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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-01-11 TAC MINUTES• City of Englewood, Colorado ENGLEWOOD TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING Minutes of January 11, 2007 The regular monthly meeting of the Englewood Transportation Advisory Committee was called to order by Chair Anderson at 6:32 p.m. in the City Council Conference Room, City of Englewood Civic Center. Members Present: David Anderson, Chair Mark Craft Danielle Gregory Daryl Kinton Ray Tomasso, Council Liaison Rick Kahm, Director of Public Works, ex officio Members Absent: None A quorum was present. Also Present: Ladd Vostry, Traffic Engineer Linda Wilks, Recording Secretary Commander Sam Watson Approval of Minutes Chair Anderson asked if there were any additions or corrections to the minutes of December 14, 2006. There being none, a motion was made and seconded to approve the minutes as presented. With Members Anderson, Craft and Gregory voting aye, the motion passed. • Committee Member Kinton entered the meeting at 6:36 p.m., following the approval of minutes. • Public Comment There were no visitors present. Old Business There were no items for discussion under Old Business. New Business There were no items for discussion under New Business. Director's Choice • With regard to positioning of the blue light device at Dartmouth and Santa Fe, Traffic Engineer Vostry stated that the current angle of the light prevents traffic officers from detecting red arrow violations . Commander Watson added that this intersection is one of the highest accident locations in Englewood, one for which officers strive to provide additional enforcement. Mr. Watson noted that the angle of the blue light should benefit traffic officers while, at the same time, not distract westbound motorists. Mr. Watson stated that, working with the courts, the prosecutor is very specific on the probable cause he needs before issuing a summons, and the blue light detection provides that probable cause. Mr. Vostry met with traffic officers, and plans are being made to reposition the blue light to benefit officers' enforcement ability . • Director Kahm provided information pertaining to City snow removal efforts following snow storm events since, and including, the storm that hit December 20, 2006. The Streets Division consists of eleven (11) staff members, which, for these storms, has been supplemented with three (3) workers from the Utilities Department, and two (2) workers from Building Maintenance . The Streets Division has ten trucks, three blades, and three loaders . When the storm hit on December 20t h, the City contracted for three additional loaders and six additional dump trucks. Mr . Kahm stated that the cost of contracting for the additional trucks and loaders is approximately $8,000 per day. Staff worked 12 hour shifts around the clock until the first of the year, and then cut back to 10 hour shifts. Mr . Kahm explained the grid system used for plowing, which consists of the major collectors and arterials, i.e., Broadway, Dartmouth, Logan , etc. Residential streets received one V-plow pass to give residents a place to shovel to; additional plowing on residential streets is not practical because it would create a wind row that would close people back in . Additionally, substantial effort has been placed on opening intersections to assist with drainage. The City's Athey Loader was used, initially, to clear parking lanes along Broadway, and has since been used in other areas in the City to load snow for hauling . Snow is being hauled to, and stored at, various City sites, i.e., Servicenter, Pirates' Cove parking lot, Centennial Park parking lot, etc. City staff also cleared a loading zone on the school side of the streets adjacent to each of the schools in Englewood, also hauling the snow from these sites . Mr. Kahm noted that removal or blading of snow is only effective when temperatures rise above freezing. Because the south side of avenues is continuously shaded during winter months, there is a continuous freeze/thaw condition that requires blading to cut the ice away from the curbs to allow drainage; the City has been d~aling aggressively with this situation during daytime hours when thawing is likely to take place. Mr. Kahm continued that, currently, staff is sanding and salting the roadways while temperatures are below freezing; these lower temperatures also offer an opportunity to provide much needed maintenance to blades and other road maintenance equipment. Chair Anderson distributed copies of the web page detailing the City's efforts regarding snow removal, stating he thought it was an excellent piece of information for the public . There was brief discussion regarding communicating Englewood's snow removal policies/practices to residents, i.e., via internet, Englewood Herald, Englewood Citizen, etc . Mr. Kahm advised Members that a snow hotline for Englewood is available at 303-762 -2520 . Discussion continued regarding trash pick up, plowing alleys, potential City cost if snow were to be plowed and hauled from all streets, EPA regulations regarding storage of snow, etc. To Mr . Anderson's inquiry, Mr. Kahm responded that residents could help the City in these types of heavy snowfalls by depositing their shoveled snow into their yards rather than onto the streets, and additionally, by not driving on the streets for a reasonable time, not only because of the resulting compaction, but for their own safety during these storms. Commander Watson expressed his appreciation to Streets Division staff for their quick response to aid police/fire emergency calls during these past heavy storm conditions. Brief discussion ensued. 2 • • • • Copies of the Citizen Survey were distributed to Committee Members. Traffic Engineer Vostry noted that specific traffic questions suggested by ETAC Members were included on the survey, i.e., support for • traffic calming devices, photo-radar enforcement, red light photo enforcement, and reducing speed limit to 25 mph on residential streets. Also included were a number of general questions pertaining to travel in Englewood, traffic enforcement, signal timing, bus/transit services, etc. Director Kahm explained that 400 residents were randomly selected to receive the survey. The results should be available in March, followed by an analysis that will be helpful during discussions in June for the 2008 budget. Chairperson's Choice Chair Anderson noted that, in the future, under Committee Members' Choice, he will also acknowledge the attending Officer for any discussion he may wish to include. Committee Members' Choice • Copies of Resolution No. 86, Series of 2006, were distributed to Committee Members. Council Liaison Tomasso explained this policy was adopted by City Council in response to State Amendment 41, which pertains to ethics, receiving gifts and gratuities. Resolution 86 applies to City employees as well as board and commission members. • Committee Member Gregory wondered about the number of applications that may have been received from citizens seeking appointment to an Englewood board or commission. Director Kahm commented that, typically, there is a shortage of applicants for the number of vacancies that exist. Interviews with City • Council are scheduled for January 22nd. • • Committee Member Craft thanked staff for blading the alley between Simon Center on Lincoln St. and the Post Office on Broadway. Director Kahm noted the excessive business and pedestrian traffic in that concrete alley. Adjournment There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:50 p.m. Linda Wilks, Recording Secretary 3