Agenda - Council - 05/12/2009 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

Chair lalvig thanked everyone for being here tonight reminded them tca sign in at the back so the City knows who is present tonight. He stated that he luzaws that this has been a contentious issue, but everyone is welcarrze tc their opinion Ind asleed that things be kept civil tonight and asked that camment~s not be repeated throughout the evening, He stated that the Public Works Committee will make a recazrzxnendation to the Council for a decision. Councilmember Dehen stated that he would tike to reiterate that he doesn't care about rhetoric of casting stones, and would appreciate it'if everyone would be diplomatic. City Engineer Jankowski stated that he would -like to cover the background of the situation and present soma solutions that- they have heard from the, neighborhood and the major advantages and disadvantages of each idea. He noted that this issue goes back to 2QQ4 when MnDot wanted to close the intersection of 1~2~d and Highway 47. He stated that there were two projects going nn at the time, Hwy ~7 and the irnpravement of 116, sa it vas decided that they should allow far traffic patterns to solidify before changes were made in the neighborhood. He stated that staff presented trafftc counts and a report on the number of accidents that had occurred since thaw two main. projects had been completed to the Public Works Committee last year, He stated that it continues to concern staff that the accident rate at this intersection is considerably higher than what.:thay would expect at a six7zilar type of intersection. He stated that there have been a total of ~Q accidents since that change and 13znvolved turning an the west leg of the intersection, He staffed that staff's primary issue is sa#ety at the intersection in addition to the neighborhood issues. He stated that there was a Public Works Committee in Ncaverrzber of ZOOS in which they invited who they thought wexe the affected neighbors and it seemed pretty clear that closure of 1~2icz at the frontage road between Argon and Hwy ~7 made the most sense.. He stated that the Council approved that in December and then the City heard from people expressing their concerns with, that, which is why everyone here tonight was invited. Chair Elvig stated that when Hwy 47 changed, it was a 4-way intersection at one time and after several accidents they came up with a 3/4 restriction. He stated that this helps but it did not fix the problem. He stated that the City tried to get a stoplight, which the State wouldn't allow, so they compromised on the 3/4 intersection to allow access for businesses and residents. He stated that this was the best solution that they saw at fihe time. City Engineer Jankowski reviewed the options for the City to consider; 11r[ake no changes; Close 1 2nd Avenue between TI''I ~7 Fronta~e road and Argon Street; Close Amen Street south of 1=i2nd Lune; .Close 1=13~~ Avenue and l ~?~ Lane east of Dysprasiuzn Street; Install a trafftc signal at TH ~7 and 1~?~a Aven~tc; Install a pedestrian underpass/overpass at T'H ~7 and 14'2"~ Avenue; C1Qse the median at 'fH ~t7 and 1~;?nd Avenue; Reduce the speed in the neighborhood; and prohibit left turns from TH =i7 onto 1&?"`~ Avenue during peak traffic hours and left turns frarri Dysprosium onto 1=i3rd Avenue and 142°d Lane during peak traffic hours, Chair Elvig asked about the restriction an the return ride coming out of Landmark Bc.nk area. Public Works Director. Qlson stated that. this hasn't been discussed because this is a private road and the City can't enforce that turning rrzavement. Public Warlts Committee /.February 17, 2009 Page 2 of .19 -111-