Public Works Committee Meeting

Public Works Committee Meeting Cravath Lakefront Room, 2nd floor 312 W. Whitewater St. Whitewater, WI 53190 *In Person and Virtual Tuesday, December 10, 2024 - 5:00 PM MINUTES CALL TO ORDER The Public Works Committee meeting was called to order by Board President Hicks at 5:00 p.m. ROLL CALL PRESENT: Board Member Orin Smith, Board Member Neil Hicks, Board Member Greg Majkrzak ABSENT: None OTHERS: Marquardt APPROVAL OF AGENDA Motion made by Board Member Majkrzak to approve the agenda for Tuesday, December 10, 2024, Seconded by Board Member Smith. Voting Yea: Board Member Smith, Board Member Hicks, Board Member Majkrzak Voting Nay: None APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approval of minutes from November 12, 2024 Motion made by Board Member Majkrzak to approve the minutes from November 12, 2024, Seconded by Board Member Smith. Voting Yea: all via voice (3) Voting Nay: None HEARING OF CITIZEN COMMENTS None NEW BUSINESS 2. Discussion and Possible Action regarding the closure of Starin Road between Prairie Street and Warhawk Drive to vehicular traffic. Marquardt stated the University is looking to improve the safety of pedestrians crossing Starin Road within the campus area. One possibility the University wanted to explore was closing Starin Road to vehicular traffic between Warhawk Drive and Prairie Street during weekday school hours. To see what issues might arise, Starin Road was closed to traffic Monday – Friday from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm from October 7 – October 18, 2024. Traffic cameras were installed on Main Street and Schwager Drive to collect vehicle data from October 7 – November 1, 2024. Data was provided for Main Street and Schwager Drive. The Volume Change Summary (VCS) tables showed an increase, on average, of 541 more vehicles per day on Main Street and 838 more vehicles per day on Schwager Drive between the hours of 6:00 am and 6:00 pm during the weekday. This was an increase of 6.3% and 68.2% respectively during that timeframe. On Main Street the Average Week Day Traffic (AWDT) was 8,968 with Starin Road open and 9,454 with Starin Road closed. On Schwager Drive Public Works Committee Meeting Minutes December 10, 2024 Page 2 the AWDT was 1,448 with Starin Road open and 2,309 with Starin Road closed. The AWDT on Starin Road in February 2024 was 3,677. Marquardt noted comments were provided from various City departments. In general, the consensus was to leave Starin Road open due to: reduced police response times, the additional traffic added to an already busy Main Street, pedestrian accidents on Main Street versus none on Starin Road, the closure of Starin Road not incorporating all of the busy campus crosswalks crossing Starin Road, and the unknowns with snow plowing operations. Brenda Jones and Kelsey Servi were in attendance from UW-Whitewater. Jones noted the University also had their own counters located on Prince Street and N. Prairie Street. It indicated an increase of approximately 40 vehicles per day on N. Prairie Street and approximately 400 vehicles per day on Prince Street. The difference noticed on N. Prairie Street when it was open versus when it was closed was fairly unchanged. However, on Prince Street the numbers did increase. Perhaps the vehicles on Main Street were traveling to Prince Street to go to Warhawk Drive to access the parking lots. That number averaged in the 400-vehicle range on Prince Street. Foot traffic on campus did not change significantly. The crosswalk at N. Prince Street was still highly used. Servi noted students seemed to flow down to the area that was closed to cross the street because there was no waiting for cars in that area. Students seemed to use the safest crossing option presented to them. Jones stated from a traffic perspective, it seemed as if the majority of the traffic went north to Schwager Drive. That area has less of an impact since it is not a highly residential street. That street goes through the northern end of the campus. Jan Bilgen, 178 N. Park Street, spoke as a former Council member. There are so many opportunities to look as this request and not do a band aid regarding signage and lighting. The University has been working diligently on these issues with students for years. After reviewing the data, it looked like students were going around trying to figure out the new pattern. That may have been why Schwager Drive was used differently. She believes they would see a change in pattern once the area was put into a non-barricaded format. The response time is understood as a concern. There are a lot of other institutions and other folks that use the temporary signages that allow triggers to have those things open to allow fire and EMS to get through. She thanked everyone for their service on this issue, and encouraged everyone to support this request. Jane Mortensen, N219 County Road N, is a former employee of the University and a citizen of the area. One question she asked, "Are these people not adults?" Are they not going to go out into the real world, possibly work in Chicago, and not have to pay attention? There are many other busy streets. Are they going to close those streets as well? These students are adults and she does not support this request. Hicks stated he would like to see the possibility of additional less intrusive option before resorting to the closure. In lieu of closing the street, could additional signage be added as well as better lighting by the bookstore crosswalk. He mentioned streets are not closed by the elementary schools. The School District Transportation Committee he sat on heard comments about parents already not letting their kids cross Main Street, even at traffic signal controlled intersections, because of the amount of traffic. Public Works Committee Meeting Minutes December 10, 2024 Page 3 Majkrzak mentioned there are more opportunities with pedestrian accidents on Starin Road than anywhere else in the City. He also stated if there are other areas in the City that need to be looked at for pedestrian safety, the City should do that. Smith did not specifically receive any emails; however, she did hear conversations of students who appreciated the closure. She also mentioned the University did have a CSO at the crosswalk west of Warhawk Drive that was not included in the Starin Road closure. Motion made by Board Member Majkrzak to forward the Discussion and Possible Action regarding the closure of Starin Road between Prairie Street and Warhawk Drive to vehicular traffic to Council, Seconded by Board Member Smith. Voting Yea: Board Member Majkrzak, Board member Hicks, Board Member Smith Voting Nay: None Marquardt stated this item will be on the Council meeting agenda for Tuesday, December 17, 2024. 3. Discussion and Possible Action regarding purchasing single axle plow truck instead of replacing the quad axle dump truck as listed in the 2025 CIP budget. Included in the 2025 CIP budget is $250,000 for the replacement of the quad axle dump truck. Instead of moving forward with this purchase, the Street Department would like to purchase a single axle plow truck in 2025. The single axle plow truck was tentatively scheduled for purchase in 2026: however, staff was informed the truck dealer currently has a chassis available. The chassis cost is $133,517, leaving the remaining $116,483 for outfitting the plow truck. We are in the process of receiving estimates for the outfitting but believe it will be around $150,000. The replacement of the quad axle dump truck was in the 2024-2025 CIP budget approved in November 2023 and was included in the 2025 CIP budget approved in November 2024. As mentioned above the chassis cost is $133,517 and the outfitting estimated at $150,000 for a total of around $284,000. The truck will not be ready until 2026. The additional $34,000 can be budgeted for in the 2026 budget within the 215 Equipment Replacement Fund. Staff would like to take advantage of the available single axle plow truck chassis and push back the replacement of the quad axle dump truck. Based on this, staff recommends a motion to replace the quad axle dump truck with a single axle plow truck in the 2025 CIP budget and forward to council. Motion made by Board Member Smith to approve purchasing a single axle plow truck instead of replacing the quad axle dump truck as listed in the 2025 CIP budget, Seconded by Majkrzak. Voting Yea: Board Member Hicks, Board Member Majkrzak, Board Member Smith Voting Nay: None 4. Discussion and Possible Action regarding the WI-DNR Sanitary Survey Report for the Water Department. DNR staff visited the Water Department on November 14, 2024, to do a Sanitary Survey. This survey evaluates the systems’ source, facilities, equipment, operation, maintenance, and management as they relate to providing safe drinking water. Public Works Committee Meeting Minutes December 10, 2024 Page 4 The report outlines the final findings, discusses problems that need to be addressed, and timelines for corrective action. No Significant Deficiencies were identified. Only one Deficiency was identified, which was to install a 24-mesh screen on the reservoir’s vents. This item was corrected the next day by City staff. The report contains 10 Recommendations, which staff will review. No Non-Confirming Features were identified. The report also indicated the Water Utility has an excellent record in compliance with monitoring and reporting requirements. Marquardt stated this agenda item will go to Council as a staff report. No action is required. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS  Board Member Smith would like to explore other pedestrian safety options for Main Street.  Board Member Smith would like an update from the Whitewater Unified School District Transportation Committee. ADJOURNMENT Motion made by Board Member Majkrzak to adjourn the Public Works Meeting at 5:36 p.m., Seconded by Board Member Smith. Voting Yea: all via voice (3) Voting Nay: None Respectfully submitted, Alison Stoll Alison Stoll, Administrative Assistant Department of Public Works Please note – there was no Zoom recording of this meeting due to technical difficulties. *Minutes Approved on January 14, 2025