HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/24/1995 Special Meeting 16 4
CITY OF YAKIMA, WASHINGTON
March 24, 1995
SPECIAL MEETING
The City Council met in special session on this date at 1:00 p.m.
in the Council Chambers of City Hall. Assistant Mayor Clarence
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Barnett presiding, Council Members Ernie Berger, Bill Brado, and
Lynn Buchanan, present on roll call. Mayor Berndt and Council
Members Henry .Beauchamp and Bernard Sims absent and excused.
City Manager Zais, City Attorney Paolella, and Deputy City Clerk
Skovald also present.
Assistant Mayor Barnett explained the purpose of this
informational forum is to discuss various options available for
traffic control within neighborhoods. He provided some background
information about a request of Scenic Drive property owners to
initiate traffic calming measures within their neighborhood. In
response to that request, the Council decided to pursue additional
information on this matter. A meeting with Yakima County will be
scheduled to discuss jurisdictional considerations and to develop
some basic guidelines and rules and set a standard for residential
streets between the City and the County.
Assistant Mayor Barnett introduced Gerald Morris, a Neighborhood
Traffic Technician from Clark County. Mr. Morris presented some
introductory remarks concerning his experience and expertise. He
explained how speed humps work and described other traffic calming
methods including criteria used to qualify its installation. He
emphasized the necessity of proper engineering, proper design, and
spacing of the devices. He also spoke about service levels and
traffic volume perceptions as they relate to speed hump
installation criteria.
Assistant Mayor Barnett reported that Scenic Drive residents have
requested a pilot program after a meeting was held in their
neighborhood to discuss available alternatives to address problems
associated with speeding vehicles. There was continued discussion
about this request along with how snow, ice and fog might affect
the humps. Mr. Morris also described some alternate forms of
calming devices and how they manage traffic. Discussion continued
about the need to develop a standardized policy rather than
responding individually to requests for stop signs or speed humps.
In addition, a standardized policy would be an educational tool.
There was a considerable amount of discussion about the
development of this policy which will include procedural
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guidelines and criteria for pilot project prioritization and
implementation of traffic calming measures such as speed humps,
speed limits, and stop signs. A traffic count should be conducted
to determine the average daily traffic volume to identify the
amount of cut - through traffic. Also discussed were future
requests expected from other neighborhoods and the cost for
funding a traffic calming program. The issue of safety for
children going to and from school, along with possible affects of
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MARCH 24;, 1995
diverted traffic on adjacen streets.,were also included in the
discussion. Another issue'discussed w`asfruit industry traffic in
the area. Mr. Morris indicated he was not comfortable with the
idea of putting speed humps on a truck route, particularly in a
rural setting. He stated that these are basically urban devices
designed for urban environments. He recommended complete and
I/ careful analysis of placement of these traffic control devices on
a truck route.
Jennifer Rennie identified cut - through traffic as the primary
problem and indicated a method is needed to cut down the speed of
traffic for those who use their street as a short cut. Ms. Rennie
also commented about the transition of this neighborhood from
orchards to residential use. Assistant Mayor Barnett announced
that a field study will take place after this meeting. Council
Member Buchanan noted his familiarity with the speed hump being
considered and excused himself from the field study. After that
field inspection, City and County staff and officials will
schedule an informal meeting to further discuss this issue.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at
1:50 p.m.
READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY: ,41 / q 7
i' OUNCIL MEMBER DATE
COUNCIL MEMBER DATE
ATTEST:
\IO-Kma
LEPthY CITY CLERK MAYO
Minutes prepared by Deputy City Clerk Skovald; an . audio and video tape of this meeting are
available in the City Clerk's Office.
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