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Minutes 12-05-07Richfield Transportation Commission Wednesday, December 5, 2007 7:00 p.m. Richfield City Hall, Council Chambers DRAFT Minutes Commission members in attendance: Martin Kirsch (Vice-Chair); Bob Shotwell; Steve Lindgren; Barbara Kritzman; Sara Nutter; Jay Hermann; Jackie Heinen; and, Council Member Sue Sandahl. Others in attendance: Joe Hoover; Roger Ose; and Jack Broz and James Harbaugh of H.R. Green Company; and, City Staff: Tom Foley. Excused absences: Bob Elliott(Chair); and, Pat Sorensen. M. Kirsch called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Agenda was approved in a motion moved by B. Kritzman; and seconded by B. Shotwell. Motion passed unanimously. Motion to approve November 3, 2007 meeting minutes was made by S. Lindgren, seconded by S. Nutter. Motion passed unanimously. Stop Sign Demonstration Area T. Foley presented the results of the statistical analysis of the speed data collected before and after the two-way stop signs were installed in the neighborhood bounded by 11th Avenue, 66th Street, 17th Avenue and 62nd Street. Sixty-four percent of the locations where speeds were measured showed a significant reduction in speed. Based on this information T. Foley asked the Commission to consider making a recommendation to Council on a new stop sign policy. Discussion led to two revisions to the draft policy. Under item 4 of the draft policy a map of neighborhoods will be included and will be used in considering the size of neighborhoods for applying the new policy. Add a new item 7 that states the Best Buy neighborhood will remain controlled by basket weave stop signs and grandfathered into this new policy. Motion by B. Kritzman, second by B. Shotwell to recommend that Council approve the proposed stop sign policy including the two revisions discussed above. Motion passed unanimously. Roger Ose spoke in favor of two-way or four-way stop signs at 68th Street and 10th Avenue. 75th/76th Streetscape Plan Jack Broz of H.R. Green Company gave a progress report to the Commission on the redesign of 75th and 76th Streets. The corridor was divided into five zones of different urban character. H.R. Green produced a different design for all five zones. A summary report will be produced soon for Commission review. Interest was expressed to put private overhead utilities underground. There was interest in placing the power lines under 35W. Jim Harbaugh of H.R. Green reviewed the role of the Three Rivers Park District regarding the trail. Three Rivers wants a minimum trail width of 8 feet with 3 feet on both sides of the trail. The trail will be asphalt. Three Rivers will maintain the trail (not including snow removal), provide policing, and build way stations spaced about one-half mile apart. Joe Hoover, 7627 Harriet Avenue, spoke on biking is not easy in Richfield. He favors north-south trails over east-west trails. Bike paths off the road are dangerous. Cars backing out of driveways can’t see them. He wants sidewalks on both sides of 76th Street. There are major pedestrian generators along 76th Street like churches and parks. On 75th Street the road is too narrow. He favors painted bike lanes on the street to alert motorists of the presence of bikers. He disagrees with those that say suburbs don’t need sidewalks. S. Sandahl recommended the use of blue paint on bike lanes to make them stand out similar to what is being done in other cities. Proposed Resident Parking Permit Program on Aldrich Avenue T. Foley informed the Commission that a letter would be sent tomorrow to residents in the Aldrich Avenue neighborhood explaining that the City Council will discuss the issue of resident parking permits on January 8, 2008 at a Council work session at 5:30 p.m. City staff will provide the Council with information that has been gathered on this topic including a clarification of the tabling action to the next month’s meeting and include the results of speed monitoring on 76th St. near Aldrich Avenue. The Chair was asked to send a letter to Matthew Lux assuring him that the Commission’s recommendation will not be influenced by his first e-mail and appreciated his apology. Comprehensive Plan T. Foley informed the Commissioners that a new railroad section would be added to the draft plan, the bike section would be revised to add additional freeway crossings, and a basic transportation explanation would be included. The comprehensive plan will be submitted to Council for adoption in March 2008. Lyndale Avenue Bridge T. Foley reported that the City has begun the right of way acquisition process and an updated engineer’s construction cost estimate shows reduced costs from the previous one. Future Agenda Items The revised sections of the Transportation Element of the Comprehensive Plan and the 75th and 76th Street Cross Sections will be on next month’s agenda. The Arterials Study will be discussed at future meetings. Upcoming Meetings Two meetings on the I-35W Urban Partnership Agreement will be held on Dec. 10th and Dec. 12th. Commissioners were invited to attend. The next Transportation Commission meeting will be held on January 2nd at 7:00 p.m. at the Richfield City Hall. Other Business The Commission recognized Pat Sorensen for receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Regional Commuter Choice Awards Group. Scott Conwell, a Best Buy employee, won the Commuter of the Year Award. B. Kritzman pointed out that an article in the December 6, 2007 Sun Current showed Richfield High School as having the highest percentage of high school bike riders in the State Bike To School competition at 5%. The high school placed third in the highest number of bikes parked at the school. Thirty-one schools participated. Motion was made by B. Kritzman and seconded by S. Nutter to send a letter to Richfield High School commending them on their achievement, encourage them to promote biking and encourage that bike racks be placed close to front of schools. Send copy of letter to the Council. Motion passed unanimously. Three Commissioners were reminded to submit their applications for reappointment to the Commission. Adjournment Motion to adjourn by B. Kritzman, second by J. Hermann and passed. Meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m.