1999-03-23 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

I I I Council Meeting Minutes - March 23, 1999 Page 4 Public Hearing. continued Betty Meck, 93 16th Ave. SW, opposes narrowing 16th Ave., sidewalk installation, and restrictive parking on the east side. She feels the changes will not provide a safer street with reduced speeds, but would give the roadway a commercial appearance. She has encountered near collisions with bicycles when jogging on the Co. Rd. E sidewalk, and feels the sidewalk would create hazards by encouraging more pedestrian, rollerblade, skatebroad, and bicycle traffic. She noted concern of increased vandalism, child venerability to abduction, pedestrian crossing to access cars, parking near the driving lane, and mail delivery interruption due to parked cars. She feels it would be safer and more cost effective to provide sewer and water improvements, resurface at current street width, and install stop signs. She proposed stop signs at the intersections of 16th Ave. and 1st St., 16th Ave. and 3rd St., and Oakwood and Silver Ln. She requested a "No Right Turn on Red" sign at the Silver Lk. Rd. and Silver Ln. intersection; and a median at the Co. Rd. E and 16th Ave. intersection posted "residential permit and emergency vehicles only." She asked if sidewalk and boulevard widths could be reduced. Benke said width guidelines for sidewalks are set at a 5 ft. minimum to allow for passing bicyclists, and boulevard widths allow for snow storage and plantings. Benke explained standards are used to determine whether traffic control devices are warranted, and if standards are not met, then alternate methods are considered. A resident feels parking on both sides would reduce congestion on one side of the street. Don Meck, 93 16th Ave. SW, opposes narrowing 16th Ave., and does not believe it would facilitate a safe enviromnent for pedestrians or decrease traffic speeds. James Clairmont, 1511 1st St. SW, requested explanation of the MSAfunding methodology. Olson explained MSA funding is derived from the State Gas Tax and is allocated to municipalities for use on MSA designated roadways. Clairmont asked if the assessment could be eliminated if the sidewalk was removed from the project. Benke said Clairmont will not be assessed for the sidewalk, but for his property's portion of the street improvements. The assessable portion of $201,600 relates to the project cost for areas not residing on 16th Ave. or areas not reimbursed by MSA funding. The only method to pay that amount is through special assessments or General Tax Levy. That $302,300 allocated for the sidewalk can only be used for other MSA sidewalk or street improvement projects, and cannot be used to reduce assessable portions of non MSA streets. The City utilizes MSA funding to the largest extent possible. Clairmont feels stop signs are more effective than a complex rerouting design to achieve traffic calming. Lani Gabatino, 1614 3rd St., thanked staff, residents, and Council for development of traffic calming methods. In addition to existing methods, he suggested installation of stop signs and speed bumps. He complimented the Engineering staff for a plan which slows traffic, furnishes parking and sidewalk maintenance, and provides a safe walkway. Brian Tanning, 392 16th Ave. SW, said street striping is ineffective during winter, and witnessed many cars cut the 3rd St. corner. He would gladly provide part of his yard for a sidewalk for children to access the school bus. Julie Tanning, 392 16th Ave. SW, feels the sidewalk would provide a safer walkway. Linda Picard, 344 16th Ave. SW, supports sidewalks on both sides and does not believe there will be increased rollerblading or skateboard activity. She feels identifying a location for a stop sign would be difficult due to no identifiable cross street. Public Hearing Project 99-1, Highcrest Area Street Reconstruction Report 99~069