City Council Workshop

10801 Town Square Dr. City of Blaine Blaine MN 55449 Anoka County, Minnesota Minutes - Final City Council Workshop *While this is a public meeting where interested persons are welcome to attend, it is a work session for Council and staff to discuss issues before them. It is not for the purpose of receiving public input. Thursday, September 4, 2014 6:30 PM Cloverleaf Farm Room A Meeting Number 14-46 NOTICE OF WORKSHOP MEETING 1 Call to Order The meeting was called to order by Mayor Ryan at 6:30 p.m. 2 Roll Call Quorum Present. ALSO PRESENT: Clark Arneson, City Manager, Patrick Sweeney, City Attorney; Bryan Schafer, Planning and Community Development Director; Bob Therres, Public Services Manager; Joe Huss, Finance Director; Jean Keely, City Engineer; Chris Olson, Police Chief/Safety Services Manager; Roark Haver, Communications Technician; Al Thorp, Senior Engineering Technician; Catherine Sorensen, City Clerk and Recording Secretary Linda Dahlquist. Present: 5 - Mayor Ryan, Councilmember Hovland, Councilmember Clark, Councilmember Kolb, and Councilmember Herbst Absent: 2 - Councilmember Swanson, and Councilmember Bourke 3 New Business City of Blaine Page 1 City Council Workshop Minutes - Final September 4, 2014 3-1 WS 14-41 CROSSWALK POLICY DISCUSSION Sponsors: Therres Attachments: City of Blaine Crosswalk Policy.pdf Requests for Marked Crosswalks.pdf City Engineer Keely stated the City receives many crosswalk requests from residents each year. She stated there are Federal and State guidelines to help in the decision of where crosswalks are warranted and installed in areas that have substantial conflict between vehicle and pedestrian movements. She stated she used Mankato and Stillwater’s crosswalk policies to develop a draft crosswalk policy for the City. She noted that marked crosswalks are viewed as safety devices and pedestrians feel secure whereas pedestrians using an unmarked crosswalk feel less secure. She gave an overview of the eight points of the proposed policy criteria. Councilmember Clark asked if the report shows if the road way is urban or rural. City Engineer Keely replied no, that the document states a crosswalk is placed in a concentrated area. Councilmember Hovland stated 89th has a high level of traffic, but the signaled intersections are a half mile apart and pedestrians cross where it is convenient. He suggested having buttons to change lights in order for pedestrians to cross at intersections. Councilmember Herbst stated a crosswalk in the middle of the road would be preferred by residents and asked how many requests the City has received for crosswalks. City Engineer Keely replied staff has received ten requests. Mayor Ryan commented some landscaping on Lakes Boulevard prohibits vehicles from seeing pedestrians. City Manager Arneson stated the City needs a good crosswalk policy. Councilmember Clark stated point 3 would be hard to achieve. He asked for the locations that the residents are requesting. City Keely replied The Lakes; the beach; Cloud Drive and Aberdeen; 119th and Aberdeen; Cub and Super America; and Cloud Drive - east of Radisson Road. Councilmember Hovland commented he has received requests for crosswalks from residents walking to and from churches. He noted crosswalks are important around churches, schools and shopping centers. Councilmember Hovland commented the crosswalk signs with lights flashing are also helpful. City of Blaine Page 2 City Council Workshop Minutes - Final September 4, 2014 Councilmember Clark questioned if a crosswalk is the issue at Lakes Boulevard and Lakes Parkway. City Manager Arneson confirmed the proposed policy will be formalized and point 3 will be deleted. He noted that any appeals will be reviewed by Council. Discussed City of Blaine Page 3 City Council Workshop Minutes - Final September 4, 2014 3-2 WS 14-42 DISCUSS REVISIONS TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT PROGRAM Sponsors: Therres Attachments: Neighborhood Traffic Management Program.pdf Speed Hump Drwgs from 1997.pdf Public Services Manager Therres stated the Neighborhood Traffic Management program has established policies and strategies to address road issues and concerns while maintaining and enhancing neighborhoods, providing connectivity and community cohesion. He noted that the speed hump program stated the City will pay 25% and the neighborhood pay 75% of the cost of construction and installation. Councilmember Herbst asked for vehicle count on 116th. Public Services Manager Therres replied 2400. City Engineer Keely stated 116th is a minor collector street that is funneling traffic. She noted residential streets are not normally vehicle counted. She noted Cloverleaf Parkway; 105th east of University; and Cloud Drive - east of Radisson have similar traffic counts. Councilmember Herbst suggested the City pay a larger percentage than the neighborhood. Mayor Ryan commented the residents were split on having a speed hump installed. He asked which homes would be assessed. Council discussion about Yancy Court. Councilmember Clark suggested temporary speed humps be placed for a six month trial period. Public Services Manager Therres stated the cost to purchase two temporary speed humps is $12,000 and the cost would be divided by 14 houses over a 5-year period. Councilmember Kolb stated the City needs to be careful how and when the City makes assessments. Mayor Ryan commented the residents will not like the noise that goes along with speed humps. Councilmember Kolb noted the residents really want the street closed. City Manager Arneson stated Neighborhood Traffic Management Program City of Blaine Page 4 City Council Workshop Minutes - Final September 4, 2014 will be an agenda item on the September 18, 2014, Council meeting. He noted that temporary speed humps has a funding source in 2014; although formal speed humps would need a funding source in 2015. Discussed and Forwarded OTHER BUSINESS None. ADJOURN The Workshop adjourned at 7:30 p.m. Adjourned City of Blaine Page 5