City of Lawrence
Traffic Safety Commission Agenda
October 2, 2006-7:30 PM
City Commission Room-City Hall
MEMBERS: David Hamby, Chair, Carol Bowen, Vice-Chair, Caroljean Brune, Paul Graves, Robert Hagen, Richard Heckler, Ken Miller, Jim Woods and John Ziegelmeyer Jr.
ITEM NO. 1: Review and approve the minutes of the Traffic Safety Commission meeting, August 14, 2006.
ITEM NO. 2: Consider request from the North Lawrence Improvement Association to establish NO PARKING along the south side of Walnut Street between 7th Street and 8th Street.
Facts:
1. Walnut Street is an unimproved local street with a chip & seal surface approximately 18 feet wide.
2. Parking is currently permitted along both sides of the street.
ACTION: Provide recommendation to the City Commission.
ITEM NO. 3: Consider request from Casey Millstein, 1341 Strong Avenue, to revise the city ordinance concerning skateboarding on the University of Kansas Campus.
Facts:
1. The City Code currently states: “It shall be unlawful for any person to ride, skate or use a coaster, roller skates, skateboard, roller blades, or other similar device on sidewalks in the area of Jayhawk Boulevard from West Campus Road to Thirteenth Street including 1000 feet on either side of this corridor on the University of Kansas campus.”
2. Traffic regulations on the University of Kansas Campus are under the jurisdiction of the University.
3. Traffic regulations for the University of Kansas Campus are included in the City Code in order to prosecute violations through the city Municipal Court.
ACTION: Provide recommendation to the City Commission.
ITEM NO. 4: Consider an ordinance establishing NO LEFT TURN 7-9AM and 4-6PM MON-FRI on Iowa Street at Orchard Lane, Oxford Road, Stratford Road and University Drive.
Facts:
1. Iowa Street is a 4-lane arterial street without left-turn lanes throughout this area.
2. Iowa Street carries approximately 31,000 vehicles per day in this area.
3. A similar area on 23rd Street has been posted as NO LEFT TURN 7-9AM and 4-6PM MON-FRI and received numerous comments from the public in support of the restriction.
ACTION: Provide recommendation to the City Commission.
ITEM NO. 5: Public Comment.
ITEM NO. 6: Commission Items.
ITEM NO. 7: Miscellaneous.
Receive postcard correspondence.
City Commission action on previous recommendations:
Concurred with the recommendation to deny the request for NO PARKING along the north side of Trail Road between Monterey Way and Sierra Drive.
Concurred with the recommendation to establish YIELD signs on the University of Kansas campus.
Concurred with the recommendation to establish a 20MPH SPEED LIMIT on Crestline Drive between Becker Drive and Clinton Parkway on the University of Kansas campus.
Concurred with the recommendation to establish STOP signs on Stockade Street at Stetson Drive.
Concurred with the recommendation to post NO TURN ON RED WHEN PEDESTRIANS ARE PRESENT on southbound Tennessee Street at 19th Street (90 day trial).
Concurred with the recommendation to post a LEFT TURN YIELD sign on eastbound 11th Street at Haskell Avenue and to construct mountable medians on the south and west legs of the intersection.
City of Lawrence
Traffic Safety Commission
October 2, 2006 Minutes
MEMBERS PRESENT: John Ziegelmeyer, Jr., Chair, David Hamby, Vice-Chair, Carol Bowen, Robert Hagen, Richard Heckler, Ken Miller and Jim Woods.
MEMBERS ABSENT: Caroljean Brune and Paul Graves.
STAFF PRESENT: David Woosley, Public Works Department.
Chair David Hamby called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. in the City Commission Room at City Hall.
Review and approve the minutes of the Traffic Safety Commission meeting, August 14, 2006.
MOTION BY COMMISSIONER Hagen, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER Woods, TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION MEETING, August 14, 2006; THE MOTION CARRIED 6-0-1 (Heckler).
Consider request from the North Lawrence Improvement Association to establish NO PARKING along the south side of Walnut Street between 7th Street & 8th Street.
Woosley reviewed the information provided in the staff report.
Commissioner Hagen asked why only the one block between 7th and 8th is being considered; Woosley advised that was all that was requested.
MOTION BY COMMISSIONER WOODS, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER HAGEN, TO TABLE THE REQUEST TO ESTABLISH “NO PARKING” ALONG THE SOUTH SIDE OF WALNUT STREET BETWEEN 7TH STREET & 8TH STREET UNTIL SOMEONE SHOWS UP TO DISCUSS THE REQUEST; THE MOTION CARRIED 7-0.
Consider request from Casey Millstein, 1341 Strong Avenue, to revise the city ordinance concerning skateboarding on the University of Kansas Campus.
Woosley reviewed the information provided in the staff report.
Jim Long, Provost Office, University of Kansas: The university has a concern about changing the ordinance if it lifts any of the restrictions regarding the use of skateboards; this ordinance was put into effect in September, 1990, following an accident when a student was hit in the head with a skateboard, and by damage to university property caused by skateboarding; we believe this is a issue of public safety, it is a concern on our campus for damage to our facility, but most importantly, those who make-up our campus community or who visit the campus; this is a major concern for the Office of Public Safety.
Schuyler Bailey, Public Safety Office, University of Kansas: Our concerns are two-fold; first and foremost, safety and welfare of our students, faculty and staff; secondly, the protection of university property; skateboarding causes issues of concern for both of those items; students changing classes are already competing with buses, cars and bicycles; the ordinance as written and enforced has been effective; however, buildings outside the restricted area are now sustaining damage by skateboarding.
Commissioner Heckler asked if skateboards were permitted in the street on the campus; Bailey advised they were not.
Commissioner Hagen noted that restrictions of this type are usually requested by the university.
Commissioner Hagen asked if there had been any discussions of this ordinance by the university; Bailey advised that they were considering asking that the ordinance be revised to include the entire campus.
Commissioner Hamby asked if the university had considered exception to the ordinance for transportation purposes; Bailey advised that they had not.
Commissioner Bowen asked if most of the damage to property was done by skateboarders using them for recreation; Bailey advised that it was mostly recreation.
Commissioner Miller asked if there was a concern of liability on the part of the university; Bailey advised that someone probably could sue the university for something that happened on their property.
Commissioner Woods asked if it was the university’s position that they opposed any change; Bailey and Long advised that that was correct.
Commissioner Hamby asked if the skateboarders that are on campus are mostly college or high school or junior high students; Bailey advised it was a combination, we have seen junior high students up through adults and non-students.
Commissioner Hagen: It seems to me that if there is a need for discussion of this ordinance, it should take place within the university first.
Commissioner Bowen: I am concerned that is doesn’t sound like the students understand that they can come to the commission and speak.
MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ZIEGELMEYER, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER MILLER, TO RECOMMEND DENIAL OF THE REQUEST TO REVISE THE CITY ORDINANCE CONCERNING SKATEBOARDING ON THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS CAMPUS; THE MOTION CARRIED 6-0-1 (Heckler, knows Millstein).
Consider an ordinance establishing NO LEFT TURN 7-9AM and 4-6PM MON-FRI on Iowa Street at Orchard Lane, Oxford Road, Stratford Road and University Drive.
Woosley reviewed the information provided in the staff report.
Commissioner Ziegelmeyer asked if this item was mailed to the properties along Iowa; Woosley advised that it had been sent to each of the neighborhood associations.
Commissioner Miller: The intersection at University struck me as having a significant number of accidents; however, if you restrict one intersection, you need to restrict all of them.
Commissioner Heckler: Stratford is busy as well.
Commissioner Hagen asked if there was any information on traffic back-up in the area; Woosley advised only anecdotal, there was no documentation.
Commissioner Woods: I requested this item be put on the agenda; I was amazed at the lack of accidents. I think it has worked wonderfully on 23rd.
MOTION BY COMMISSIONER HECKLER, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER MILLER, TO RECOMMEND ESTABLISHING “NO LEFT TURN 7-9AM AND 4-6PM MON-FRI” ON IOWA STREET AT ORCHARD LANE, OXFORD ROAD, STRATFORD ROAD AND UNIVERSITY DRIVE FOR A 90-DAY TRIAL PERIOD; THE MOTION CARRIED 7-0.
The commission also requested that red flags be placed on the signs and that the city’s web site have a place for the public to comment about the restriction.
Public Comment:
None.
Commission Items:
Commissioner Bowen asked if there could be an information leaflet in the water bill about right-of-way at crosswalks and what the duties of pedestrians and drivers were; Woosley advised this should be presented to the Pedestrian Advisory Sub-Committee.
Commissioner Woods asked about progress at 27th & Sawgrass; Woosley advised that he hoped to have an upadte by the next meeting.
Miscellaneous:
The commission acknowledged receipt of an anonymous postcard.
The meeting adjourned at 8:05 P.M.
The next scheduled meeting of the Traffic Safety Commission is Monday, November 6, 2006.
Respectfully submitted,
David E. Woosley
Transportation/Traffic Engineer