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<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Council Worksession <br />May 24, 2022 <br />5:00 pm <br /> <br /> <br />Present: Mayor Kari Niedfeldt-Thomas (joined the meeting remotely at 5:55 p.m.) <br />Councilmember Abdullahi Abdulle (attending remotely) <br />Councilmember Graeme Allen <br />Councilmember Pam Axberg <br /> Acting Mayor Emily Dunsworth <br />Absent: <br /> <br /> <br />Staff in Attendance: Devin Massopust, Craig Schlichting, Tony Paetznick, Gina Foschi <br /> <br />Guests in Attendance: <br /> <br />Residential Speed Limits <br /> <br />Massopust reported this conversation stemmed from a State law change that now allows local authorities to <br />adjust speed limits on residential roadways. He reported one of the most frequent complaints staff receives was <br />related to the speed of traffic in certain neighborhoods. He explained this matter has been discussed by the <br />Public Safety Commission two separate times and before having the Council take a formal vote, staff wanted <br />the City Council to discuss this matter. <br /> <br />Schlichting stated New Brighton is an active community with residents that request quality of life <br />improvements. Traffic speeds and the proximity of vehicles to our most vulnerable population are common <br />complaints. He provided the Council with a history on speed limits in the community noting in 2019 the State <br />passed legislation that would allow the City to reduce residential speed limits to 25 miles per hour. Accident <br />data from the past seven years was reviewed with the Council. It was noted staff presented this data to the <br />Public Safety Commission and the group recommended that the City Council take a consistent approach of 25 <br />miles per hour on all roads controlled by the City. <br /> <br />Councilmember Abdulle expressed concern with the speed of traffic along Silver Lake Road, County Road E <br />and Old Highway 8, but he understood these were County roads. Massopust stated these roadways were <br />carrying large amounts of traffic through the community. <br /> <br />Acting Mayor Dunsworth indicated she hears a lot of motorcycles speeding down Silver Lake Road in the <br />summer months. <br /> <br />Massopust commented on the number of signs that would need to be replaced in the City if a change were <br />made and requested direction from the Council on how to proceed. He noted if the Council supported a <br />change, this item could be brought back to the Council for formal approval in June. He discussed the <br />educational campaign that would occur if a speed limit change were made. <br /> <br />Schlichting reported Minneapolis, St. Paul, and St. Anthony have already changed their residential speed limits