September 5, 2006

 

The Board of Commissioners of the City of Lawrence met in regular session at 6:35 p.m., in the City Commission Chambers in City Hall with Mayor Amyx presiding and members Highberger, Hack, Rundle, and Schauner present.

RECOGNITION/PROCLAMATION/PRESENTATION:

 

With Commission approval Mayor Amyx proclaimed the week of September 4 – 8, 2006 as National Payroll Week; Friday, September 8, 2006 as International Literacy Day; the period between September 8 - October 7, 2006, as Indian Arts Show Days in Lawrence; the week of September 10 – 16 as Suicide Prevention Week; the week of September 17 – 23 as Constitution Week; and the month of September as Life Insurance Awareness Month.

CONSENT AGENDA

As part of the consent agenda, it was moved by Schauner, seconded by Highberger, to approve the City Commission meeting minutes from August 22, 2006.  Motion carried unanimously.

As part of the consent agenda, it was moved by Schauner, seconded by Highberger, to receive minutes from the Mechanical Code Board of Appeals meeting of May 11, 2006; the Recycling and Resource Conservation Advisory Board meeting of July 12, 2006; the Traffic Safety Commission meeting of August 14, 2006; the Mental Health Board meeting of July 25, 2006; and the Lawrence-Douglas County Housing Authority board meeting of August 28, 2006.  Motion carried unanimously.

As part of the consent agenda, it was moved by Schauner, seconded by Highberger, to approve claims to 265 vendors in the amount of $14,013,852.17 and payroll for the period August 20, 2006 through September 2, 2006, in the amount of $1,643,210.40.  Motion carried unanimously.              

As part of the consent agenda, it was moved by Schauner, seconded by Highberger, to approve the Drinking Establishment License for Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill and Bar, 3900 West 6th; Bambino’s, 1801 Massachusetts; Harbour Lights, 1031 Massachusetts; and Slow Ride Roadhouse, 1350 North 3rd; and, the Class A Club License for Lawrence Country Club, 400 Country Club Terrace.  Motion carried unanimously.

As part of the consent agenda, it was moved by Schauner, seconded by Highberger, to concur with the recommendation of the Mayor and appoint Peggy Lloyd to the ECO2 Commission to the expired position that was held by Mark Gonazales, which expired on June 30, 2006.  Motion carried unanimously.

As part of the consent agenda, it was moved by Schauner, seconded by Highberger, to approve the purchase of approximately 44 acres of property generally located south of the Kansas Turnpike, north of 1750 Road for the Sanitary Sewer Pump Station No. 48 project in the amount of $585,100.  Motion carried unanimously.                                                                        (1)

The City Commission reviewed the bids for purchase of one large-format digital reprographic/imaging machine for the Public Works Department.  The bids were:

Bidder

Base

Option – stand

Option – stacker

Total unit

Maintenance per month at 2000 lf (per estimate provided in bid)

Drexel

14,000

250

795

15,045

365  ($.1825 / lf)

Lighthouse option 2

15,950

238

657

16,845

400  ($.2000 / lf)

Salina Blueprint

(does not meet specifications)

14,179

 

650

14,829

130

Lighthouse option 1 (does not meet specifications)

14,950

238

657

15,845

400

As part of the consent agenda, it was moved by Schauner, seconded by Highberger, to award the bid to Drexel Technologies, in the amount of $15,045, plus maintenance at $0.1825/lf.  Motion carried unanimously.                                                                                    (2)

The City Commission reviewed the bids for the Hew Hampshire Street, street improvements between 6th and 9th Street, mill, overlay, pavements marking, intersection reconstruction, mid-block pedestrian crossings.  The bids were:

                        BIDDER                                                          BID AMOUNT           

                        Engineer’s Estimate                                     $274,331.50

                        R.D. Johnson Excavating                            $267,229.90

                        LRM Industries                                             $281,501.90

                        Kansas Heavy Construction                       $337,323.30

                        Linaweaver Construction, Inc.                   $421,748.25

 

As part of the consent agenda, it was moved by Schauner, seconded by Highberger, to award the bid to R.D. Johnson Excavating Company, in the amount of $267,229.90.  Motion carried unanimously.                                                                                                                    (3)

As part of the consent agenda, it was moved by Schauner, seconded by Highberger, to approve funding request of $20,190 to fund the Waterwise Program for fourth graders in Lawrence Public Schools for the 2006-2007 school year. Motion carried unanimously.             (4)

As part of the consent agenda, it was moved by Schauner, seconded by Highberger, to adopt Resolution 6680, amending Section 1 of Resolution No. 6674, authorize the sale of General Obligation Temporary Notes, Series 2006-I and General Obligation Bonds, Series 2006-A.  Motion carried unanimously.                                                                                           (5)

As part of the consent agenda, it was moved by Schauner, seconded by Highberger, to approve the recommendation from the Traffic Safety Commission to deny the request to establish “No Parking” along the south side of Trail Road between Monterey Way and Sierra Drive.  Motion carried unanimously.                                                                                            (6)

As part of the consent agenda, it was moved by Schauner, seconded by Highberger, to concur with the Traffic Safety Commission to establish “yield signs” at five locations on the University of Kansas; and place on first reading Ordinance No. 8036.  Motion carried unanimously.                                                                                                                                 (7)

As part of the consent agenda, it was moved by Schauner, seconded by Highberger, to concur with the Traffic Safety Commission to establish a “20 mph speed limit” on Crestline Drive between Clinton Parkway and Becker Drive; and place Ordinance No. 8035 on first reading.  Motion carried unanimously.                                                                                          (8)

As part of the consent agenda, it was moved by Schauner, seconded by Highberger, to concur with the Traffic Safety Commission to establishing “stop signs” on Stockade Street at Stetson Drive; and place on first reading Ordinance No. 8034.  Motion carried unanimously.   (9)

As part of the consent agenda, it was moved by Schauner, seconded by Highberger, to approve the License Agreement with the KU Alumni Association to place a sign in the right-of-way approximately 14’ west of the property line (1266 Oread).   Motion carried unanimously.   

                                                                                                                                         (10)

As part of the consent agenda, it was moved by Schauner, seconded by Highberger, to concur with the Planning Commission’s recommendations to approve the Final Plat (PF-07-17-06) for the Oregon Trail Addition, a 123-lot residential subdivision, located north of U.S. Hwy 40 (6th Street) and East of George Williams Way (extended); and accept the dedication of easements and rights-of-way subject to the following conditions:

1.    Revision of the final plat to include the following:

a.      A note stating “No building permits will be issued until the completion of George Williams Way, Stoneridge Drive or Overland Drive to serve the subdivision.”

b.      A note stating: “Building permits issued within this subdivision shall be limited to a maximum number of dwelling units (based upon an updated revised Traffic Impact Study showing only one access into the subdivision with Level of Service of “C: or better, at the intersection of George Williams Way and W. 6th Street, or Stoneridge Drive and W. 6th Street) until such time as a second access to the subdivision is completed.”

c.      10’ landscape easements must be provided on the rear of double frontage lots.

d.      Pedestrian easements provided in Block Three between Lots 26 & 27 and along the southern border of Tract ‘A’ and continuing on between Lots 5 & 6, all of Block Three.

2.    Provision of the following fees and documentation:

a.      Recording fees made payable to the Douglas County Register of Deeds.

b.      A completed and revised Master Street Tree Plan with Red Maple deleted and Zelkova (Botanical name: Zelkova serata ‘Green Vase’) added.

c.      A Temporary Utility Agreement.

d.      Street sign fees.

3.    Pinning of lots in accordance with Section 21-302.2 of the Subdivision Regulations.

4.    Submission of public improvement plans prior to the recording of the Final Plat with the Register of Deeds Office.

5.    Final Plat can not be recorded until a when an agreement not to protest the creation of a special assessment benefit district or districts for the improvement of George Williams Way from West 6th Street to the north boundary line of the Final Plat, including intersection improvements at West 6th Street, has been successfully established executed.

 

Motion carried unanimously.                                                                                                       (11)

As part of the consent agenda, it was moved by Schauner, seconded by Highberger, to concur with the Planning Commission’s recommendations to approve the Final Plat (PF-07-18-06) for the Stephens-Noller Addition, a one-lot industrial subdivision, located on the southwest corner of Research Park Drive & Bob Billings Parkway; and accept the dedication of easements and rights-of-way subject to the following conditions:

1.           Provision of a revised Final Plat with the following changes:

a.       Cross access easement shown from the access point on Research Park Drive consistent with the proposed site plan layout.

2.           Execution of a Temporary Utility Agreement;

3.           Provision of the following fees and recording documentation:

a.      Copy of paid property tax receipt;

b.      Recording fees made payable to the Douglas County Register of Deeds;

c.      Completed Master Street Tree Plan.

 

Motion carried unanimously.                                                                                           (12)

As part of the consent agenda, it was moved by Schauner, seconded by Highberger, to concur with the Planning Commission’s recommendations to approve the Final Plat (PF-07-19-06) for Loges Addition, a 142-lot residential subdivision containing, located on the northwest corner of Queens Road and Overland Drive; and accept the dedication of easements and rights-of-way subject to the following conditions:

1.   Provision of a revised Final Plat with the following changes:

a.      A note added that states that Queens Road will be improved to the north property line with this development.

b.      A note added that states that building permits will not be issued to properties adjacent to Queens Road until the road is completed.

c.      The Minimum Elevation of Building Opening (MEBO) must be provided for all lots adjacent to a drainage easement.

d.      10’ Landscape easement provided along Queens Road.

e.      10’ Landscape easement provided along the rear property line for double-frontage lots.

f.        Access easement must be continued to be shown along the north property line.

g.      A note that states that the existing access easement will be vacated by separate instrument after Utilities Department has determined that sufficient alternate access has been constructed through the development to the west.

4.       Remove the 10’ Utility Easements in the front and rear of those lots where no water, sanitary sewer, or stormwater lines are proposed per the plat, as the unused easements would needlessly interfere with the placement of Street Trees.

5.       Pinning of the lots in accordance with Section 21-302.2 of the Subdivision Regulations.

6.       Submission of public improvement plans prior to the recording of the Final Plat with the Register of Deeds Office.

7.       Submittal of a Temporary Utility Agreement.

8.       Provision of the following fees and recording documentation:

a.      Recording fees made payable to the Douglas County Register of Deeds;

b.      Provision of a complete, revised master street tree plan with the names ‘Summershade’ and ‘Emerald Queen’ added to the Botanical Name ‘Acer platanoides’, and the species ‘Norwegian Sunset Maple’, Botanical Name: ‘Acer truncatum x platnoides’ added to the species list.

c.      Provision of street sign fees.

 

Motion carried unanimously.                                                                                            (13)

As part of the consent agenda it was moved by Schauner, seconded by Highberger, to adopt as “signs of community interest” 15 directional signs that will notify the public of the Brewgrass 2006 Festival and placed in various rights-of-way.  The signs will be placed on September 8, 2006 and will be removed on September 10, 2006.  Motion carried unanimously.                                                                                                                                                        (14)

As part of the consent agenda it was moved by Schauner, seconded by Highberger, to approve as signs of community interest, the Friends of the Library Book Sale signs from September 29, 2006 through October 7, 2006.  Motion carried unanimously.                    (15)

The adoption of Resolution No. 6679, declaring 1144 Rhode Island Street environmentally blighted, ordering the property owner to remove the blight within 20 days was withdrawn from the Consent Agenda.                                                                                        (16)

Ordinance 8033, allowing the temporary sale, possession and consumption of alcoholic liquor on that section of East 8th Street from Massachusetts Street to New Hampshire was pulled for separate discussion by a member of the public.

Bill Mitchell, Lawrence, said he decided the City Commission should know that at least two constituents did not approve of the City contributing $5,000 to the Aggieville like situation of what, at one time, was the City’s downtown and even less did they like the City Commission taking the additional step toward turning that area into an open saloon.  He said the event might be good for someone’s business, but they were tired of picking up the celebrants’ trash in their yards and neighborhood as they walked to breakfast.  Recent, hundred years ago columns in the Lawrence Journal World indicated the success Lawrence was having in closing down the “joints.”  He said one hundred years from now that column would be able to tell of spending taxpayers’ money, to turn an entire block into another “joint.”       

Commissioner Highberger said he appreciated Mitchell’s concerns, but he did not see the City Commission encouraging bad behavior.  He said it was a way to get people downtown, to appreciate downtown, not just for the bars and restaurants, but for all retail in the downtown area.  He said this type of function was a good way to bring the community together.  He said he thought they should keep an eye on the event, but he supported the resolution.      

Commissioner Hack said one important thing to note was there would be an enormous amount of security.  She said this event was a partnership between the Chamber of Commerce, City of Lawrence, Downtown Lawrence Inc., as well as K.U. Alumni Association.  She said they were pulling together to help celebrate homecoming and to get people downtown.  She said she also appreciated Mitchell’s concerns and hoped he knew the City would take care of downtown during this event.       

Mayor Amyx said for a number of years, he had heard about the huge celebrations they once did in Lawrence, Kansas, with homecoming and other events.  He said he looked at this event as a way of bringing those types of celebrations back to the downtown area.       

Moved by Hack, seconded by Rundle to place on first reading Ordinance No. 8033, allowing the temporary sale, possession, and consumption of alcoholic liquor on that section of East 8th Street from Massachusetts Street to New Hampshire Street on October 6, 2006 as part of the Chamber of Commerce’s “Get Downtown”, a live musical event.  Motion carried unanimously.                                                                                                                                    (17)

CITY MANAGER’S REPORT:                                                                                 

During the City Manager’s Report, David Corliss, Interim City Manager/Legal Services Director, said the Police Department had launched a new addition to the City’s website that provided a Question and Answer Board.  He said citizens could send questions to the Police Department and the department would provide a written response which would be a valuable service for citizens to learn more about their Police Department.

Also, during the City Manager’s Report he said at the City employee picnic, staff provided a performance recognition award to Glen Taylor who was a valued employee in the Central Maintenance Garage.  He said it was a surprise to Taylor, but no surprise to the people who worked with Taylor, that staff wanted to recognize him because he worked hard and made a number of changes to the City’s system as far as accounting for different projects and materials and staff recognized that effort with a LEAP Award as recognition of Taylor’s hard work. 

Corliss also said staff was always looking under a philosophy of continuous improvement to see where the City could enhance City services, which could be seen with a survey on the City website.  He said staff was encouraging citizens to critically look at the City website and make suggestions on how staff could improve that website.  He said the City Commission had been previously briefed about staff’s e-government activities and staff encouraged citizens to respond to that survey. 

Corliss also said that he asked Cliff Galante, City’s Public Transit Administrator, to attend a briefing, regarding an electric bus experiment that would be held at KU.  He said staff was excited about those opportunities and as Commissioner Rundle mentioned last week, Carl Burns, with the group, was familiar with some of the federal funding resources that had been and perhaps would be available in the future.  He said he wanted to aggressively pursue that federal funding.  He said he told Galante in addition to establishing a program for vehicle replacement, staff also wanted to look at options as to how they could encourage essentially the completion of the sustainability circle.  He said staff wanted to encourage people to use the T, but also wanted to make sure those vehicles were an important part of the community from the energy conservation and sustainability standpoint.  He said staff was clearly looking at an alternative transportation mode as something the City should do and staff wanted to pursue alternative funding, but also wanted to pursue alternative fuels for vehicles.  He said staff was excited to learn more about those alternatives and hopefully be a leader at the forefront.

Corliss said one issue at hand over the past few months was improving the enforcement of the Disorderly House Ordinance which was a difficult challenge.  He said he had related to some of the City Commissioners, some of his observations while riding along with a Police Officer Friday night, during some of the boisterous activities in neighborhoods.  He said staff wanted to make sure the ordinances that were on the books were appropriately enforced.  He said staff would discuss this issue with offenders and encourage those offenders to recognize they had neighborly responsibilities which could be potentially, a very valuable tool.  He said staff had some success with their first couple of conferences and they were going to continue to follow through.  One of the difficulties was tracking the infractions where there were Municipal Court, District Court, and Police Department actions and a number of different things to monitor.  He said staff would continue to improve that system. 

Corliss said two items that were not mentioned in the City Manager‘s Report was the SDAT meeting last week.  He said staff continued to receive a lot of very positive comments and compliments.  During the calendar portion of that meeting, he thought staff might want to discuss the next step and when it would be a good time to reserve their return visit.  He said that was another example of a strong partnership with the Chamber of Commerce, the City, and a number of interested citizens, including a number of architects.  He said it really showed the enthusiasm the groups had for the community and the desire to have a vision for what the community could look like and how the community could grow.   

The other item not mentioned, was that he, Debbie Van Saun, Assistant City Manager; Mark Hecker, Superintendent of Parks and Recreation; and Fred DeVictor, Director of Parks and Recreation, did some hiking out in the area of Harvard Road and George Williams Way and were joined by 7 or 8 citizens.  There were a number of people that were very interested in the trail.  He said he encouraged DeVictor to look at a number of different trail options because those options did not need to include 10 feet of pavement.  He said this issue was a prelude in mentioning a public meeting scheduled for September 20th at Langston Hughes, where staff was inviting the neighborhood to give their views on possible park amenities.  He said he thought there were a lot of neat opportunities.                                                                              (18)

REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS: 

Consider recommendation from the Traffic Safety Commission to post “no turn on red when pedestrians are present” at the intersection of 19th Street and southbound Tennessee Street.

 

Chuck Soules, Public Works Director, presented the staff report.  He said at the August 14th meeting the Traffic Safety Commission heard a request from a Pedestrian Advisory Sub-Committee about the safety of the intersection at 19th and Tennessee.  He said the concern was the three pedestrian and two vehicle accidents involving people turning right on red.  He said the recommendation from the Traffic Safety Commission was to provide a “no turn on red” sign when pedestrians were present at that intersection for southbound travelers on Tennessee.  He said the TSC motion carried 7-1 and staff was recommending approval of the recommendation.

Mayor Amyx said he was not sure that recommendation would work. 

Soules said that thinking might be correct, but staff had posted those types of signs in other areas and it did alert people.  He said he always indicated to people that in vehicle and pedestrian situations, the pedestrian was always going to lose.  He said staff could put up signs and signals, but the pedestrian had to take notice.  He said this recommendation was something that could raise driver awareness.

Mayor Amyx said since there had been three pedestrian vehicle accidents already he asked if it made better sense to prohibit all right turns on red.

Soules said disallowing right turns on red would be fine, too.  He said he assumed the reason was that when pedestrians were present, they did not have that continuous stream.  He said if they did what Mayor Amyx was recommending, then the stream would be 24/7. 

Commissioner Rundle asked if it meant when pedestrians were present at the intersection getting ready to cross with the green light or was it anywhere in the intersection.

Soules said it was when pedestrians were present, so that was within the intersection.

Mayor Amyx asked if the pedestrian had to be in the intersection or at the crosswalk.

Soules said on the corner.

Commissioner Schauner said he thought most of the ordinances dealt with yielding to pedestrians when they were in the crosswalk as opposed to standing on the curb.  He said he shared the Mayor’s concern about what that meant exactly and where “present” meant, whether it was on the curb, in the intersection, or approaching the curb.  He said he would feel better if it was when pedestrians were in the crosswalk.

Commissioner Highberger asked if the proposed sign was a standard street sign.

Soules said the sign was standard which was in the MUTCD (Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices).

Commissioner Rundle said he presumed when the vehicles stopped, the pedestrian would take the right-of-way.  He said he thought this could be effective, at least, in a certain percentage of cases.  He said he heard complaints by people who primarily got around by walking and people were in the habit, when going “right on red”, of looking left and as soon as they saw it was clear, people would go.  He said the recommendation from the TSC would cause those people to stop and look and once they did and give the right-of-way, he thought it could prevent some of those accidents from happening and he thought it helped develop habits that people should have anyway, but obviously they did not.

Mayor Amyx said at the intersection, one of the problems was those three lanes.  He said it seemed inevitable that if a person was in the right hand lane, in the two left hand lanes, cars were pulled out close enough to the crosswalk that a person could not see if a pedestrian was present in that intersection.  He said if they already had three accidents, it made sense this might be a place where the City Commission might want to consider denial of a right turn on red.

Commissioner Rundle said he would not stand in the way of that idea.  He said in general, the TSC recommendation would be a good idea to apply in some places that were high traffic for pedestrians where there were no visibility problems.

Mayor Amyx called for public comment.

Gwen Klingenberg, member of the Pedestrian Advisory Committee, said their committee looked at this corner because they had been looking at several corners.  Along that particular corner, the committee had a concern of students getting to the grade school, the high school, and the university.  She said Kentucky Street did not have sidewalks on either side along with 21st Street from Louisiana to Tennessee, and Tennessee only had a sidewalk on the west side.  If someone was trying to get from the Centennial Neighborhood to Cordley Elementary, there was only one way to go to stay on the sidewalk and someone would end up at the northwest corner of that intersection and as noted, a person would be looking to their left to get in and not paying attention to what was coming down on the sidewalk.  She said their committee looked at this area and asked if there could be a no right turn, but their committee was informed that a “no right turn” was not a good idea because most of the day, evenings, and late at night people were not going to want to sit and wait at the light until it turned green.  She said this was suggested to their committee as probably, the only possibility that would really work and that it had happened and been done before.  She said they were looking at the fact there were a number of sidewalks that did not exist in trying to get children to the school.  She said the day after the Traffic Safety Committee voted on this issue, there was an accident the next day; a bicyclist was hit from someone turning right coming from the south.  She said it was a very dangerous intersection with a lot of kids and she hoped the City Commission would take a strong consideration of that decision.

Mayor Amyx said the City Commission could look at “no right turn on red” or the recommendation from the Traffic Safety Commission.  He asked the City Commission if they believed people sitting at that light would make a right turn in the event pedestrians were not present and if they thought it was not controllable.

Vice Mayor Hack said she thought people would turn right on red if no one was around.  She thought that putting up a sign would clue a person to look both ways because people were coming from all directions.  She said she would like to see what would happen if the City Commission concurred with the TSC recommendation and possibly bring the issue back, at a later time, to see how it was working.  

Commissioner Rundle asked if the City Engineer had the capacity to implement some action on a temporary basis without the City Commission adopting an ordinance.

Corliss said it was in the range of 90 days.

Commissioner Hack said 90 days might give the City Commission enough time to look at the sign’s effectiveness.

Commissioner Schauner said he was in favor of posting that sign for 90 days.  He said as staff had done with new stop signs, they could put some red flags on the sign so people could know it was additional signage.

Commissioner Highberger said he would support the 90 day experiment.

Commissioner Rundle said to deny the right turn at all times would be ineffective because the lack of any need for a great chunk of the day and weekend.  He said it seemed to be the best solution to something that fluctuates that widely at an intersection.

Mayor Amyx said he did not disagree with Commissioner Rundle.  He said he was going to vote against that idea, but it was not because he did not want to try something at that intersection.  He said the City Commission should proceed with the suggestion to place a no right turn on red sign when pedestrians were present, to be placed at that location for a 90 day trial.

Commissioner Highberger asked Amyx if his no vote was because he supported eliminating all right turns on red.

Mayor Amyx said yes. 

Moved by Hack, seconded by Rundle, to authorize staff to post “No Turn on Red when Pedestrians are Present” sign at the intersection of 19th Street and southbound Tennessee Street for 90 days.  Aye:  Hack, Highberger, Rundle, and Schauner.  Nay:  Amyx.  Motion carried.                                                                                                                               (19)

Commissioner Schauner asked Klingenberg if the Pedestrian Safety Commission had any idea how many intersections had high pedestrian traffic. 

Klingenberg said their committee just received a map from the City that showed the condition of all sidewalks.  She said the next issue their committee was working on was looking at the schools.  She said in October there would be a “Walk Your Kids to School Day” and their committee was planning on conducting a survey for the parents to write down what they thought about the conditions of those sidewalks traveled by those kids on their way to school.

Commissioner Schauner asked if the City Commission would expect to hear back from their committee about some further recommendations from the Traffic Safety Commission.

Klingenberg said yes, working with Public Works on their sidewalk gap issue.             (19)

Consider recommendation from the Traffic Safety Commission to construct mountable medians and a “left turn yield” sign on the eastbound approach to the intersection of 11th Street and Haskell Avenue.

 

Chuck Soules, Public Works Director, presented the staff report.  He said on the August 14th meeting the Traffic Safety Commission heard a request from John Kraft about the intersection of 11th and Haskell.  He said people traveling northbound on Haskell typically took that corner fairly tight and cross the center line into traffic on 11th Street traveling east and heading south on Haskell.  He said there was a yield sign for people traveling south bound on Haskell. 

The recommendation to alleviate the motorist confusion was to construct two three inch medians with the rumble strips.  He said it would be mountable because there was a lot of truck traffic that used that intersection, such as much of the City’s fleet and some industrial uses.  He said those medians would keep people in their lanes.  He said the TSC was also recommending installing a left turn yield sign on the southwest corner of 11th and Haskell.  The cost for constructing those medians would cost approximately $2,500 which would be constructed by City crews.  

Commissioner Highberger asked if the placing of those medians were accurate on the map.

Soules said yes.

Commissioner Highberger said it seemed like the upper median extended pretty far into what they saw as the usual traffic lane on the right.

Soules said David Woosley, Traffic Engineer, drew those maps and was good with scale. 

Mayor Amyx asked if there was any way to stripe the intersection.

Soules said there had been two 3 inch stripes at that location. 

Mayor Amyx called for public comment.

Commissioner Schauner said he was a bit surprised that something like a mountable median with rumbling strips was a $2,500 expense, especially if staff was doing the work themselves. 

Soules said that was just material, and did not include the cost of tear out, equipment, and personnel.

Commissioner Schauner asked if it was possible to achieve the same effect with a rumble strip alone without the mountable median.

Soules said it was not the larger vehicles that were causing the problem, but the smaller vehicles that were traveling too fast.  He said a rumble strip would get their attention, but it would not stop them from crossing over or driving on it.  He said it was something that could be done, if the Commission desired.  He said he thought it would be difficult to get a rumble strip into the concrete pavement unless they tack something down on top of it.

Mayor Amyx said he did not think the City Commission wanted to dig up a concrete street.

Soules said staff would need to cut the concrete street about 10 to 12 inches because the existing road was 8 inches thick.

Commissioner Schauner asked if the project would fall in line with the other traffic calming projects or would the project move to the front of the line. 

Soules said this street was not on the list for a traffic calming project.  He said staff would construct that street when they had time and would not be moved ahead of other priority projects.

Commissioner Schauner asked if this project would be moved to the front of some line.

Soules said in advance of traffic calming projects potentially.

Corliss said this project did not need to be bid.  He said the project was relatively simple in design and the crew was familiar with the location.

Moved by Highberger, seconded by Hack, to concur with the Traffic Safety Commission’s recommendation to construct mountable medians and a “Left Turn Yield” sign on the eastbound approach to the intersection of 11th Street and Haskell Avenue.  Motion carried unanimously.                                                                                                                                       (20)

FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS:

 

09/19/06

Continued discussion of retail marketing analysis items

 

09/26/06

Commissioner Rundle will be absent from the meeting, but can participate through teleconference if necessary.

 

10/03/06

Commissioner Rundle will be absent from the meeting, but can participate through teleconference if necessary.

 

TBD

Future land use items include:

  • The 800 Penn. Block;
  • Receiving recommendations from the Planning Commission on 6th and Wakarusa (Wal-mart) proposed development;
  • Salvation Army site plan and rezoning; and
  • The unincorporated subdivision regulations.

                                                                       

     (21)

 

Moved by Rundle seconded by Schauner, to recess until Thursday, September 7, 2006, at 4:30 p.m. at which time the Commission will reconvene on the 4th Floor of City Hall outside the City Manager’s Conference Room for the purpose of recessing to an executive session for the purpose of discussing personnel matters of nonelected personnel.  Motion carried unanimously.

The City Commission reconvened on September 7, 2006 at 4:30 outside the City Manager’s Conference Room.  It was then moved by Hack, seconded by Schauner, to recess to an executive session for 90 minutes for the purpose of discussing personnel matters of nonelected personnel.  Motion carried unanimously. 

The City Commission retuned to regular session at 6:00 p.m. at which time it was moved by Schauner, seconded by Hack to return to executive session for 15 minutes for the purpose of discussing personnel matters of nonelected personnel.  Motion carried unanimously.

The City Commission returned to executive session at 6:15 at which time it was moved by Hack, seconded by Schauner, to adjourn.  Motion carried unanimously. 

APPROVED                                                                _____________________________

Mike Amyx, Mayor

ATTEST:

 

___________________________________                                                                       

Frank S. Reeb, City Clerk

 


CITY COMMISSION MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 5, 2006

 

1.                Purchase property - 44 acres for Sanitary Sewer Pump Station No. 48.

 

2.                Bid- one large-format digital reprographic/imaging machine to Drexel Technologies in the amount of $15,045.

 

3.                Bid - New Hamp. 6th to 9th, improvements to R.D. Johnson Excavating for $267,229.90.

 

4.                Fund Request – Waterwise Program for 4th graders at public schools for $20,190.

 

5.                Resolution No. 6680- amending Section 1 of Resolution 6674, GOB, Series 2006-I & GOB, Series 2006-A..

 

6.                TSC - Deny request of “No Parking”, S side of Trail between Monterey and Sierra Dr. 

 

7.                Ordinance No. 8036- 1st Read, establishing yield signs at 5 locations on KU Campus.

 

8.                Ordinance No. 8035- 1st Read, 20 mph speed limit on Crestline Drive between Clinton Parkway and Becker Drive.

 

9.                Ordinance No. 8034- 1st Read, stop signs on Stockade Street at Stetson Drive.

 

10.            License Agreement- KU Alumni Assn. to place sign in right-of-way 14’ W of property line.

 

11.            Final Plat (PF-07-17-06) - Oregon Trail Addition, 123 lots residential, N of US Hwy 40 & E of GWW.

 

12.            Final Plat (PF-07-18-06) - Stephens-Noller Addition, 1 lot residential, SW corner of Research Park & Bob Billings.

 

13.            Final Plat (PF-07-19-06) - Loges Addition, 142 lots residential, NW corner of Queens & Overland.

 

14.            Signs of community interest - Brewgrass 2006 Festival, Sept. 8th – 10th.

 

15.            Signs of community interest - Friends of the Library Book Sale signs, Sept. 29th – Oct. 7th.

 

16.            Resolution No., 6679, blight, 1144 Rhode Island, withdrawn.

 

17.            Ordinance No. 8033- 1st read, temporary sale, possession, and consumption of alcoholic liquor on section of east 8th Street on Oct. 6, 2006 for “Get Downtown” event.

 

18.            City Manager’s Report.

 

19.            Post “no turn on red when pedestrians are present at intersection of 19th and Tennessee.

 

20.            TSC - Construct mountable medians and a “left turn yield” sign on eastbound approach to intersection of 11th Street and Haskell.

 

21.            Future Agenda Items.