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Chairperson Zimmerman advised the residents present that street closure is a very difficult issue, <br />which can get vicious. <br /> <br />Committee Member Haas Steffen asserted that she has a difficult time closing or cul-de-sacing <br />streets. She advised there will be upcoming traffic issues in this area in the near future due to <br />development occurring in Elk River and the construction of 155th Avenue. <br /> <br />Mr. Augst stated they have an extreme amount of traffic for such a small neighborhood. <br />Committee Member Haas Steffen directed staff to perform traffic counts in the area. <br /> <br />Mr. Hamborg stated the problem was more the behavior of the traffic than the amount of traffic. <br />Mr. Augst reiterated this is a heavily trafficked area when it should not be. <br /> <br />Mr. Jankowski explained it would be a danger to safety in the case of a gas-line rupture, storm, <br />or other temporary street closing if there was not another exit from the neighborhood. He added <br />that this is one of the reasons for the City's restriction of 600 feet for cul-de-sacs. <br /> <br />James Couch, 15600 Traprock Street NW - stated there use to be an access fi.om the park. He <br />also noted the City approved head-to-head cul-de-sacs in Alpine Estates. <br /> <br />Chairperson Zimmerman stated he didn't feel at this time that the Public Works Committee <br />could forward a motion to Council to close the street. <br /> <br />Mr. Hamborg inquired as to what recourse the residents had. <br /> <br />Chairperson Zimmerman advised the citizens they could submit a petition to the City Council. <br /> <br />Committee Member Haas Steffen asserted that the City Council is not responsible for people <br />speeding. "We can't speed bump the whole city." <br /> <br />Mr. Couch stated their goal was to make the street safer and suggested closing the street on a <br />temporary basis. <br /> <br />Mr. Jankowski advised that the City has tried to do this in the past (in a different area) and that <br />the Public Works Department spent most their time putting the barricades back after people <br />knocked them down. <br /> <br />Mr. Hamborg stated his opinion that the greater danger is from lack of traffic safety than from <br />possible lack of access. <br /> <br />Mr. Augst didn't believe blocking off the road would cause any more traffic accidents. <br /> <br />Discussion ensued regarding a permanent post being knocked down by a 4-wheel truck, and <br />Director of Public Works Kapler stated the post would be replaced. <br /> <br />Public Works Committee/March 16, 1999 <br /> Page 4 of 6 <br /> <br /> <br />