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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-06-16 Minutes 1 A P P R O V E D (Corrected) MINUTES OF THE Edina Transportation Commission Thursday, June16, 2005 Edina City Hall 4801 West 50th Street Community Room MEMBERS PRESENT: Fred Richards, Marie Thorpe, Jean White, Warren Plante, Joni Kelly Bennett, Les Wanninger, Dean Dovolis MEMBERS ABSENT: STAFF PRESENT: Steve Lillehaug, Sharon Allison I. Call to Order Chair Richards called the meeting to order. II. New Business a. In-street Pedestrian Crossing Sign Policy Lillehaug said there have been numerous requests made for in-street pedestrian crossing signs like the ones being used at 50th & France. He developed a draft policy, incorporating both federal and state guidelines for the ETC’s consideration and recommendation for the City to use as a guide to determine where and when they are placed. Lillehaug said there are approximately 50 locations where the signs could be used. The City currently owns 10 signs and the purchase price is $200/ea. Using 10 signs on a rotational basis in lieu of installing signs at all locations will help avoid overuse of the sign, which leads to less effectiveness. Lillehaug proposed putting the signs in key locations on a rotational schedule. Locations would be determined based on pedestrian volume, next to schools, parks, etc. as stated in the draft policy. After discussion, the ETC recommended revising the policy to include using the signs on a rotational basis, including using the signs during the winter also. b. Transportation Commission Membership – (Student Membership) Lillehaug said the Council has discussed adding a student to the ETC and the current ordinance does allow for this; however, a student membership is in lieu of a regular membership, which is currently full with the exception of a Planning Commissioner. The ETC agreed that the student would have the same voting rights as other members. Richards made a motion to request that the Council increase the ETC’s membership to 9 to include a student and to appoint a student, and a Planning Commission member to fill the vacant membership. Motion was seconded by Dovolis. 2 Motion carried. III. Old Business a. Neighborhood Traffic Management Plan (NTMP): Score and Rank West 70th Street Using the NTMP ranking process, Lillehaug reported that West 70th Street is ranked second to the high school area. Richards said he thought West 70th Street would be addressed in the Southdale study but this does not appear to be the case. Bennett noted that the consultant’s report did mention that current land use on West 70th Street is inconsistent with development. Being keenly aware of the issues, three different approaches were suggested by the Commission to begin addressing them: i. Let the neighborhood suggest what they would like to see done; ii. The City should identify some solutions before involving the neighborhood; iii. Give the neighborhood some solutions and cost analysis and allow them to respond. Lillehaug said staff is currently looking at the warrants for a new traffic signal at Wooddale and West Shore Drive. The CIP includes this project, if a traffic signal is warranted. Lillehaug said ideally West 70th Street should be four lanes or a modified three-lane road based on traffic volumes. In the meantime, he suggested that police enforcement could be stepped up to deal with speeding, but Richards said the problem is mainly congestion. Richards said the ETC should become the petitioners for West 70th Street. Bennett made a motion to hold a public meeting that would include residents east and west of Hwy. 100 and up to France Avenue. Dovolis amended the motion to include identifying some solutions for residents and inviting them to suggest other solutions. This motion was not seconded or voted on. During discussion about how to handle West 70th Street and other areas that are already scored and ranked, Thorpe noted that the ETC had already selected the areas to focus on and they are becoming side-tracked again by including yet another area. It was noted that NE Edina was selected as priority #1, but the Council does not have funding to initiate a traffic study. The question was raised about whether or not they should move on to an area that would fit into staff’s schedule and where funding is not such an issue. Dovolis said the Commission would languish, if according to Council, funds were not available for the projects they’ve identified as priorities. He said even if there isn’t a perfect solution, the ETC should continue forward and get the residents involved so that they can help to motivate Council to provide funding. Thorpe made a motion to continue working on NE Edina. This motion was not seconded or voted on. Dovolis estimated that the NE Edina study cannot be done for at least the next six months and the high school area is at least three months away, therefore, he sees no reason why they cannot begin working on West 70th. He said they should identify three 3 possible solutions, present them to the public for their input and then have staff determine what can be done. Lillehaug said he would like to meet with City Manager Hughes and City Engineer Houle to discuss the shift in priority and his preference would be to identify the problems and possible solutions before holding a public meeting. Wanninger said they should do a formal report to the Council outlining the traffic studies that have been done and the issues discovered and let the Council decide. He said West 70th is clearly overburden with traffic and the ETC was appointed by Council to deal with these issues. Wanninger made a motion to write a formal report to the Council outlining issues and recommended solutions. Dovolis made a motion for staff to prepare a schedule and resources for the three top ranked areas and a report to Council outlining what has been done to date and things still to be done. The report is to be done within the next 30 days for the Commissioners review. Wanninger’s and Dovolis’ motions were combined. Seconded by White. Motion carried. IV. Handouts a. Correspondence Dan Atkins E-mail regarding the High School area. The ETC is aware of the issues in this area and is working to address them. Eric Isakson E-mail regarding State Fair parking at Southdale (from Commissioner White) – The closest State Fair parking for Edina’ residents is Eden Prairie and the Mall of America for 2005 State Fair. Commissioner White said planning would begin fairly soon for the 2006 State Fair and she would like to see about parking at Southdale. Richards said it is his understanding that the businesses at Southdale did not want State Fair parking there. V. Approval of Minutes Wanninger moved to approve the minutes of May 19, 2005. Seconded by Plante. Meeting adjourned. The next meeting is scheduled for July 21st, 6:00-8:00 p.m., in the Community Room, City Hall.