Committee of the Whole Meeting

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE City Hall – Council Chambers January 20, 2020 The Committee of the Whole met in the Council Chambers at 5:50 p.m. on January 20, 2020, with the following Committee persons in attendance: Mayor Robert M. Green, Frank Darrah, Susan deBuhr, Simon Harding, Daryl Kruse, Mark Miller, and Dave Sires. Staff members attended from all City Departments. Kevin Blanshan from INRCOG attended, as well as members of the community. Mayor Green called the meeting to order and introduced the first item on the agenda, Role of INRCOG (Iowa Northland Regional Council of Governments). Kevin Blanshan Executive Director distributed two handouts about INRCOG. He stated INRCOG was established in 1973 and its current membership is 54 cities and six counties. He explained INRCOG serves as an umbrella organization for some other boards and commissions. He stated the Mayor and other City Staff are on some of the boards and commissions. He reviewed their funding sources for their annual budget. Mr. Blanshan reviewed the services they provide, stating INRCOG has provided help on various City projects in the past and coordinated funding through the Black Hawk Metropolitan Area Transportation Policy Board (MPO). There being no discussion, Mayor Green moved on to the second item on the agenda Pavement Management. David Wicke City Engineer stated City staff examines and evaluates the pavement throughout the city each year and places the repair in a 5-year plan. He stated this is updated each year, making adjustments as needed. He stated average life of an asphalt roadway is 15-20 years and it is 25 years for a concrete road. Mr. Wicke stated the Local Option Sales Tax was implemented in 1991 for restoration and reconstruction of City roadways, and we have completed over 150 miles of pavement improvements since inception. Jon Fitch, Principal Engineer reviewed the 2021 Pavement Management plan. He explained Cedar Falls Utilities will be involved during the restoration or reconstruction to make utility repairs as needed. He said the 2021 plan will include some curb and gutter spot repairs as needed. Mr. Fitch went on to review the 2022-2025 plans. He stated this plan may be adjusted annually based on review of the roadways. He stated staff is recommending approval of the 2021 Pavement Management Plan to proceed with final design. Mark Miller motioned for approval of the staff recommendation. Frank Darrah seconded the motion. Mayor Green asked for public comment. LuAnn Alemao, member of the Bike Pedestrian Committee, commented the section of 18th Street slated for reconstruction should have a dedicated bike lane rather than a street marked with sharrow markings, per the Bike Plan. Roger White, member of the Bike Pedestrian Committee, stated bicyclist are more comfortable riding on a dedicated roadway. Chase Schrage, Director of Public Works, stated 18th Street is only 35 feet wide and to have a dedicated bike lane it will require a 37 foot roadway. Mr. White stated Cedar Heights Drive by Hartman Reserve should be reviewed for reconstruction/restoration in the near future. Mr. Schrage stated the bicycle markings should remain consistent on the entire corridor of the roadway; all sharrow markings or all dedicated bike lanes. He stated adding dedicated bike lanes would have a significant cost impact due to the increase in the width of the roadway. Mayor Green called for the vote, all in favor, motion passes. Mayor Green continued to item three on the agenda, Washington Street Reconstruction Update. Mr. Fitch reviewed the plan for reconstruction of Washington Street from 6 th Street to 8th Street. He stated the plan is to convert this section of roadway from one- way to 2-way traffic, create traffic calming bump outs, add a four-way flashing stop sign at 7th and Washington. He explained this would give the roadway a neighborhood feel. He stated traffic counts were compiled in November and staff has met with St. Patrick School/Church. Mr. Fitch reviewed the pros and cons of a two-way street. He stated the two-way street restricts the feel for drivers, causing a traffic calming effect, and drivers are more attentive to the on-coming vehicular conflicts. Mr. Fitch reviewed the staff recommendation to approve W. 7th Street and Washington Street intersection design and converting the 1-way to 2-way from 6th Street to 18th Street. Susan deBuhr motioned to approve the staff recommendation, seconded by Daryl Kruse. Mayor Green opened it up for council discussion. Mr. Fitch answered questions from the council, he stated they met with the school/church three different times and said they are in favor of the flashing light on the 4-way stop sign at 7th and Washington Streets. Council discussed the pedestrian safety and the 2-way traffic switch, the traffic impact of buses and parent dropping off students. Mayor Green opened it up for comments from the Public. Janet Willett 716 Winters Drive explained her son’s Lego League team were given a project to look at a safety improvement around the school. She explained they reviewed the area around the school and the congestion on 7th Street and Washington Street. She stated the plan to change to 2-way traffic needs additional review, especially before and after school drop off time. She said more discussion should take place with parents and the school. Luke Willett 716 Winters Drive commented there should be more discussion with the church since they will lose 30 parking spots for church services. Councilmember Kruse asked if 1-way traffic could remaining in the two blocks by the school/church, and change the remaining portion 8th – 18th Streets to 2-way traffic? Mr. Schrage stated it is not recommended to have an interrupted of the traffic pattern. Councilmember Harding stated there should be additional review of the situation. Daryl Kruse motioned to table the item, seconded by Simon Harding. Motion to table passes (Aye - Darrah, Harding, Kruse, Miller, Sires; Nay - deBuhr) Mayor Green introduced the final item on the agenda, bills and payroll. Daryl Kruse moved to approve the bills and payroll as presented, and Frank Darrah seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. There being no further discussion, Daryl Kruse motioned to adjourn, and Dave Sires seconded the motion. Mayor Green adjourned the meeting at 7:00 p.m. Minutes by Lisa Roeding, Controller/City Treasurer