jorgenson, Pete
Kirchhevel, Gary Gramm, Tony Sonnenburg, and Jackie Lanning.
Members Absent: Daryl Englund, Mike Fossum, Brian Lueders, Tim Heaton, and James
Weiss.
Others Present: Jeff Miller, Billy Sides (1704 Pebble Beach), and David Flammond (1716
Pebble Beach)
Call to Order: Webster called the meeting to order. Howard/Jorgenson moved to approve
the minutes from the June meeting. All present voted aye.
Additions to Agenda: None
Old Business: None
New Business:
Discussion on request to remove parking from one side of Pebble Beach Drive between 17th
Avenue South and Moriarty Drive. Lanning passed out an aerial map of this location. She
explained to the committee that she had concerned residents calling regarding congestion
and safety on Pebble Beach Drive due to vehicles parking along both sides of the street.
David Flammond who lives at 1716 Pebble Beach Drive spoke explaining that he is probably
the most affected by the parking because of the location of his house. He stated parking on
both sides of the street makes the street narrow and there are blind spots because people
are parking too close to the intersection. Billy Sides who lives at 1704 Pebble Beach Drive,
also voiced the same concerns as Flammond. Sides suggested that they either remove
parking from the south side of the street or extend the yellow No Parking area further back
from the stop sign. Howard wondered if no parking should be extended further along into
Doral Drive. Lanning explained that an additional mailing would be required for this to include
those that would be affected. Flammond questioned why a parking lot was never put in at the
park to allow for adequate parking for park users. Lanning said she would discuss this with
the City Manager. Lanning explained that it would be best to keep parking on the north side
of the street. It would allow for more parking availability since the south side of the street has
the driveways and mailboxes. Jorgenson/Howard made the motion to remove parking on
the south side of Pebble Beach Drive between 17th Avenue S. and Moriarty Drive and
leave parking on the north side of this same street. All present voted aye. Motion
passed.
Discussion on request to remove parking stalls from the east side of 3rd Avenue, north of 3rd
Street. Lanning provided an aerial picture of the intersection for discussion. Lanning
explained that she investigated the situation and recommends removing an additional stall on
the NE corner (3rd Ave side) of the intersection to improve visibility. Chief Miller stated that
they haven’t had any accidents at this intersection, but from personal experience, the
intersection is dangerous. Lanning explained that the old Senior Center-Fire Auxiliary
building located at the SE corner of this intersection will be demolished and a new parking lot
is planned next year to allow for additional downtown parking. Webster agreed with Lanning.
Rettowski agreed with Lanning to remove the parking stall, but also suggested removing a
parking stall on the NE corner, 3rd Street side in front of the Lantern to improve visibility at the
stop sign. Lanning stated she would discuss the intersection with the City Manager.
Howard/Sonnenburg made the motion to remove 1 parking stall on the 3rd Avenue side
and one stall on the 3rd Street side of the NE corner of 3rd Street and 3rd Avenue. All
present voted aye. Motion passed.
Member Reports:
Lanning had a citizen call that didn’t like the Stop sign at Trail Ridge Road and Crystal Ridge
Road. Lanning explained to her that the stop sign helps with visibility issues since there is a
curve near the intersection. The citizen suggested that the City replace the stop sign with a
yield sign. Gramm told the committee that he used to live out in this area and the stop sign
needs to stay. The traffic used to speed through the intersection and that made it unsafe.
Lanning will contact the resident and explain that the committee is in agreement that the stop
sign will stay.
Howard wondered if the committee should look at removing parking on Moriarty Drive. There
is a massive amount of construction currently which is making Moriarty Drive congested due
to all the construction vehicles. He wondered if there is regulations that would require these
crews to park somewhere other than on the street. Sonnenburg and Miller both stated that
Police Department does try to be lenient with construction vehicles. However if they are
parked to close to a corner, they will address it.
Howard also inquired about the boulevard parking at the apartment at 517 Medary Ave.
Often there are vehicles parked in front of this apartment complex and the vehicles are
sticking out into the street on Medary Avenue. Lanning stated she would send a letter to the
owner.
Rettowski questioned the safety of the sidewalk at the outdoor diner at El Rancho. She
stated it is a safety hazard as people are not able to easily travel this section of sidewalk and
she said the sidewalk did not appear wide enough. Lanning will talk with the Zoning staff
regarding this issue.
Gramm had a citizen call concerned about the stop light at 8th Street S and Main Ave.
Lanning explained that they are researching this and this is under design right now.
Webster spoke with a citizen that would like a left turn light for north and sound bound traffic
at Medary Avenue and 6th Street. Lanning said that DOT did not allow for a left turn light as
they determined the left turn light did not meet MUTCD warrants.
The next meeting will be August 15th , 2013. Meeting adjourned.
Submitted by: Lana Schwartz