HomeMy WebLinkAboutTSMinutes_2016_05_12BROOKINGS TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMITTEE
City & County Government Center
Thursday, May 12, 2016
12:10 p.m.
The Brookings Traffic Safety Committee held its monthly meeting on Thursday, May 12,
2016, at 12:10pm in the City & County Government Center Council Chambers Room.
Members Present: Skip Webster, Jackie Lanning, James Weiss, Becky Schmieding, Carol
Rettkowski, Gregg Jorgenson, Matt Bartley, Shayn Damm, Jeff Miller,
and Brian Lueders.
Members Absent: Gary Gramm, John Howard, Tim Heaton, and Tony Sonnenburg
Others Present: Gary Thomas, Lois Darrington, David Gilheison, Lee Gallerson, George
Tsakiridis, Jacob Clement
Call to Order: Webster called the meeting to order. Jorgenson / Schmieding made a motion
to approve the minutes from the April 14, 2016 meeting. All present voted aye. Motion
passed.
Additions to Agenda:
Old Business:
Discussion on a stop sign request at the intersection of 5 th Street and 13th Avenue
Lois Darrington lives in the neighborhood and recommended stop signs east/west on 5th
Street. She stated there has been an increase flow of traffic on 5th Street and vehicles travel
at a high rate of speed. She also stated that stop signs on 13th Avenue may cause traffic to
back up onto 6th Street. Webster commented there is a stop sign going east/west on 12th
Avenue. Schmieding stated she would like to stay with the consistency in the neighborhood.
Lanning stated there have been some accidents in the area according to the police
department. She stated there is a valley gutter on the north side of the intersection that tends
to slow the north/south traffic down and that large boulevard trees on the southeast corner
cause poor visibility on that corner. Schmieding agreed with Ms. Darrington that stop signs on
13th Avenue, being one block from 6th Street, could back traffic up onto 6th Street. Lanning
stated there would be benefits to having the stop signs in either direction and would like to
ask advice from HDR. Schmieding/Weiss made a motion to get advice from HDR. All
present voted aye. Motion passed.
Discussion on a two-way stop sign at the intersection of 9th Street and 8th Avenue
Jacob Clement, 725 9th Street, stated he would like to see stop signs placed going east and
west on 9th Street. He mentioned there is a valley gutter on the east side of the intersection
and cars drive at high rates of speed. Weiss stated that 9th Street will be closed between
Medary and 9th Avenue. George Tsakiridis stated he travels the area daily and there are no
signs or clear direction in the area and it would be beneficial to have yield signs but would
prefer stop signs. Lanning mentioned there were vehicles parked on the east side of 8th
Avenue along with trees and bushes which can cause poor visibility for northbound vehicles.
Damm mentioned that the closure of 9th Street may reduce the amount of traffic. Lueders/
Schmieding made the motion to table until January. All present voted aye. Motion
passed.
Discussion on removing parking on the north side of 2 nd Street from 6th Avenue to
approximately 90’ east to the driveway at 603 2nd Street.
Lanning stated there is approximately 87 feet between the ramp on the corner to the
driveway at 603 2nd Street. She stated it was difficult for the street department to get
equipment out of their building when cars are parked along the north side of 2nd Street across
from the street department driveway. Bartley also mentioned with traffic flow turning onto 2nd
Street there wasn’t much room to drive the equipment out of the building. He stated that
removing at least one stall would give the street department more room. Lueders/ Damm
made the motion to remove parking on the north side of 2nd Street from 6th Avenue to
approximately 65 feet east. All present voted aye. Motion passed.
Discussion on pedestrian access from Dakota Prairie elementary school to Indian Hills
Addition
Gary Thomas (principal at Dakota Prairie) discussed his concerns. He stated that students
from multiple schools have caused issues by walking in neighborhood yards because there
are no sidewalks. He said he has suggested that students walk in the middle of 26th Street
South down to Larkspur, which was a huge safety concern. He stated he would like to see a
path go to the northwest of the school for the students and would also like to see a crosswalk
across 20th Street South and Larkspur. Lanning stated sidewalks are being designed on 20th
Street South and the city ordinance states sidewalks are required when each property owner
constructs their homes. However, the City Council can also vote to require sidewalks. The
school could send a letter to the City Council requesting sidewalks be installed. Miller stated
these concerns do not have anything to do with traffic safety. Schmieding/ Bartley made
the motion to support the implementation of sidewalks on 26th Street South to the
west. All present voted aye. Motion passed.
New Business:
Discussion on traffic signals at the intersection of 5th Street and 5th Avenue. George Tsakiridis
stated the traffic signal flashes on the weekends making it hard for pedestrians to cross 5th
Avenue. He was also concerned with the visibility on 5th Avenue going south and stated the
pedestrian corners have poor visibility. He would like to have one or two parking stalls
removed on the corner of 5th Avenue for better visibility. Lanning stated the traffic signal lights
could be put back onto a timed program during the weekend to help the church traffic. Miller
made the motion to table this item and continue to study this area. Lanning would like
to amend the motion that the City could put the signals to normal operating mode for
the weekends. Schmieding/Miller made the motion to turn the traffic light back on at
the intersection of 5th Street and 5th Avenue and table the parking issues. All present
voted aye. Motion passed.
Member Reports:
Schmieding would like to know what the status is on the no turning signage at the intersection
of 12th Street South and 17th Avenue South.
Schmieding would like 22nd Avenue and 12th Street South looked at for a stop sign/signal due
to the amount of pedestrians. Lanning said that the traffic study is under way and may be
done in June.
The next meeting is scheduled for June 9, 2016. Meeting adjourned.
Submitted by: Chris Larson