Public Safety Committee

October 27, 2016

Minutes

 

 

Committee Members: Councilors Sara Giannoni (SG) (chair); Selene Coburn (SC); David Hartnett (DH)

 

Additional City Staff: Richard Haesler (RH), City Attorney’s Office; Lt. Jon Young (JY) BPD; Nicole Losch (NL) DPW; Tom Ayers (TA) City Council

 

At 5:43 p.m. Chair Giannoni commenced the meeting.

 

  1. Agenda: motion to adopt by DH, second by SC – passes.

 

  1. Approval of minutes of 9/22/16: Motion to Adopt by DH; Second by SG – passes 2 to 0 w SC abstain/recuse

 

  1. Public Forum:

 

  • Jim Carrier – lives on Plattsburg – looking for traffic counts in his neighborhood; better/more bike lanes
  • Joyce Walshavin – wants road opened for back way out to North Ave from Plattsburg
  • Patrick Therrien – wants traffic study for speed re Ethan Allen Prkwy

 

  1. Committee Discussion re Traffic safety:

 

SG: Last year’s Public Safety Tour to all Districts – Traffic Safety came up in every district.

 

DH: Lined up DPW & BPW to help the public understand how to assess various traffic calming measures.

 

TA: What is the science of speed mitigation?  What works? What doesn’t?

 

NL:            speaks to DPW approaches to traffic calming; Note - DPW will be hiring a new traffic engineer

  • Bump-outs, etcetera – list of features to redesign streets – we look for designs that become self-enforcing re safety. 
  • Example:  there are now four Radar Speed Feedback signs – placements?  Ethan Allen will be on the list; Staniford also.
  • Policy changes – recommending the Vision Zero Plan – eliminating crashes which result in serious injuries – there will be a Vision Zero conference this spring.

 

DH: How can a neighborhood seek redress for a problem?

 

NL: Neighborhood petitions – example:  for a speed bump or bumpout – need at least 1/3 of the neighborhood – then work to develop the remedy – then goes to neighborhood vote.

 

SC: What is City initiated versus what is neighborhood initiated? How do those choices get made.

 

NL:  Coity and State designated funds; e.g. City has its own transportation plan – studies trigger City action – the Neighborhood method is to assure that public concerns have a way of being heard.

Example: Mansfield requested 3 way stop signs.

 

SC: announces that she must leave for another meeting but first has a question for Lt. Young – What is the method for selection of location for the Radar Speed Feedback signs?

 

JY: We rotate thru hot spots as identified.

 

SC: Will there be a police response re reserve adjustments based on the results?

 

JY: We have 2 grants providing what is essentially unlimited overtime for officers to come in and work traffic.

 

Shareen Hart (citizen/police commissioner): How do I as a citizen call in something that is a regularly occurring traffic violation – e.g. running stop sign every morning

 

JY: Please call it in – we will respond.

 

(SC departs at 6:15 p.m.)

 

JY:  We want to make the data from our studies public – the public should understand what we are doing; what the data is finding and what we do in response.

 

SG: Didn’t budget call for a new position at DPW?

 

NL: Yes.  Applications are in – we are looking to select and have the new person start this winter.

 

William McGrath (citizen): Sidewalk installations versus repairs – how is the choice made?

 

NL: We are relying on Grant funding for new sidewalks – the budget prioritizes repair work – the new capital projects budget may create a placeholder for more new sidewalks.

 

William McGath:  Need Cottage Grove to Gray Meadow now that the street has been opened – safety problem with all the new thru traffic.

 

NL: Rapid Flashing Beacons at crosswalks are well liked – trying to budget for more.

 

William McGrath: Why were they placed at Pine instead of North Avenue?

 

NL:  responding to change in the job marketplace – DEALER expanded their campus and leased lots behind BED – safety problem with workers crossing Pine Street.

 

DH – the business district expanded and there was a need.

 

NL:  Round-about considerations are still in play.

 

DH – Please approach me personally with North end concerns.

 

TA – me as well

 

NL – there are 5 miles of new sidewalk needs – the priority now though remains

Repair.

 

DH – if ever a sidewalk was needed though, it’s Cottage Grove.

 

TA – Traffic calming petitions are on the DPW website.

 

  1. Other Business

        

Next meeting – Tentative – 12/6 @ 5:30 – Room 12 if possible.

 

  1. Adjournment

 

DH Motion.  SG seconds.  Passes.

Meeting adjourned at 6:57 pm.