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

1 V UJ w NV c Attachment: 1 - 12 -11 CC Petition ( 1509 : Kenwood Neighborhood Traffic Evaluation)  City of Fort Walton Beach Ameeieo's Mme Beams /Bexhe IOYM — k SOAP PAw Y. SW- FM W. I. B- 1, F13258 850) 833 -95M • Fu (850) 833- 9610 f n Mb or TDD (850) 833 -9925 leellre T. M v 4DU N January 20, 2011 Country Club Avenue Residents As I mentioned in my last message to you, City representatives were meeting in Tallahassee with Florida State University traffic planners to discuss the traffic circulation plan for Kenwood. In sum, staff met with Dr. Robert Lee, Executive Director of the Center for Florida Local Government Excellence, and Jeff Hendry, Executive Director of the Florida Institute of Government to discuss the Kenwood Neighborhood Traffic Study. Dr. Lee has participated in numerous traffic studies similar to this throughout the state. They are very excited to partner with the City to assist in developing a plan of action for the entire neighborhood related to traffic calming. Dr. Lee and Mr. Hendry will develop a draft scope and bud et to perform the traffic study and submit the draft to the City no later than February 91. The actual goal is to get it to us before the end of January, but February 9" is the deadline date. I fully realize that this is taking longer than anticipated, and as it continues to move forward I will keep you posted. Sincere) obert T. Meams City Manager CC: Mayor and City Council Members Packet Pg. 28  F31.. City of Fort Walton Beach A i Amerr a4 Mort BmWifW BeacFn IOI MiradaS PPVkw . SW • FOR Wallop eee[ 4, F132549 130) 8i3950f • Pp( B50)& i3 -%40 ": w. ML.or 1DD (850) 833 -9925 Rolm C4T.MwBn M. rmearv(& y b November 5, 2010 To the residents of Country Club Avenue Further to my letter to you back in July, the City has undertaken the traffic analysis tests to determine what, if anything, should be done to the traffic layout on Country Club Avenue to improve safety and deter traffic law offenders. In order to present the findings of the traffic analysis to you, I have booked the meeting room at Two Trees Restaurant at the Golf Club. This meeting will take place at 6pm on Monday, November 15, 2010. To ensure adequate space, I would be very grateful if you would RSVP to my assistant, Carole Jones, who can be reached at 833 -9504, or cjones @fwb.org. Thank you. Sincerely. e City Manager eatus Packet Pg. 29  C City of Fort Walton Beach AmehaY Mo.Sf B sutlJul BurAa 107 MS Ie Sut Pxt "' SW ` F- Wa Be n32548 850) tl3 -9504 • Fu( 850) 0. i3A610 PDD ( 850) 833 -9925 lYVe d98r elte riem, ugfieGag vember 24, 2010 Country Club Avenue Residents, After the neighborhood meeting at the Golf Course I briefed the City Council on your request to have a Workshop on December 14 to close Country Club Avenue at the northern end. Since that meeting things have come to light of which I was not aware. Primarily, the Avenue is not owned by the City but by the County. The City has a maintenance Agreement dating back to 1973 which means that the County would in all likelihood have to also agree to a closure. To address that issue I have scheduled a meeting with County Administrator Jim Curry to discuss options. As expected, residents of neighboring streets have expressed concerns to both me and the City Council that if the road were closed it would increase traffic on their street. Residents of other parts of the City contacted us rejecting the road closure. City police monitoring Country Club Avenue last week issued 6 speeding tickets over a three day period; five of the speeders were Kenwood residents. Last evening I informed the City Council of these issues and stated that it would be in the best interest of all concerned that a comprehensive traffic circulation analysis of the entire Kenwood area be conducted to determine what and where speed reduction devices ( road closure( s) included) would be placed to reduce speeding. With the upcoming opening of the judicial center there is little time to waste in conducting the analysis, hold hearings and move forward with the recommendations. The traffic circulation analysis will be conducted by professional traffic planners and engineers hired by the City. I informed Council that there was not enough time to have all of this done by December 14 and therefore a Workshop was premature. They agreed. I want you to know that I take this matter very seriously and it will be neither forgotten nor lessened in the endeavor to keep your Avenue and neighborhood a safe place in which to live. The City will continue to keep you informed of the progress made in this effort. Sincerely Robert T. ec, Mana get  3. 1. c AML City of Fort Walton Beach ENKYWIj A., 4W U nA.. gWB. k 107 MiiukS pp kM , SW - Fm Wale Bewk F 32549 lfy 4 . 5' 850)! 33 -950- F- ( 850) 9331 O Too (850) 833 -9925 rrcr wr.muemar December 30, 2010 Country Club Avenue Residents: There have been several inquiries made as to the status of both the Country Club Avenue traffic study and the closing of the road and/ or installation of speed humps. Since the community meeting on November 15°, several issues surfaced that directly affect immediate action on the things that were suggested at that time. I spoke to these issues at the November 23 City Council meeting. The matter is not being either forgotten or ignored. 1. A traffic study of the entire Kenwood neighborhood is necessary because either closing the road or installing speed humps on one street will likely divert traffic to other streets. Alteration to traffic patterns have to be modeled and analyzed in order to provide the greatest relief to the greatest number and not overwhelm one street to benefit another. The City does not have a dedicated traffic engineer on staff so analyzation and modeling have to be contracted. 2. The City had originally contacted the University ofFlorida to conduct the study. However, the City learned from the University on Monday that it could not do so. The City has contacted Florida State University about the study and they are willing and ready and have agreed to conduct it. The City will meet with them on January 13 to define the scope of services, project cost, timeline and deliverables. 3. Research reveals that Okaloosa County actually owns the Country Club Avenue right -of w - ay. However, an agreement was executed in 1973 between the City and County to allow the City to assume all maintenance responsibilities for the street. This is an odd situation because the County owns the right -of w - ay and the City owns the street. I discussed the matter with County Administrator Jim Curry since anything that would change traffic patterns or traffic control devices we not maintenance items and thus County controlled. He said that he would cooperate with the City in this matter. Packet Pg. 31 4. After the meeting on January 13, I will have a better understanding of the timeline as I would imagine that is what is most important to you. Sinc obert T. Meams City Manager CC: Mayor and City Council Members Packek Pg: 32...  Imm March 25, 2011 Country Club Avenue Residents When I wrote to you in January to provide a status report for the traffic analysis, I promised to update you as progress was made. I am pleased to attach the scope of services entitled Traffic Impact Analysis Study, which outlines the manner in which the study will be performed. The start date for the project is April 1, 2011; and will be complete in 90 days. As always, thank you for your patience and I will let you know when further progress is made. SincereI obert T. Meatus City Manager CC: Mayor and City Council Members Packet Pg. 33  1 ayy e City of Fort Walton Beach Atne LUYMasf a* IOI Mi ecle Strip Pehxwy, SW ' MO) 833A50 * Fat WaMm Bexh, Fl 33N8 FU ( 950) 933 -9N0 - y ff' r' x, Nb— Too (850) 833 -9925 FMen chyT.ffU.. September 26, 2011 Country Club Avenue Residents When I wrote to you earlier in the year, the Traffic Engineering Division of Florida Sate University was undertaking a Traffic and Safety Study of your