Loading...
Minutes 08-01-07Richfield Transportation Commission Wednesday, August 1, 2007 7:00 p.m. Richfield City Hall, Council Chambers DRAFT Minutes Commission members in attendance: Bob Elliott(Chair); Bob Shotwell; Gary Ness; Steve Lindgren; Barbara Kritzman; Jackie Heinen; Council Member Sue Sandahl; Jay Hermann; and, Martin Kirsch (Vice-Chair). Others in attendance: Mayor Debbie Goettel; William Svoboda; Bob Hall; Larry Wozniczka; Dale Brody; and, Matt and Jenny Lux; and, City Staff: Tom Foley; and, Kristin Asher. B. Elliott called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m. Agenda was amended to include Bob Hall on 66th Street and Portland Avenue Roundabout Project under Other Business and add 6300 block of Lyndale Avenue under Updates. Agenda as amended was approved in a motion moved by S. Lindgren; and seconded by B. Kritzman. Motion passed unanimously. Motion to approve July 11, 2007 meeting minutes was made by M. Kirsch, seconded by B Kritzman. Motion passed unanimously. Proposed Resident Parking Permit Program T. Foley reported that Council asked the Commission to recommend a Resident Parking Permit Program to address on-street parking on the 7600 block of Aldrich Avenue and other areas in the city. In the interim No Parking from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday signs will be installed on the west side of the 7600 block of Aldrich. T. Foley presented a copy of a Saint Paul ordinance on resident parking permits for the Commission to review and revise to fit Richfield’s situation. After some discussion, staff was directed to send the ordinance to the City Attorney for review. T. Foley reminded the Commission that the Council wanted a recommendation soon so that an ordinance can be adopted and parking restrictions enforced. B. Shotwell suggested making 7600 block of Aldrich Avenue a one-way to deter motorists from turning around in private driveways. Jenny Lux, 7620 Aldrich Ave., commented that carpooling is keeping cars on Aldrich Avenue through the night. Ketsana Restaurant is closed now. It could be used for off-site parking. She had spoken to the Commission at their previous meeting in July. Dale Brody, 7632 Aldrich Ave., also spoke to the Commission in support of resident parking permits. He asked how the program would be paid for. Larry Wozniczka asked that the staff check the zoning ordinance for parking requirements. T. Foley distributed a memo from Community Development staff on the history of parking at Kensington Park as requested by the Commission last month. Parking requirements are discussed in the memo. Neighborhood Stop Sign Demonstration T. Foley reported the preliminary results of a Stop Sign Demonstration in the neighborhood bounded by 11th Avenue to 17th Avenue, and 66th Street to 62nd Street. There was a shift in traffic to east-west streets but more impressive was the drop in speeds. The Commission recommended going forward with a test for statistical significance to verify the results. Area residents will be surveyed for their comments. 6300 Lyndale Avenue K. Asher reviewed the proposed pedestrian median on the south leg of the Lyndale and 63rd Street intersection. Information on the right of way cost was not available at the meeting. Motion by B. Kritzman, second by M. Kirsch to encourage the Council to continue with the plan as proposed, including the pedestrian median as a good safety measure. The Commission also recommended the Council consider costs once the estimates are available. Motion passed unanimously. 66th Street and Portland Avenue Bob Hall, 7309 Oliver Avenue, spoke to the Commission on a letter he had written to the Sun Current newspaper and submitted a letter to the Commission with questions about the Commission’s review of information leading up to the recommendation to improve the intersection of 66th Street and Portland Avenue. T. Foley distributed a table that demonstrated how the Florida crash rates (supplied by Mr. Hall) translate into actual personal injury crashes for the existing intersection with projected personal injury crashes for a signalized intersection with left-turn lanes and for a two-lane roundabout. A suggestion was made to add the number of crashes for either Nicollet Avenue and 66th Street, or Penn Avenue and 66th Street in the table. Comprehensive Plan Update T. Foley explained that the City’s consultant planned to submit the first draft of the Transportation element of the Comprehensive Plan to city staff by mid-August. Commissioners will be able to review it next month. Roundabout Communications K. Asher showed Commissioners a brochure that is being included in the utility billings to residents explaining how to navigate a roundabout. There was also mention of Edina’s plans to open three roundabouts on West 70th Street at about the same time that Richfield’s first roundabout opens. Other Business G. Ness asked that the City look at the Ice Arena for transit to turn around. Cars can park there. Future Agenda Items S. Sandahl asked that the Commission see plans for the 76th Street Bridge over I-35W. Upcoming Meetings The next Edina West 70th Street Study meeting will occur on August 9 at 7:00 p.m. in Conference Room A at the Southdale Shopping Center. The next Transportation Commission meeting will be held on September 5th at 7:00 p.m. at the Richfield City Hall. Adjournment Motion to adjourn by S. Lindgren, seconded by M. Kirsch and passed. Meeting was adjourned at 9:06 p.m.