02-14-06 Worksession
CITY COUNCIL/TRANSPORTATION
COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
Richfield, Minnesota
Special Concurrent City
Council/Transportation Commission
Worksession
February 14, 2006
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Kirsch at 5:04 p.m.
Council Members
Present: Martin Kirsch, Mayor; Bill Kilian; Susan Rosenberg; Sue Sandahl; and
Fred Wroge.
Transportation Commission
Members Present: Steve Lindgren, Chair; Bob Shotwell; Barb Kritzman; and Bob Elliott.
Staff Present: Steve Devich, City Manager; Mike Eastling, Public Works Director;
Tom Foley, Transportation Engineer; Kristin Asher, Assistant City
Engineer; Cheryl Krumholz, Recording Secretary; and Corrine
Thomson, City Attorney (arrived at 5:30 p.m.).
Item #1
City Manager Devich stated tonight's discussion regarding the City's stop sign policy was
requested by the City Council.
Steven Lindgren, Transportation Commission Chair, apologized to the City Council for not
providing earlier to them the report on the commission's tie vote in November on the proposed stop
sign policy. The commission is stymied and additional analysis may be needed. He explained the
process that resulted in the tie vote.
Mr. Lindgren added that someone should apologize to the Transportation Commission
because he was not aware tonight's meeting was concurrent so other members are not present.
Barb Kritzman, Transportation Commission Member, explained the commission discussion
related to establishing a stop sign policy throughout Richfield, including the basket weave design.
Bob Elliott, Transportation Commission Member, stated he did not believe a change needs to
be made but rather problems should be reviewed on an individual basis. The commission was guided
by professionals in the Public Works staff.
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February 14, 2006
Bob Shotwell, Transportation Commission Member, said the stop sign policy appeared to be
somewhat staff driven to establish a policy to handle the individual complaints. He agrees there
should be a case-by-case basis review. The expenses involved with the stop signs might not serve
the desired purpose. If stop signs are implemented in an established way throughout the City, there
will be more danger created to remove them.
Council Member Sandahl asked if staff was specifically asked what they would recommend.
Mr. Lindgren said yes.
Tom Foley, Transportation Engineer, explained the basket weave and sub-collector street
concepts.
Mr. Lindgren stated a stop sign policy is a City Council decision and he does not feel the
commission's process is being subverted.
Council Member Wroge stated he was at the Transportation Commission meeting and the
group agreed to disagree. Another vote was taken and passed 7-1 and he questioned why there is
now soft-pedaling on that vote.
Council Member Sandahl said the 7-1 vote did not change the policy already in place.
Mr. Lindgren said the vote reaffirmed the existing policy.
Council Member Wroge stated stop signs at some intersections and not others may cause
more accidents. The City cannot always react with stop signs. If there is an accident, someone has
not done what is expected.
Council Member Sandahl explained the comparison crash data provided from 1997-2001 on
intersections controlled and uncontrolled and specifically 67th and 68th Streets from Portland Avenue
east to Cedar Avenue from 1998-2002 suggests some things could be done to make intersections
safer. She said a selected area of the City could have stop signs installed and then the data
assessed.
Public Works Director Eastling explained there are some competing interests for community
standards. Controlled intersections may be safer but uncontrolled are cheaper so the City Council
should provide direction to staff.
Council Member Rosenberg stated stop signs were recently installed on Sheridan Avenue and
public feedback has included a higher sense of safety. She said she is an advocate of stop signs.
Council Member Kilian said the decision relates to being proactive or reactive to this issue.
From his point of view, it is irresponsible to not do something if a better way is known. The crash
data supports, at least marginally, that controlled intersections reduce crashes.
Mr. Kilian continued that uncontrolled intersections site-lines need to be cleared of vegetation
to be safe. Controlled intersections do not require the same amount of site-lines. He suggested
giving a selected area a chance with stop signs, possibly in the Cedar Point area because of the
potential increased traffic due to the development and gather data.
Mayor Kirsch stated the neighborhood north of Best Buy was concerned about increased
traffic because of Best Buy so a group was formed to discuss the issue. The group wanted stop
signs installed and they were, but now the neighborhood says they should have waited because the
need is not there as anticipated.
Mayor Kirsch continued that stop signs can give a false sense of security. City staff is good at
analyzing the need for stop signs when a request is received.
Council Member Sandahl thanked the Transportation Commission for their efforts and the
time spent on their review.
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February 14, 2006
Council Member Wroge clarified that the November 2, 2005 Transportation Commission
minutes stated that he suggested more areas be added for a test of the new policy. He made this
statement prior to the 7-1 vote. He added that he supports not changing the existing policy.
Council Member Kilian said tonight's discussion reflects differing opinions and that a policy is
a City Council decision.
Council Member Sandahl suggested a test area of a sub-collector grid approach with the data
tracked.
City Manager Devich said staff would prepare a stop sign pilot area policy in Richfield, north of
66th Street from Cedar Avenue to Park Avenue, for consideration at a future City Council meeting.
Council Member Wroge asked about being proactive to correct site-line obstruction issues,
especially hedges, not trees.
Mr. Eastling explained the intersection site-line requirements are in the City Code. Staff
observes site-line issues and responds to calls. All accident sites are investigated for site-line
obstruction. If the City Council desires, staff will more diligently pursue this issue and work with
residents.
City Manager Devich suggested that, this spring, a public information piece regarding
intersection site-lines and safety be prepared.
Mayor Kirsch stated the City Council would be going into a Closed Executive Session in the
Executive Conference Room.
City Attorney Thomson explained the Closed Session discussion is related to the strategy for
the ongoing litigation between the City of Richfield and the Metropolitan Airports Commission. The
court directed the parties to enter into mediation. There is a need for absolute confidentiality to
discuss settlement objectives and strategies.
The meeting was adjourned by unanimous consent at 5:40 p.m.
Date Approved: February 28. 2006
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Cheryl Kru holz /
Recording Secretary