Minutes

1. Call to Order

The meeting was called to order at 7:02 p.m. by Chair Arthur Zimmerman.

Members Present: Dick Asleson, Linda Dolan, Charles Grawe, Neal Heuer, Michael Marben, Arthur Zimmerman

Members Absent: Harald Eriksen

Consultants/Alternates Present:

Others Present: Dave Burnham, Joshua Collier, Gary Goetten, Jamie Vosjpka

2. Approval of Agenda

MOTION: Mr. Marben moved, second by Mr. Asleson, to approve the agenda. Motion passed 6 - 0.

Mr. Asleson asked to add an item on Whitney Drive following the discussion of a request for a stop sign at 158th Street and Garrett Path.

MOTION: Mr. Asleson moved, second by Mr. Zimmerman, to add the item to the agenda. Motion passed 6 - 0.

3. Approval of July 12, 2006 Minutes

MOTION: Mr. Asleson moved, second by Ms. Dolan, to approve the minutes as presented. Motion passed 6 - 0.

4. Audience Items

There were no audience items.

5. Resident Request for Parking Restrictions on Baldwin Drive, Lowell Drive, and Redwood Drive

Mr. Heuer said there are two different parking-related concerns. One is that residents have expressed concern over parking along Lowell Drive between Baldwin Drive and Ramsdell Drive. Parking is currently prohibited on Baldwin Drive due in part to parking issues associated at events at the neighboring Valley Middle Park.

The second concern involves Redwood Drive. Mr. Heuer said that parking is prohibited along the east side of Redwood Drive, adjacent to Redwood Park. The Public Works Department replaced two existing signs as well as a missing sign alerting the public to the parking prohibition. The prohibition was in response to access issues onto County Road 42 when vehicles were parked on both sides of Redwood Drive. Mr. Heuer said that enforcement of the existing parking prohibition can be increased. There are also concerns about parking on the west side of Redwood Drive near the intersection with County Road 42.

Mr. Asleson asked if a parking restriction can be implemented on the west side of Redwood Drive in the absence of a crosswalk. Mr. Heuer said his concern is to not create a precedent that would have impacts across the City. He said he would prefer to find rationale under the existing State statutes. Mr. Heuer said he would like to review the statutes to determine what can be done in that area to prohibit parking near the intersection with County Road 42.

MOTION: Mr. Asleson moved, second by Mr. Grawe, to table the issue of parking prohibitions on the west side of Redwood Drive south of 42. Motion passed 6 - 0.

Mr. Heuer addressed the request for parking restrictions on Lowell Drive. Parking often becomes problematic when people park along Lowell Drive to attend events at Valley Middle Park. Mr. Heuer said the existing statute already creates a 20 foot parking restriction from the crosswalk and a 30 foot parking restriction from the stop sign. Signs could be added to indicate that there is no parking in these areas. Mr. Heuer expressed concern that as these conditions exist throughout the City; he does not want to make a regular practice of posting the parking prohibition near each crosswalk or stop sign. However, he noted that the volume of traffic and proximity to the park ball fields must justify signage in this particular area. Mr. Heuer said he would prefer to have a larger parking restriction along the west side of Lowell Drive.

Many of the residents in the area signed a petition requesting the parking restriction. Mr. Heuer noted that there is one impacted property owner whom he would like to see also sign in support. If the property owner supports the restriction, Mr. Heuer would propose to the City Council a similar parking prohibition as exists on Baldwin Drive.

Ms. Dolan asked if there is adequate parking in the Valley Middle School lot to support the parking for the events held there. Mr. Heuer said the parking lot is adequately sized, but that people choose to park on the streets because of closer access to some fields. Several neighbors noted that when cars are parked on either side of Lowell Drive, it is nearly impossible for two vehicles in opposing lanes to pass through. By prohibiting parking along the west side of Lowell Drive, vehicle access along Lowell Drive would be improved.

MOTION: Mr. Asleson moved, second by Mr. Grawe, to recommend that the Council implement similar parking prohibitions as to what exists on the north side of Baldwin Drive along the west side of Lowell Drive between Ramsdell Drive and Baldwin Drive. Mr. Asleson also clarified that this motion does not impact parking on Ramsdell Drive. Motion passed 6 - 0.

6. Resident Request for Stop Sign on 157th Street and Hallmark Path

Mr. Heuer said he received a request for a four-way stop at the intersection of 157th Street and Hallmark Path. He noted that a four-way stop would need to meet the warrants established by the Minnesota Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. One warrant would require a documented rate of five accidents per year at the intersection. There is no history of crashes. Another warrant deals with traffic volume. The volume on 157th Street is approximately 2,000 vehicle trips per day. The warrant would require a volume of 1,600 vehicles trips per day on Hallmark Path. The actual volumes are lower. Mr. Heuer noted that the reason for the request was to slow down traffic, but the manual is clear that stop signs are not to be used for slowing traffic. Mr. Heuer explained that inappropriately placed stop signs have high rates of violation and that studies have shown that drivers tend to accelerate significantly after such signs to the point where average speeds can actually increase above the existing rate without the signs. Mr. Heuer said the current 85th percentile speed is 39 miles per hour.

Mr. Heuer said he met with member of the Police Department and recommends increased enforcement in the area. He does not recommend the requested stop sign installations as they do not meet the required warrants. He also recommended looking at other means of slowing traffic such as the deployment of the speed trailer.

A resident expressed concern over the violators of the existing speed limits and noted observing drag racing on the street. Committee members noted that willful violators of the law who drag race or deliberately speed may not obey stop signs either. Mr. Marben said the City's Special Enforcement Team (SET) has been in the area and will continue to be present for several more weeks. Mr. Heuer was asked if the speed advisory signs on Garden View Drive have been effective. Mr. Heuer said the signs have created minimal speed reductions and noted they cost $30,000 for the two installations.

7. Resident Request for Stop Sign on Whitney Drive and Cooper Lane

Mr. Heuer said he received a similar request for a four-way stop at the intersection of Whitney Drive and Cooper Lane. Mr. Heuer presented results of traffic volume studies conducted in May of 2006. As with the previous request, there is a warrant that deals with traffic volume. The volume on Whitney Drive is approximately 3,000 vehicle trips per day. The warrant would require a volume of 1,600 vehicles trips per day on Cooper Lane. The actual volume was around 300 vehicle trips per day. Mr. Heuer said the current 85th percentile speed is around 37 to 38 miles per hour. There was one accident reported at the intersection this summer, but it was caused when a driver ran the existing stop sign on Cooper Lane.

Mr. Asleson noted that with an unlimited budget and resources, the Police Department could eliminate speeding. However, with limited resources, there are always opportunities to speed when enforcement is not present. Mr. Heuer noted that speed concerns are present across the City. A resident asked if the speed trailer could be deployed in the area. Mr. Marben said the trailer could be deployed there and noted that there has been a heavy police presence on both Whitney Drive and 157th Street, in part because they are major east-west routes for patrols to cross that part of the City.

8. Resident Request for Stop Signs at 158th Street West and Garrett Path and a Pedestrian Crosswalk from Garrett Path Leading to the Park

Mr. Heuer said he received a request for a pedestrian crossing at Garrett Path. Mr. Heuer said he would not recommend a crosswalk at that location as it does not connect to a sidewalk and would deposit pedestrians in the roadway.

Mr. Heuer said he received a request for four-way stops at the intersections of 158th Street and Garrett Drive and Garrett Path and Garrett Drive. Mr. Heuer said the intersections do not meet the State warrants for stop signs.

Mr. Heuer noted that if sidewalks were added, crosswalks might become appropriate. He said sidewalks have a significant expense to install and would need to be assessed to the homeowners. He said that if the sidewalk was extended north to 157th Street, it would create a loop around the park and connect to other pathways. He estimated the cost of this improvement to be around $30,000.

Mr. Heuer recommended working with the Police Department's Crime Prevention Specialist to explain to residents in the area that the location does not meet warrants for stop sign installation and that he would not recommend a crosswalk without the completion of the sidewalks connecting the crosswalk.

9. Other Traffic Concerns Communicated to the City

a) Police Concerns - Mr. Marben distributed traffic enforcement statistics for 2005 and 2006. He noted that increased traffic citations can help deter criminals from outside the community because they generally don't want to be involved in a traffic stop.

Mr. Marben said the Safe and Sober grant allows for more enforcement activity. The City recently received a new laser speed measurement tool as a result of previous enforcement efforts. The laser unit is particularly useful in determining the speed of individual vehicles traveling in tight groups.

b) Public Works Concerns - Mr. Heuer said he received an unsigned request from "The Apple Valley Residents" requesting "No Parking" signs and "Slow Children" signs on 144th Street west of Hayes Road. Mr. Heuer noted that the existing laws already prohibit parking in the areas of concern near driveway entrances and mailboxes. Since these parking restrictions and the presence of children can be found throughout the City, he does not recommend the requested signs as attempting to place such signs in all similar locations would not be practical or effective. He did note, however, that there is a pathway leading from 144th Street to the ball fields at Hayes Field park. This pathway creates an incentive for people to park on 144th Street when using the ball fields. Mr. Heuer could not find any evidence that the City has an easement for this pathway on the plat. If the pathway is not on City property and is not on an easement, then the property owner could remove the pathway and thus remove the incentive for parking on the street.

MOTION: Mr. Asleson moved, second by Mr. Marben, that as no individual signed the letter or identified themselves in the issue, that the Committee would take no action on the issue until a resident comes forward on the issue. Motion passed 6 - 0.

Mr. Heuer noted that signage identifying a playground on Flora Way was installed.

Mr. Heuer received a request for driver information signs on Pennock Avenue. Mr. Heuer said he would not recommend such signs at this time. He noted that the decision to use Garden View Drive as a test for the two existing signs was based on the two schools in that area and the traffic volumes on Garden View Drive.

Mr. Heuer received a request for a four-way stop at Ridgeview Drive and Walnut Lane. The traffic volumes at the intersection do not meet the State's warrants for stop signs. Mr. Heuer indicated that this request is part of a larger concern about the use of Alimagnet Park and he would be attending a Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee meeting on the issue.

c) Other Concerns - There were no other concerns presented.

10. Education Issues

Mr. Grawe prepared a one-page informational sheet that describes the role and work of the Committee. He requested any changes or modifications by October 1, 2006.

Ms. Dolan noted that a number of traffic and parking concerns involve users of parks and ball fields. She suggested creating a brief brochure to distribute to athletic leagues reminding them of the laws on parking restrictions in front of mailboxes, driveways, and fire hydrants. Ms. Dolan also suggested including a sketch to help explain the laws.

11. Adjourn

MOTION: Mr. Marben moved, second by Mr. Asleson, to adjourn. Motion passed 6 - 0. Meeting was adjourned at 9:33 p.m.