HomeMy WebLinkAboutTSC report agenda 2-2-04
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE:
FEBRUARY 2, 2004
AGENDA #:
10C
PREPARED BY:
MAKENZIE MCCORMICK, PUBLIC WORKS COORDINATOR
REVIEWED BY:
BUD OSMUNDSON, PUBLIC
WORKS DIRECTOR
AGENDA ITEM:
CONSIDER APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE CREATION OF A TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMITTEE AND REPORT FOR THE CITY OF PRIOR LAKE.
DISCUSSION:
History
This
council agenda recommends creating a Traffic Safety Committee (TSC) for the City. This would provide the residents, City Council, and City Staff a mutual understanding of the policies
and procedures for addressing traffic concerns on streets within the city. The committee would provide a systematic process to respond to requests/concerns in a consistent fashion,
ultimately providing better customer satisfaction.
Current Circumstances
Currently, there is no forum to hear the traffic concerns that staff receive throughout the year.
At the present time, engineering responds to speed complaints, sign requests are forwarded to the public works department and miscellaneous calls are received by city staff with no
clear direction on who should respond. Staff feels creating the TSC would help reduce any confusion and is therefore in the best interest of the City.
Attached to this agenda item,
you will find a copy of the proposed policies and procedures for the TSC, including an explanation of the purpose of the committee, why we feel a committee is necessary, and the types
of issues we will review along with numerous examples from surrounding communities. To begin this process, staff researched other communities’ for information. Some local cities already
have committees formed to deal with these requests. Several others have written policies and procedures in place to outline how to respond to common requests. The TSC plans to incorporate
the ideas from other communities into policies and handouts specifically for Prior Lake. The report has been reviewed by its committee members for its content and completeness.
Due
to the increasing number of requests for safety concerns, the committee decided to limit the scope to only requests pertaining to streets. The types of issues most commonly associated
with streets include:
Stop sign requests
Parking issues
Speed issues
“Children at Play” sign requests
“Specially Challenged/Handicap” sign requests
Crosswalks
By limiting the types
of requests the TSC is responsible for, it more clearly defines the responsibility of the committee and provides the opportunity for faster response times.
Issues
Given that the TSC
will be completely new, if approved by the City Council, its members may find that several policy and/or procedural modifications may be necessary over time. The committee will continue
to refine its processes and procedures and will request Council endorsement of such changes.
Extra effort is required initially to create the TSC report. However, as the new procedures
are implemented, city staff, council and its residents should find better response to their safety concerns.
Conclusion
Staff is requesting that Council approve the attached resolution
and report so that the TSC can be created and start responding to traffic issues. This committee and report will be reviewed and updated as the committee determines the appropriate
measures for each type of request. Councilmembers Blomberg and Petersen may wish to share their views with the Council.
Current Circumstances
Currently, there is no forum to hear the traffic concerns that staff receive throughout the year. At the present time, engineering responds to speed complaints,
sign requests are forwarded to the public works department and miscellaneous calls are received by city staff with no clear direction on who should respond. Staff feels creating the
TSC would help reduce any confusion and is therefore in the best interest of the City.
Attached to this agenda item, you will find a copy of the proposed policies and procedures for
the TSC, including an explanation of the purpose of the committee, why we feel a committee is necessary, and the types of issues we will review along with numerous examples from surrounding
communities. To begin this process, staff researched other communities’ for information. Some local cities already have committees formed to deal with these requests. Several others
have written policies and procedures in place to outline how to respond to common requests. The TSC plans to incorporate the ideas from other communities into policies and handouts
specifically for Prior Lake. The report has been reviewed by its committee members for its content and completeness.
Due to the increasing number of requests for safety concerns,
the committee decided to limit the scope to only requests pertaining to streets. The types of issues most commonly associated with streets include:
Stop sign requests
Parking issues
Speed
issues
“Children at Play” sign requests
“Specially Challenged/Handicap” sign requests
Crosswalks
By limiting the types of requests the TSC is responsible for, it more clearly defines
the responsibility of the committee and provides the opportunity for faster response times.
Issues
Given that the TSC will be completely new, if approved by the City Council, its members
may find that several policy and/or procedural modifications may be necessary over time. The committee will continue to refine its processes and procedures and will request Council endorsement
of such changes.
Extra effort is required initially to create the TSC report. However, as the new procedures are implemented, city staff, council and its residents should find better
response to their safety concerns.
Conclusion
Staff is requesting that Council approve the attached resolution and report so that the TSC can be created and start responding to traffic
issues. This committee and report will be reviewed and updated as the committee determines the appropriate measures for each type of request. Councilmembers Blomberg and Petersen may
wish to share their views with the Council.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The addition of the committee and report does involve staff time for regular meetings, but does not change any fiscal
demands.
ALTERNATIVES:
The alternatives are as follows:
Approve a Resolution approving and creating the Traffic Safety Committee and report.
Table this item for a specific
reason.
Deny this agenda item for a specific reason and provide staff with direction.
RECOMMENDED
MOTION:
Staff recommends alternative number 1.
REVIEWED BY:
_____________________
____________________________
Bud Osmundson, Public Works Director
__________________________________________________
Frank Boyles, City Manager
RESOLUTION 04-xx
A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE CREATION OF A TRAFFIC SAFETY
COMMITTEE AND REPORT FOR THE CITY OF PRIOR LAKE
MOTION BY: SECOND BY:
WHEREAS,
The Traffic
Safety Committee and report has been developed and recommended by City staff and councilmembers; and
WHEREAS,
This report would help define the City’s role and responsibility
for safety issues concerning streets within the City of Prior Lake; and
WHEREAS,
Creation of the TSC will provide a systematic process to respond and address safety issues
in a consistent fashion.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF PRIOR LAKE, Minnesota, that the following are hereby adopted:
The recitals set forth above are
incorporated herein.
The City Council approves the creation of the Traffic Safety Committee and report.
Passed this 2nd day of February 2004.
YES
NO
Haugen
Haugen
Petersen
Pete
rsen
Zieska
Zieska
LeMair
LeMair
Blomberg
Blomberg
{ Seal } _______________________________
Frank Boyles, City Manager