Fort Walton Beach Council minutes — 11-01-2011 - special - - kenwood — reading text

Final Minutes — City of Fort Walton Beach Special Meeting of the City Council of Fort Walton Beach Tuesday, November 1, 2011 6: 00 PM 107 Miracle Snip Parkway Fort Walton Eltub, FL 325 8 1. CALL TO ORDER 6: 00 PM Meeting was called to order on November 1, 2011 at Council Chamber, 107 Miracle Strip Parkway, Fort Walton Beach, FL. Attendee Name Title Status Arrived Mike Anderson Mayor Present Bobby Griggs Council Seat 1 Present joyce. gossom Council Seat 2 Present Dennis Reeves Council Seat 3 Present Trey Goodwin Council Seat 4 Present Bobby Nabors Council Seat 5 Present Bull Rigdon Council Seat 6 Absent Dick Rynearson Council Seat 7 Present Bull Rigdon was absent from tonight's meeting. 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Mayor led in the Pledge of Allegiance. 3. ACTION ITEMS The Mayor introduced the subject matter and explained procedures for the public to speak. 1. Presentation The City's consultant, Florida Institute of Government, will present the results and recommendations of the Kenwood Neighborhood Traffic Evaluation. Michael Beedie, Engineering/Utilities Director, presented background information on the traffic study for the Kenwood neighborhood and introduced Dr. Robert Lee and Dr. Ren Moses from the Florida Institute of Government to present their results and recommendations of the study. Dr. Lee advised the purpose and scope of the study was to review safety and traffic operation of streets in the Kenwood neighborhood; investigate traffic calming measures; and propose alternative improvements. Dr. Lee also acknowledged staff for their support and assistance of the study. City Council ofFort Walton Beach Page 1 Printed 111212011 ImoT Special Meeting _ Minutes November 1, 2011 Dr. Moses presented a powerpoint presentation that included the geometric characteristics of Country Club Avenue and Mooney Road and a summary of the geometric features; traffic volume summary and speed distribution on Country Club and Mooney Road; average peak hour travel times on potential cut through streets including Fairway Avenue and Powell Drive; and a summary of crashes in the neighborhood between 2004 -2008. Recommendations discussed by Dr. Moses included the installation of state route signs on Mooney Road; radar speed feedback signs; the installation of chicanes on Country Club Avenue and/ or a speed table on Country Club; and a cul -de -sac at Rue de le Roi Street. Dr. Moses concluded his presentation with a summary of improvement alternatives considered and the cost of the alternatives. Council was advised that placing the speed tables less than 200 feet apart would bring traffic down to 25 mph. Further discussion included whether reducing traffic on Country Club would increase traffic on Fairway and Powell Drive; and explained single and double chicanes and that two -way traffic chicanes would work on Country Club. The Mayor asked for public input. Billy Walker, 635 Country Club, suggested combining one -way traffic north and south on Eagle and added chicanes would provide an excellent way to reduce speed on Country Club. Ray Cegielski, 644 Country Club, stated it is difficult to walk or ride a bicycle on Country Club and the issue is not so much the speed limit but the volume of traffic in the area. Karen Baker, 632 Country Club, explained the traffic is so bad that cars will drive on the grass area to go around vehicles that are driving the speed limit; that it is unsafe for pedestrians; and that she is concerned for the safety of children of the neighborhood. Linda Bowman, 631 Country Club Avenue, stated the time has come for decision making regarding the seriousness of the traffic in the area; that the police department needs to enforce the speed limit and find a way to deter cars from using the road as a pass -through; and that it will take multiple decisions to correct the problem. Judy King, 607 Country Club, discussed the maintenance of the chicanes if they are installed. Christine Judy, 646 Country Club, relayed that splitting Country Club at Rue de le Roi would not deter her from going northbound on Country Club. Dave Fish, 21 Cambridge, expressed the need for curbing and sidewalks on both sides of Country Club. Diana Dylewski, 617 Country Club, spoke in support of chicanes. John Culbertson, 642 Country Club, stated that if chicanes are used curbing has to be installed. He also noted problems could occur with chicanes if high school students decided to use them as an obstacle course. City Council ojFort Walton Beach Page 2 Panted 111212011  177 Minutes November 1, 2011 Special Meeting John Baker, 632 Country Club, stated he supports the chicane option but that a straight distance be kept on the road as much as possible. Josh Hamilton, non -city resident, stated it is important to reduce the risk for the citizens and questioned whether the county has some responsibility to share the expense since part of the road is in the county. Greg Smith, 624 Country Club, questioned who makes the decision, what will the decision be based on, and when is the timetable for getting things done. The City Manager responded the City is responsible due to an agreement with the County in 1973 stating the City would maintain the road, and that the basis for decision making is engineering and safety, and the process will begin on whatever Council decides on this evening. Sue Gagliarsdi, 603 Country Club, stated the school in the area is one reason for the traffic, and suggested having one -way traffic in the morning and the afternoon on Country Club. Billy Walker, 635 Country Club, suggested a study be conducted to determine whether traffic will increase on Fairway and Powell Drive. There was no more public input. Council discussion included asking the County Manager to assist with funding for curbing on Country Club. The City Manager advised he will be meeting with the County Manager on Thursday and will discuss the matter with him. Further discussion included that traffic law enforcement has been increased on Country Club the past year and it is one of the three top streets for traffic law enforcement in the City, and there are no specific plans to change the way traffic is enforced on Country Club at this time. i Council suggested looking at a combination of alternatives and have Staff come back with the best combinations of options and try them to see which ones are working; consider temporary options such as closing off Country Club for a period of time, the placing of temporary chicanes, or one -way options to see how they work. Michael Beedie, Engineering/ Utilities Director, advised a vendor would provide temporary items such as barricades, curbing, and/ or speed bumps and it would take about 2 -3 week to be put into effect. Mr. Beedie reminded Council that Country Club was repaved last year with federal stimulus money, and that the City would have to go through the Highway Administration and the DOT for permission to close the road. Further discussion included exploring the one -way traffic plan which could be implemented immediately and track the data for 90 days. Mr. Nabors moved to implement a one -week traffic count on all the streets in the Kenwood area neighborhood to develop a baseline, then implement a partial closure on Country Club and run a week long study of traffic flow; then try a second road closure or re- routing of traffic for a third week of data. When the data is compiled, have Council review all three options to ascertain where the traffic is going and how it is flowing. Page 3 Printed 111212011 City Council ofFort Walton Beach 178 Special Meeting Minutes November 1 2011 Mr. Goodwin seconded motion and it carried unanimously (Rigdon absent). The City Manager advised public road closure notices will have to be posted in the neighborhood and it will take a few weeks before the process can begin. CITY MANAGER ANNOUNCEMENT The City Manager scheduled an Executive Session at 5 pm on Tuesday, November 8, 2011, before the regular Council Meeting, to discuss the negotiations with the Firefighters Union. 4. ADJOURNMENT: 7: 52 Approved: / dtaw P 3 dn0 / Mayor: /(/ lC. k"— Attest: c tCl/(J City Clerk City Coined offan Walton Beach Page 4 Printed 11 /1/ 1011