Board of Public Safety

APPROVED CITY OF WILDWOOD September 10, 2015 Meeting Minutes Board of Public Safety Meeting Council Chambers 6:30 p.m. Members Present: Absent: Marshal William Garrett Council Member Dave Bertolino John Bradley Walt Guller John Gragnani Also Present: Mayor Tim Woerther Rick Brown, Director of Public Works Captain Tim Tanner I. ROLL CALL Marshal Garrett made a motion, seconded by Board Member Gragnani, to open the meeting at 6:30 p.m. with the above noted present. II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A motion was made by Board Member Gragnani, seconded by Marshal Garrett, to approve the minutes from the August 6, 2015 meeting. All voted in favor and the motion was approved. Marshal Garrett made a motion to move forward IV. New Business, A. Generations Drive at St. Louis Community College to allow those in attendance for this subject to speak on the topic. Board Member Gragnani seconded the motion. All voted in favor and the motion was approved. III. NEW BUSINESS A. Generations Drive at St. Louis Community College Director of Public Works Rick Brown stated the Department received a complaint regarding the operation of the existing intersection of Generations Drive with the entrance to St. Louis Community College. Director Brown provided the Board with a map of the area and intersection. The intersection is under side road stop control. Traffic from Community College is required to stop; however, Generations Drive traffic is not. Because the intersection provides access to the Community College, it is subject to high pulses of traffic at class dismissal periods. The concern is that students leaving the college are driving aggressively when leaving the campus. It has been reported that they are not stopping and yielding the right of way to traffic on Generations Drive. 1  APPROVED The Department of Public Works noted that a “Cross Traffic Does Not Stop” sign is mounted on the same post as the stop sign on the College approach. The intersection sight distance appears sufficient along Generations Drive to the north; however, it could be improved when looking to the south. Existing native grass landscaping blocks the sight line for a motorist looking to the south, especially for those in smaller vehicles. The Department is suggesting that the existing native grass landscaping be eliminated or trimmed in height in order to improve safety at the intersection. An all-way stop could be installed at the intersection, although this is not a perfect solution. An all-way stop would likely be warranted at times when the school is in session; however, not at other times. Wildwood Precinct Commander Captain Tim Tanner has agreed to have his officers provide additional enforcement at the stop sign. The Board was provided the most recent accident history for the area of 2645 Generations Drive for their review. In summary, there was a total of one (1) accident in 2013; one (1) accident in 2014; and one (1) accident so far in 2015. Resident John Byrd of the Wildwood Meadows Homeowners Association expressed his concern over the number of close calls regarding vehicles exiting the college on Generations Drive and those from the Meadows of Wildwood traveling on Generations Drive. He suggested a flashing amber light at the intersection to draw attention to the stop sign. Resident Bud Weite of the Meadows of Wildwood Subdivision stated this issue is the college’s problem. He suggested the campus police be stationed at the stop sign to deter violations and that posters and flyers be placed around the campus advising drivers to stop at the intersection. Mr. Weite stated he was not in favor of a three-way stop sign since the residents of the Meadows of Wildwood would be inconvenienced by same. Resident Chuck Pidcock of the Meadows of Wildwood stated he felt enforcement was the key and the police would have the most effect on deterring violations at the intersection. Mayor Tim Woerther stated he has a meeting with the college in the near future and will discuss the issue with college officials. He concurred that enforcement would have the greatest deterrent. Captain Tanner will have the precinct officers provide enforcement efforts at the intersection. Mayor Woerther will recommend to the college that the landscaping in the vicinity of the intersection be trimmed. Mayor Woerther will be speaking with the college. No further action was required of the Board at this time. Marshal Garrett made a motion, seconded by Board Member Gragnani to return to the original agenda. All voted in favor and the motion was approved. IV. OLD BUSINESS A. Old Eatherton Road at Shepard Road Intersection Concerns – Update Director of Public Works Rick Brown stated the intersection of Old Eatherton Road at Shepard Road and Route 109 was discussed at the April 6th, 2015 meeting. A concern was raised with regard to cut-through traffic on Old Eatherton Road. Traffic was avoiding Route 109 due to the excessive delays that occur during the morning period when both St. Alban Roe Grade School and Lafayette High School are loading. At that time it was recommended that the Department request that MoDOT attempt to re-time the traffic signals on Route 109 at both Shepard Road and at Clayton Road in order to reduce delays on Route 109. It was 2  APPROVED thought that if delays could be reduced for southbound traffic on Route 109, then the desire for traffic to cut-through on Old Eatherton would be reduced. As a result of our request, MoDOT has spent significant resources on re-timing both signals to provide better capacity and coordination of traffic. At this point, those changes have been implemented with both schools in session. The timing changes have resulted in changes to the queuing that typically occurs between 7:30 am to 8:00 am. Based on field observations, it is apparent that southbound delays on Route 109 have been significantly reduced; however, this has been achieved at the expense of northbound traffic, which is experiencing higher delays. Currently southbound 109 queuing has been observed to extend no further north than Bent Ridge Drive in Winding Woods whereas prior to the timing change, southbound traffic was observed queuing to beyond the south junction of Route BA. Therefore, it appears that the timing change has reduced southbound delays and alleviated the problem with cut-through traffic on Old Eatherton Road. It should be noted that the overall intersection still operates very poorly during the 7:30 am to 8:00 am time period. It is believed that additional improvements can only be achieved by spreading the start times for both schools or by providing additional capacity on Route 109 in the form of an additional left turn lane between Shepard Road to Clayton Road. Board Member Gragnani inquired as to the cost of adding an additional turn lane and/or striping the roadway for a right turn lane. Director Brown stated there may be enough room at that location to do so. The Department is considering restriping the crosswalk at that location and will consider the option at that time. Director Brown will bring the cost of the suggested improvements to the next Board of Public Safety Meeting. B. Public Safety Presentation – September 29th, Bill Brandes Director of Public Works Rick Brown stated Department of Homeland Security consultant Bill Brandes is scheduled for a public safety presentation entitled “Latest Terrorism Concerns of the Home Front.” The program is scheduled for September 29th, 2015 at City Hall at 6:30 pm. V. NEW BUSINESS A. MoDOT TEAP Studies Director of Public Works Rick Brown stated the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) is seeking projects that could be funded with Traffic Engineering Assistance Program (TEAP) funds. The Traffic Engineering Assistance Program (TEAP) allows local public agencies, such as Wildwood, to receive engineering assistance for studying traffic engineering problems. Because the goal of the program is to improve traffic safety, most projects that are successfully funded by MoDOT have a direct link to safety. Funding is limited, and competition for the funds is high. If a project is selected, the City of Wildwood would be reimbursed for eligible project costs at a rate of 80 percent with Wildwood providing a 20 percent match. Funds administered by MoDOT will provide 80 percent of the TEAP project costs, up to a maximum of $8,000 per study. The Department of Public Works would like to submit the following studies to MoDOT for consideration: 3  APPROVED 1. Safety Assessment of City Arterial Roadways 2. Safety Evaluation of Existing Shared Use Path Crosswalks Applications are due September 15, 2015, and successful studies must be completed by the spring of 2016. If both projects are selected, our total costs will not exceed $4,000. Board Member Gragnani made a motion recommending the Department of Public Works proceed with submitting the aforementioned study requests to MoDOT for funding consideration. Marshal Garrett seconded the motion. All voted in favor and the motion was approved. B. Use of Drones or UAS (Unmanned Aircraft Systems) Director of Public Works Rick Brown stated the issue of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) (commonly known as drones) was presented to the Planning and Zoning Commission at their August 3rd meeting. At that meeting, the Department of Planning requested direction from the Planning and Zoning Commission with regard to the need to establish appropriate regulations and rules for the use and operation of drones in the City of Wildwood in order to protect the public’s health, safety and general welfare. At that meeting, a motion was passed by the Planning and Zoning Commission forwarding this issue to the Board of Public Safety for review and discussion. The City is seeking the direction of the Board of Public Safety on whether Wildwood should develop appropriate regulations and rules, as part of its Zoning Ordinance, for the use and operation of drones in the City of Wildwood in order to protect the public’s health, safety and general welfare. Board Member Gragnani made a motion requesting the City Attorney prepare a draft ordinance on the topic of drones for review by the Board of Public Safety. Marshal Garrett seconded the motion. All voted in favor and the motion was approved. VI. BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE No items VII. NOT READY FOR ACTION A. Speed Bumps on Green Pines Drive B. Regulation of E-Cigarettes and Similar Devices C. St. Paul / Kiefer Creek Road Intersection Safety D. Bicycling Safety Education VIII. Other. Mayor Woerther stated the Rockwood Drug Free Coalition is seeking the City’s support by way of a proclamation advising against the use of marijuana by youth. Rockwood is requesting support from a number of local municipalities. Board Member Gragnani made a motion supporting a proclamation from the City of Wildwood to the Rockwood Drug Free Coalition against the use of marijuana by youth. Marshal Garrett seconded the motion. All voted in favor and the motion was approved. IX. ADJOURNMENT 4  APPROVED Board Member Gragnani a motion, seconded by Board Member Bradley, to adjourn. All were in favor. The meeting adjourned at 7:50pm. Respectfully Submitted, Andrea Kuhnert-Heyer Administrative Assistant 5