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HomeMy WebLinkAbout_2002 06 04 City Commission Workshop Minutes CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS MINUTES CITY COMMISSION WORKSHOP JUNE 4, 2002 I. CALL TO ORDER The Workshop of Tuesday, June 4, 2002 of the City Commission was called to order by Mayor Paul P. Partyka at 6:31 p.m. in the Commission Chambers of the Municipal Building (City Hall, 1126 East State Road 434, Winter Springs, Florida 32708). ROLL CALL: Mayor Paul P. Partyka, present Deputy Mayor Cindy Gennell, present Commissioner Robert S. Miller, present Commissioner Michael S. Blake, arrived at 6:59 p.m. Commissioner Edward Martinez, Jr., present Commissioner David W. McLeod, present City Manager Ronald W. McLemore, present City Attorney Anthony A. Garganese, absent The Pledge of Allegiance followed the Invocation. II. AGENDA A. Public Works Department Discussion On Traffic Calming. Commissioner Edward Martinez, Jr. stated, "Mayor, I want you to remember this Meeting was called specifically for the purpose of having citizens come in and discuss or give us input, and apparently they have failed to heed the call." Mr. Ian Lockwood, Civil Engineer, Gladding Jackson, 33 East Pine Street, Orlando, Florida: addressed the City Commission on the subject of Traffic Calming. Discussion. Commissioner Michael S. Blake arrived at 6:59 p.m. Mr. Lockwood advised the Commission, "We would like to begin the development of a Traffic Calming Policy for the City based on the sorts of ideals that you've seen in the presentation. The smartest policy is in the country now - the first thing they do is they support Traffic Calming in concept. And that one thing, you could have a one (1) paragraph Resolution if you'd like, but that one thing absolves you of about ninety-five CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS MINUTES CITY COMMISSION WORKSHOP - JUNE 4, 2002 PAGE 2 OF 4 percent (95%) of any liability associated with Traffic Calming, which is a fear of many cities who are initially getting into it because it's something new. Lawyers get all excited if somebody crashes into one of these things even though crash rates go down typically fifty percent (50%) and injury rates go down about eighty percent (80%). So you need a Policy for liability reasons just to SUPPOlt Traffic Calming." Next, Mr. Lockwood spoke on suggested criteria and stated, "One (1), which is I think very important that you'd probably want to put in is, making sure that the area that is going in will accept Traffic Calming; that they're willing and able, and knowledgeable enough to accept it. Don't force it on anybody - that's the point. And the second - criteria would be to have a good probability of having an effective measure be put in. You don't want to put in something that will likely not work. And the last criteria that you'd want to put in your policy is, ensuring that there are no transfer effects - you don't want to fix a problem on 'Street A' and have the problem shift over to 'Street B' - so in those cases - the project would include both 'A' and 'B' streets. So with that I would advise you to have a simple Traffic Calming policy. I would advise you to have a flexible one because your needs will change - your needs in Traffic Calming will evolve over time just like they do in every other City that starts Traffic Calming." City Manager Ronald W. McLemore spoke of prioritizing projects and stated, "If we allocate money to projects, who comes first, who comes second, and who comes third? That's one of the things we struggle with. I think again we've got to have some kind of way to decide how we take a million dollars worth of need and two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000.00) of money and decide who goes first." "How do we decide what goes first when you have a limited amount of money to work with?" Discussion continued, with documents f)'om West Palm Beach, related to Traffic Calming distributed to the Mayor and City Commission. Mr. Lockwood informed the Commission, "The smart thing to do is keep it general, keep it open. Allow your Staff the ability to bring projects to you that have been initiated - either by the Police, or yourselves, or - petition. Listen to their recommendations because every project will be completely unique - a scoring system is what you want to avoid. A lot of the naIve, early policies have these elaborate scoring systems and that's the reason why places like Seattle and Portland have to hire eight (8) people just to run their Traffic Calming because they have to collect tons of unnecessary data. Then, because they collect it they have to analyze it." Tape IISide 8 Furthermore, Mr. Lockwood stated, "The Traffic Calming Policy, the empowering policy, I think even if you didn't do another Traffic Calming project you'd probably want to pass the Policy just to cover yourself for your past projects that you've done." Deputy Mayor Cindy Gennell made the suggestion, "I would like to see us address - look at what we have already done, and how it can be enhanced to meet the real needs that are there. " CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS MINUTES CITY COMMISSION WORKSHOP - JUNE 4, 2002 PAGE30F4 Manager McLemore spoke of concerns with the traffic circulation pattern within the Town Center and stated "I think we really need to re-Iook at the Town Center - there are some real issues with that development." Commissioner Robert S. Miller said, "I think it's a great idea to have a Policy." Commissioner Miller added, "I think we ought to adopt one and then let whatever comes to pass come under that guiding document." Further, Commissioner Miller said, "I support the policy" and spoke of traffic problems on Fisher Road, Murphy Road, Edgemon A venue, and Seneca Boulevard. Commissioner Blake asked, "Ron [McLemore] or Kip [Mr. Kipton D. Lockcuff, Public WorkslUtility Department Director] either one, in our plan that we've submitted to the County for our thirteen million dollar share or so of the penny tax fund over the next ten (10) years, what portion did we list in there would be used towards Traffic Calming?" Mr. Lockcuff answered, "It's the same as the CIP [Capital Improvements Program]." Manager McLemore stated, "Seems like to me it was six hundred thousand ($600,000.00) - it is in that range." Commissioner Blake stated, "I don't have any problem with developing the policy Mr. Manager. I think we clearly have to have some recognition of what we've done in the past, how we can improve upon that and recall that we did, I think, have an agreement of how we are going to divvy up these projects throughout the City." Furthermore, Commissioner Blake suggested that previously suggested projects do not fall "In line with what we discussed earlier on, two (2) years ago or so, when we earmarked the specific nmding for the projects that we already have in place. So I think I'd like to see some sort of a fair and equitable method of determining where these dollars are going to be spent." Captain Mike Noland, Winter Springs Police Department, informed the Commission of the top ten (10) City streets that have the most speeders: Sheoah Boulevard, Hayes Road, Shepard Road, Shore Road, Seneca Boulevard, South Edgemon Avenue, Arbor Glen, Deer Run Drive, Trotwood Boulevard (Oak Forest), and Shetland Road. Deputy Mayor Gennell added, "The other street that I would mention - and that's the fact that we're going to be doing work on Moss [Road]. And when we get ready to do work on Moss [Road], I think it would normally be incorporated in the considerations on that." Note: Commissioner Martinez' microphone was pointed out to be in need of repairs. Commissioner Martinez suggested that Greenbriar Lane is being used as a "Cut through from Winter Springs [Boulevard] to Northern Way to Shetland [Road]. There are many areas in the City that may need this here - I think you are going to have to establish a priority list and if you decide to go forth with this project, tackle those that need to be taken care of first." CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS MINUTES CITY COMMISSION WORKSHOP - JUNE 4, 2002 PAGE40F4 Manager McLemore stated, "George Street - we have struggled with - I would like Ian [Lockwood] to look at George Street with Kip [Lockcuff] and come to some final recommendation on what we are going to do with that street." Tape 2/Side A Discussion then covered traffic circulation issues within the Town Center and the related Site Plan. Manager McLemore stated, "If Ian [Lockwood] looks at this and he sees some of these realistic kind of people related problems that with some tweaking could help - I think we need to have that serious discussion with [Shane] Doran real quick." In regards to the traffic circulation issues within the Town Center, Commissioner David W. McLeod said, "I agree with Mr. Miller because I think Staff and you need to go back and talk to the Developer and express your concerns." Manager McLemore stated, "I see some real issues here and to me - if anybody can provide some help here, we ought to listen. Ian [Lockwood] has got some good ideas. I certainly think we need to communicate with him about them." Discussion continued. Commissioner Martinez departed the Workshop at 8:26 p.m. Further discussion ensued regarding conceptual plans. III. ADJOURNMENT Mayor Partyka adjourned the Workshop at 8:36 p.m. RESPEcTFULLY SUBMITTED: . f-IOiS'tY-N: FIERStORFF - ~ f>,SSIST AN'r""f;.oT-ii~.:, CITY CLERK, AND :~~V--;~ ~~ -.-~ -~ ~ I:. 0 ~..' " :: j;:,;:; , 1 :cI"'-- -" _ ~ - ~REA~L'-' ZO-EUACES, CMC CIT~jj-C ~ K <~.':C:>..:. /. "'~ '\ ..,- ~ 1 <-