Police Advisory Commission Minutes 12-20-1995MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING - MONTICELLO POLICE ADVISORY COMMISSION
Wednesday, December 20, 199b - 7:00 p.m.
Members Present: Liz DesMarais, Warren Smith, Brian Stumpf
Also Present: Rick Walfsteller, Sheriff Don Hozempa, Deputy Jim Hudek
Absent: Dave Gerards, Jim Fleming
Call to order.
Approval of minutes.
A motion was made by Liz DesMarais, seconded by Brian Stumpf and unanimously
agreed to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of the Police Commission held
August 16, 1995.
A< consider t,~ion„~f ~v,~iewin~- and recommending speed limit~nd
tr. affic controls along School Boulevard.
With the recent opening of School Boulevard between Highway 25 and Fallon
Avenue, a major connecting route between Highway 25 and County Road 1.18 was
now available. With the expected increase in traffic volume along this route,
concerns were expressed by Superintendent of Schools, Shelly Johnson, that the
speed limit along School Boulevard at the current 45 mph posted limit maybe too
fast for conditions in that area.
With the opening of a new section of School Boulevard, the City Council recently
requested that MnDOT complete a traffic survey of the area for the purpose of
establishing a safe and reasonable speed limit for the area between Highwaty 25
and Fallon Avenue. Previously, MNDOT had completed the speed limit survey for
School Boulevard between Fallon Avenue and County Road 118 and established a
safe and reasonable speed at 45 mph. In addition to the request, for MNDOT to
complete a speed limit study, Public Works Director John Simola also., requested,
along with the school superintendent, that the County Sheriff's Department
conduct a traffic survey for the purpose of providing input and recommendations to
be considered by the appropriate jurisdictions.
Sheriffs Deputy Jim Hudek reviewed with the Police Commission the traffic survey
results and recarnmendations he had observed. Based on his observation, the
Sheriff s Department recommended the, following speed limit postings and traffic
control devices. ..
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Highway 25 east to County Road 117 - 40 mph
County Road 117 east to Fallon Avenue - 30 mph
Fallon Avenue east to County Road 118 - 3A mph
Oakwood Drive from School Boulevard north - 45 mph to area where
current 35 mph zone begins
1. Recommend installation of a 4-way stop sign at Fallon and
School Boulevard.
2. Recommend installation of a 4-way stop sign at County Raad
117 and School Boulevard.
After discussing the traffic survey in mare detail, the Commissioners acknowledged
that there are valid concerns about speed, visibility and traffic flow along School
Boulevard; especially with the presence of two schools along the route. After
discussing alternatives, the following motion was made by Brian Stumpf, seconded
by Liz DesMarais and unanimously approved to forward the recommendation to the
City Council far consideration concerning traffic issues in and around School
Boulevard.
1. It is recommended that a consistent speed limit be established far the entire
length of School Boulevard from Highway 25 to County Road 118. Because of
the presence of school children and the large number of current and expected
residential developments along the route, the recommended speed limit
should be 35 mph. In addition, it was recommended that the speed limit be
reduced to 25 mph along the Schaal property when children are present.
2. The Commission members felt there are possible significant problems at the
two intersections along the route; County Road 117 and School Boulevard,
and Fallon Avenue and School Boulevard. The recommendation of the
Commission is to have 4-way stop signs installed at both intersections.
Emphasis should be given to the installation of a 4-way stop sign at Fallon
and School Boulevard, as soon as possible, due to its proximity to Little
Mountain Elementary School.
3. The Commission recommends that additional signage, including advance
warning signs and a flashing warning light, be installed at the pedestrian
crosswalk leading from the Cardinal Hills Development to Little Mountain
School across School Boulevard.
4. If not already requested, MND~T should be contacted to provide additional
signage indicating the School Boulevard location off of Highway 25.
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5. Commission recommended to request MNDOT study of feasibility of lowering
the speed limit to 30 mph along Highway 25 south of T-94 all the way to the
city limits.
Fi. Recommended that the appropriate authority consider lowering the speed
limit to 45 mph along Oakwood Drive from 55 mph from the intersection of
Oakwood Drive and School Boulevard to where the speed limit begins a 35
mph zone.
7. Request that the city consider installing a street light to illuminate the
intersection of Highway 25 and School Boulevard.
8. Consider marking a crosswalk from the middle school across County Road
118 to the east.
The Commission recognized that various jurisdictions are responsible for signage
and speed limit controls depending an whether it is a county, state or city road. As
far as the recommendation to install a 4-way stop sign on County Road ].17 and
School Boulevard, if the County would not be agreeable to a stop sign at this time,
it was recommended that the City consider installing warning signs along School
Boulevard indicating that cross traffic does not stop.
The above noted recommendations will be forwarded to the City Cauncil far
consideration. If the City Council concurs with some or all of the recommendations,
the concerns can be forwarded to the appropriate jurisdictions including MNDOT
and Wright Caunty to be used as part of their traffic study to determine the
appropriate speed limit along School Baulevard.
~ Consideration of recommendations for a.nuointments to Commission
vac~~] es.
Commission members were advised that the term currently occupied by Mr. Jim
Fleming will expire December 31, 1995. If any member has an individual they want
to recommend be considered by the City Council, this information should be
provided to the City Administrator or the Chairman, Warren Smith. If the
committee members cannot come up with an appropriate candidate, an
advertisement seeking applicants will be placed in the Monticello Times.
Meeting adjourned.
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