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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTSMinutes_2017_08_10BROOKINGS TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMITTEE Brookings Public Library, 515 3rd Street Thursday, August 10, 2017 12:10 p.m. The Brookings Traffic Safety Committee held its monthly meeting on Thursday, August 10, 2017 at 12:10pm at the Brookings Public Library in the Cooper Room. Members Present: Skip Webster, Jackie Lanning, Carol Rettkowski, Kacie Richard, Jeff Miller, James Weiss, Tim Heaton, Brian Lueders, Tony Sonnenburg, Matt Bartley and Gregg Jorgenson Members Absent: Gary Gramm, Shayn Damm and John Howard Others Present: Laurie Carruthers, Ben Waltz, Marty Stanwick, Jeannie Manzer, Leanne Pierce, Call to Order: Webster called the meeting to order. Rettkowski/Jorgenson made a motion to approve the minutes from the July 13, 2017 meeting. All present voted aye. Motion passed. Additions to Agenda: None. Old Business: Discussion on options to improve site visibility at the intersection of 4th Street and 7th Avenue Webster noted the committee had discussion last month on options to improve site visibility at this intersection. One citizen noted that two street lights were removed recently near that intersection and the area was darker after they were removed. She stated visibility was less after they removed the poles and it was unknown if the n ew light poles would be installed in the same location. Bartley described that BMU was replacing light poles around Brookings and the City could check on where the new light poles would be located. Jeanne Manzer commented that the church patrons also walk in that area and was concerned about lighting at that corner. Lanning stated that she reviewed the committee’s recommendation for the bumpout scenario with the City Manager. The City Manager noted the work was not budgeted for 2017 or 2018, but wanted the committee to look at ways to enhance the safety of the intersection and work with available funds that were budgeted. Webster asked for feedback on the options. Bartley mentioned that the Street Department had not moved the stop sign closer to the ramp yet, but he was not sure if moving the stop sign north approximately 5 feet would have that big of a benefit. He stated perhaps painting a stop bar may offer more visibility. Lanning mentioned removing parking near the intersection may also increase the range of visibility. She noted to the east of the intersection was parallel parking and perhaps two stalls or 40 feet would improve the sight lines, and to the west was slanted parking stalls and maybe 3 or 4 stalls could be removed to the west. She stated it would be a less costly way to increase visibility at the intersection. Bartley also agreed to try parking removals first and see if that improves the visibility and they could paint the stop bar soon. A citizen stated the stop sign on the nort h side of the intersection was more visible and the committee thought the stop bar on the north side of the intersection would not be needed. Bartley made a motion to paint a stop bar on the south side of 4th Street, which was seconded by Gramm. All present voted aye. Motion passed. The committee discussed they wanted to address the visibility issue now and not have it come back to the committee. There was more discussion about the existing yellowed parking removal on the south side of 4th Street and if more stalls should be removed. There are approximately 20 stalls on the south side of 4 th Street, which are used by the church parking as well people visiting the Sheriff’s Department. Stanwick noted that eventually they would have an ordinance for to allow 72 hour parking in the parking lot. Stanwick said he only brought the item forward due to comments people made at the variance board. Sonnenburg made a motion to remove 40 total feet from the south side of 4th Street, east and west of 7th Avenue, which was seconded by Jorgenson. All present voted aye, except one voted no. Motion passed. New Business: Discussion on request to remove parking on the east side of 15th Avenue between 3rd Street and 4th Street from 2:00 AM to 6:00 AM Lanning described that Brad Olinger, Hillcrest Elementary School Principal, had worked with City staff on a bus plan for Hillcrest School. He was not able to attend the meeting, but Lanning described that the school is making changes to have students exit at certain doors by age. The older children would exit out of the northern end of the school, and the younger children, kindergarten and 1st grade, would exit from the south doors of the school. They want to coordinate parent pickup for the age groups. The police chief, park & rec director, community dev director, met to discuss options. The school proposes to make the east side of the drive through parking lot the parent pickup area for the younger children. The west side of the drive through parking lot would be available for parking. The school is requesting to allow parents and teachers to park on the east side of 15th Avenue throughout the day. Currently there is one hour parking during the daytime on the east side of 15th Avenue The new change would remove parking from 2:00 AM to 6:00 AM so the street department could clear snow during the night, and the street would be available for parking throughout the day. Overnight parking would be allowed on the west side of 15th Avenue. Pat Ammann, owner of 1417 3rd Street, stated they were curious what the request was. They said they said the current parking has worked well, and thought opening up the parking on the east side of 15th Avenue shouldn’t cause an issue. Bartley said they do pick up the snow in that block due to the curb-side sidewalk. The restriction is primarily for their department to be able to remove the snow. The committee discussed the different options for the school drop off that were tried in the past, and Lanning described that several options were discussed with the principal. Bartley mentioned that at Dakota Prairie School that someone makes sure vehicles move along through the drop off area, which may be a good idea at Hillcrest. The group discussed if people dropped off students on 15th Avenue, the students would still need to cross the parking lot traffic. Rettkowski asked how it would work for vehicles were going east, and they would need to take a left to enter into the parking lot. The group discussed that each vehicle would need to take turns, but would need to drive slowly to be safe and a crossing guard would help. The older students could be picked up on the north side of 3rd Street since those students would come out the south door. It was mentioned that the signs could be removed during the summer since parking wouldn’t need to be restricted. A motion was made by Jorgenson, seconded by Lanning, to remove parking on the east side of 15th Avenue between 3rd Street and 4th Street from 2:00 AM to 6:00 AM. All in favor voted aye. Motion passed. Discussion on grant request for temporary stop signs on 22nd Avenue at the intersection of Eastbrook Drive Lanning described the City is applying for a grant to install an 8’ wide shared use path on LeFevre Drive cul-de-sac area. Lanning said the City had a meeting with SDDOT staff to describe the concept. The 8’ shared use path would be installed on the west side of LeFevre Drive, and the north side of the LeFevre Drive cul -de-sac, which would turn into a 5’ sidewalk on the south side of the cul-de-sac. The SDDOT discussed that the better side for the 8’ path may be on the south side of the cul-de-sac instead due to the grades. The grant program would not fund sidewalk. Lanning described that part of the grant includes support from different groups and she asked if the Traffic Safety Committee would support the grant application. Lanning described that hotel users and citizens could use the path which would connect to the bike trail system and 6 th Street sidewalk. Rettkowski made a motion for the committee to provide a letter of support for the project, which was seconded by Sonnenburg. All present voted aye. Motion passed. Member Reports: Lanning described that Shayn Damm unfortunately will not be on the committe e due to a new job change. She also announced that the intersection of 6th Street and 22nd Avenue is open and the 6th Street pavement is scheduled to be open by fall. Sonnenburg mentioned that the digital speed signs could be moved before school started. Bartley mentioned Orchard Drive near Elm Avenue would be a good location, and 20th Street South would also be a good location. The committee thought those were both good locations. Jorgenson stated at 8th Street South and 22nd Avenue South, if a vehicle is in the south- bound left turn lane, when the light turns, the pedestrians get a walk sign, which seemed like a conflict with the left turning vehicles. Lanning stated that left turn arrow was recently installed and she will have BMU staff look at it. The next meeting is scheduled for September 13, 2017. Meeting adjourned. Submitted by: Jackie Lanning, City Engineer