HomeMy WebLinkAbout06/10/2008 04A Draft Minutes 04-08-2008 Adjourned Meeting - Study Session;k,A
ADJOURNED MEETING /STUDY SESSION
APRIL 8, 2008
8:00 - 9:30 A.M.
COUNCIL CHAMBERS - YAKIMA CITY HALL
Roll Call
Present:
Council: Mayor Dave Edler, presiding, Assistant Mayor Micah Cawley, Council
Members, Rick Ensey, Norm Johnson, and Neil McClure
Staff: City Manager Zais, and Deputy City Clerk Watkins
Absent: Council Member Kathy Coffey
2. Arterial Speed Limit Study
Joan Davenport, Supervising Traffic Engineer, opened the session and advised that
they had worked closely with the Police Control Unit on both the Speed Limit Study
and the Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program. She also advised that there will be
an open house in Council Chambers on April 17`h to answer citizen questions and
® take recommendations on speed limits. Following that, they will prepare and submit
an ordinance for Council approval to update the speed limits. This is something that
has not been done for at least thirty years. The main reason for doing it now is to
include the annexed areas.
RCWs dictate that speed limits within cities are 25 mph unless otherwise posted.
Cities have the authority to change speed limits on municipal streets after a traffic
study has been done. The speed limit study summary recommendations were
submitted to Council with their packets. Mrs. Davenport described the study material
and collection methods used. No speed limit would be changed more than 5 mph.
The cost of changing the speed signs will need to be considered. A rough estimate,
with the City sign crew manufacturing and installing the signs, is $16,000. This is not
in the 2008 budget.
After reviewing the document, Council Member McClure suggested increasing
Summitview Avenue, heading west to 72nd Avenue, to 40 mph to coincide with Tieton
Drive. Assistant Mayor Cawley asked about reduced speed zone notifications, and
Council Member Lover asked if the new signs would be coated with the anti - graffiti
finish. Council Member McClure also asked about using the larger numbers like
Oregon has on their speed signs.
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ADJOURNED MEETING — STUDY SESSION
APRIL 8, 2008 -
3. Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program
Mrs. Davenport gave background information on the Traffic Calming program. It
became an issue in the 1990s with the Scenic Drive speed bumps. After they were
in for less than a year, another group of citizens demanded they be removed. At that
time, Council directed staff to develop a policy on how to review traffic calming
requests. There are over 100 locations that have submitted requests for traffic
calming. Goals and objectives to modify the existing program were part of the
transportation plan update. The biggest change is for an education and enforcement
phase before installing any physical device. Studies have shown that when
enforcement begins, nearly all of the people speeding in the neighborhood, live in
the neighborhood. In late 2007, City Council allocated $50,000 for traffic calming
and asked staff for demonstration projects. The City spent $38,000 in education and
enforcement. They also purchased radar speed signs and purchased Your Speed
Is" trailers for the Police Department. Another purchase with the funds was sample
high- contrast crosswalk material that is being tested on two crosswalks.
Discussion then covered Public Safety input on traffic calming measures. Although
the Fire Department does not want to be a reason to not pursue the measures, they
asked that no physical barriers impede their routes. The Barge /Chestnut
Association's request covers a large area and is an ambitious project involving a
request to install nineteen speed bumps, seven traffic circles and eight semi -
diverters. Data collection was done on the request over the winter. Cost estimates
for.outside engineering analysis ranged from $9,000 to $51,000. City staff has •
accomplished most of what the $9,000 estimate would cover. What remains to be
done is a very technical evaluation of the devices with recommendations. In
February, the Council subcommittee recommended contracting with the engineering
company to study the project because of the magnitude and the need for expertise.
A very rough estimate of installation of the requested devices would be about
$205,000. As to who would pay for it, one idea would be an LID; but, funding
questions would need to follow an engineering study. The Transportation Committee
has recommended moving forward with the new program for future traffic.
4. Audience comments
Ralph Call, a Board member of the Barge /Chestnut Association, explained that they
started their traffic calming program in 2006 to deal with "cut- through" traffic. He
described the work they have done to date and discussions held with Memorial
Hospital related to their future plans and traffic mitigation. The neighborhood
strongly supports (93 % -94 %) dealing with the total area, not just portions of the
neighborhood. They have always been under the assumption that they would pay
for the actual installation, although they do expect the City to pay for the study. Rick
Forest, Chairman of the Association, spoke about how they developed their traffic
calming proposal.
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ADJOURNED MEETING — STUDY SESSION
APRIL 8, 2008
William Woodcock, President of Advanced Life Systems, said that all calming
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devices are obstacles that they have to get over when in route to the hospital with a
potentially critical patient. He would prefer other remedies than those that make the
road rougher.
Council Member Johnson suggested the Transportation Committee continue
discussion on this subject, include Mr. Woodcock and other concerned citizens, and
then bring a proposal forward to the Council. Council Member McClure, a member
of the Transportation Committee, said they would explore what kind of an
engineering study they can get with the available funds and then will bring a
recommendation back to the Council.
5. Adjournment
CAWLEY MOVED AND McCLURE SECONDED TO ADJOURN. The motion
carried by unanimous voice vote.
The meeting adjourned at 10:31 a.m
READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY
ATTEST:
CITY CLERK
COUNCIL MEMBER DATE
COUNCIL MEMBER DATE
DAVID EDLER, MAYOR
Minutes prepared by Linda Watkins. A CD of this meeting is available in the City Clerk's Office
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