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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10I - Traffic Enf. Funding C.R. 21 MEETING DATE: AGENDA #: PREPARED BY: AGENDA ITEM: DISCUSSION: 16200 Eagle Creek Avenue S.E. Prior Lake, MN 55372-1714 CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT MARCH 20, 2006 101 STEVE ALBRECHT, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR/CITY ENGINEER CONSIDER APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION RECOMMENDING INCREASED TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT FUNDING FOR CR 21 AND OTHER ROADWAYS Introduction The purpose of this agenda item is to authorize funding in the amount of $12,000 for the Accident Reduction Zone (ARZ) program which would provide additional police patrol for County Road 21 from CR 82 to CR 87 and additional patrol in other pertinent areas as determined by the City Traffic Safety Committee (TSC). The TSC is also requesting that, at the direction of the TSC, the Police Chief may also provide spot enforcement to identified trouble spots throughout the City from this funding not to exceed $2,000. Historv At the January 3,2006 City Council Meeting, City staff was directed to provide additional traffic enforcement on CR 21 immediately. Additionally, staff was directed to work with the TSC to develop a long term plan for the ARZ. This program has resulted in more than 300 stops and a noticeable decrease in corridor speeds. The final report and recommendations from the TSC regarding the CR 21 ARZ plan will be forthcoming later this spring once additional traffic control measures have been evaluated. In addition to the ARZ, the TSC, from time to time, receives requests from individuals concerned with excessive speed in residential neighborhoods. TSC meetings are held approximately quarterly to discuss the issues and action plans are formulated pertaining to the request. With complaints concerning excessive speed, a site survey along with a speed study is done to verify whether there is an issue. Additional patrol and/or speed wagons are placed in the affected neighborhood for a specified period if the studies show there is a problem. Due to patrol levels and budget, these patrols are rarely able to be present during peak traffic hours. Current Circumstances On March 1, 2006, the TSC met and discussed traffic enforcement in the ARZ. While the ongoing increased enforcement has been effective, it is problematic in that due to squad car coverage constraints the majority of enforcement is occurring during non-peak hours. Additional funding is necessary in order to maximize the effectiveness of the program and target the peak speed time periods. Additional funding would allow the police department to dedicate a patrol unit to speed enforcement during peak periods. www.cityofpriorlake.com Phone 952.447.4230 / Fax 952.447.4245 The TSC also believes that a small portion of the increased traffic enforcement budget could be utilized to deal with neighborhood issues. Patrols, in residential neighborhoods, are performed by police officers during normal work hours. The majority of the requests have been for excessive speeds observed during the morning and evening commutes. Patrols done during the work day are sometimes deemed as ineffective because violations tend to occur during commuting hours. In addition, neighborhood patrol pulls officers away from other areas. The TSC would like the ability to request increased patrols in neighborhood "hot spots". In addition to the above recommendation for increased speed enforcement, the TSC will also be investigating additional signage and communication efforts directed at the CR 21 ARZ in the coming months. ISSUES: The ARZ program funding recommendations are not in the operating budget or CIP for 2006. FINANCIAL IMPACT: It is estimated that the increased traffic enforcement would have a cost of $12,OOO/year. This amount is based on a minimum of one day per week of saturation patrols year-around, and could increase if additional days are added. The proposal is to over expend the overtime line item on the police department budget. The overrun would be compensated for by savings in the general fund budget. The TSC recommends that a portion of this funding not to exceed $2,000 be available for other traffic enforcement areas as determined by the TSC. ALTERNATIVES: The alternatives are as follows: 1. Approve a resolution authorizing funding for the increased traffic enforcement. 2. Deny this agenda item for a specific reason and provide staff with direction. 3. Table this item to a certain date in the future. RECOMMENDED MOTION: Staff recommends alternative number 1. Reviewed by: 1 rLNJr _ buk Frank Boyles, City 'Man~er . 10M t ( 16200 Eagle Creek Avenue S.E. Prior Lake, MN 55372-1714 RESOLUTION OS-xx A RESOLUTION TO APPROVE INCREASED TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT FUNDING FOR CR 21 Motion By: Second By: WHEREAS, City staff was directed to provide additional traffic enforcement on County Road 21 which resulted in more than 300 stops and a decrease in corridor speeds; and WHEREAS, Additional patrol of neighborhood trouble spots are requested through the City Traffic Safety Committee; and WHEREAS, The ongoing increased enforcement is problematic because due to squad car coverage constraints, enforcement occurs during non-peak hour; and WHEREAS, Additional funding is necessary to maximize the effectiveness of the program by targeting the peak traffic hours and allowing the police department to dedicate a patrol unit to perform speed enforcement during peak periods; and WHEREAS, Allocation of a small portion of the funds to deal with neighborhood issues is recommended; and NOW THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF PRIOR LAKE, MINNESOTA as follows: 1. The recitals set forth above are incorporated herein. 2. City staff is directed to provide additional traffic enforcement on CR 21 and in neighborhood "hot spots" during peak traffic periods not to exceed $12,000.00. A maximum of $2,000.00 may be utilized for neighborhood enforcement. 3. General fund savings in other activities will be used to cover the overrun in the overtime line item in the police budget for 2006. PASSED AND ADOPTED THIS 20th DAY OF MARCH 2006. YES NO Haugen Dornbush Erickson LeMair Millar Haugen Dornbush Erickson LeMair Millar Frank Boyles, City Manager www.cityofpriorlake.com Phone 952.447.4230 / Fax 952.447.4245