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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/27/1985 - Workshop Minutes City Council MINUTES WORKSHOP CITY COUNCIL MEETING WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27, 1985 4:00 P.M. COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Halter, Councilmen Boughton, McIlhaney, Prause, Runnels COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: Councilman Anderson STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Bardell, Assistant City Manager VanDever, Director of Capital Improvements Ash, City Secretary Jones, City Attorney Locke, Traffic Engineer Black, Community Development Director Stevens, Utilities Office Manager Piwonka, Assistant Utilities Office Manager Albright, Personnel Manager Dickson, City Engineer Pullen, Adminis- trative Assistant Magoon, Printing Co- ordinator Fry, Council Coordinator Jones STUDENT GOVT. LIAISON: Mike Hachtman VISITORS PRESENT: See guest register. The meeting was called to order with all members of the the C6un- cil present except Councilmen Anderson. Agenda Item No. 1 - Signing of a proclamation designating the month of April, 1985 as "Fair Housing Month" in College Station, Texas. Mayor Halter signed a proclamation designating the month of April, 1985 as "Fair Housing Month" in College Station, Texas. Mr. Glenn Cook, Executive Director of the Brazos Valley Develop- ment Council, was present to accept the proclamation. Agenda Item No. 2 - Council concerns. Councilman Runnels asked if consideration was still being given to inclusion of a striping machine in the 1985-1986 Budget. Assistant City Manager VanDever stated that he had requested the Purchasing Department to investigate the figures for the purchase of a striping machine, but had not received any data concerning it. He stated that if the Council so desires this item can be included in the budget. WORKSHOP CITY COIJNCII~ MEETING WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27, 1985 PAGE 2 Councilman Prause stated that he had received a complaint from a citizen concerning sewage backing up in the area around Bee Creek. Director of Capital Improvements Ash noted that the city crew had already taken care of the problem. Councilman Prause reported a problem created by the erection of "no parking" signs on the south side of Francis Drive. He noted that parents picking up their children from College Hills Elemen- tary are having to park on the north side of Francis. Traffic Engineer Black pointed out that Francis Drive has always been signed in this manner. He noted that a meeting was sched- uled between himself and Mr. Gardner, Principal at College Hills Elementary, to discuss this problem. Councilman McIlhaney reported a complaint about animals running loose in the Winding Road area. She asked the media to consider providing additional publicity about the city's leash law. She informed the Council that she had requested City Engineer Pullen to develop a viable plan for sewer construction in the Sandstone Subdivision. Agenda Item No. 3 - Discussion of bike lanes on Southwest Park- way. Traffic Engineer Black presented the item. He asked for Council direction regarding the striping of Southwest Parkway. He ex- plained the d~Eferent alternatives suggested for consideration. He noted that a petition in favor of maintaining the bike lanes on Southwest Parkway was circulated by parents of children at- tending South Knoll Elementary. He presented the Council with information regarding bicycle/vehicle accidents in the City of College Station from 1970 through 1983. He listed the three dif- ferent types of bicycle/vehicle accidents that occur and the per- centage each type represents of the total number of accidents that have occurred in the city as follows: (1) Rear-end - twenty-eight percent (28%); (2) Angle - fifty-two percent (52%); and, (3) Head-on - twenty percent (20%). He pointed out that bike lanes have relatively little impact on the prevention of an- gle or head-on accidents. He noted that bike lanes offer a psy- chological benefit to both bicyclist and motorist. He summarized the results of the citizen survey, which was split Eifty/fifty indicating that people feel very strongly about the issue one way or the other. He pointed out that the Council could also consid- er signing Southwest Parkway as a bike route. 00 821 WORKSHOP CITY COUNCIL MEETING WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27, 1985 PAGE 3 Capital Improvements Director Ash stated that by striping South- west Parkway to five lanes, two continuous lanes in both direc- tions and a continuous left-tufa lane, the roadway would be moving the volume of vehicles it was designed to move. Councilman Boughton pointed out that there have been only ten bi- cycle/vehicle accidents on Southwest Parkway reported in the last fourteen years and eight of those have been angle accidents. She further noted that most of the fourteen accideats occurred after dark and on weekends. City Manager Bardell noted that where there are marked bicycle lanes the right turn on red at traffic signals must be elimi- nated. Councilman Runnels asked Traffic Engineer Black for his recommen- dation regarding the striping of Southwest Parkway. Traffic Engineer Black stated that bike lanes will not prevent accidents from happening. He further stated that this is an emo- tional issue; and, based on research there is not eaough support for either side. Councilman Boughton stated that Southwest Parkway was designed to carry a large volume of traffic. She pointed out that since Southwest Parkway has been constructed there have been a number of rezonings in the area, increasing the number of apartment units and resulting in a tremendous increase in the volume of traffic. Councilman McIlhaney pointed out that the bike lanes also serve to carry bike traffic to Bee Creek Park. Student Government Liaison Hachtman asked if bicycle traffic will be prohibited on Southwest Parkway if it is striped without bike lanes. Traffic Engineer Black replied negatively because Southwest Park- way might be desig,%ated as a bike route. Councilman Runnels suggested that some type of safety program be implemented to inform citizens that the street is a designated bike route. He asked Traffic Engineer Black what the traffic volume is currently on Southwest Parkway. Traffic Engineer Black listed the differeat t~affic volumes on Southwest Parkway as follows: (1) Texas to Anderson - 15,000; (2) Anderson to Langford - 14,000; (3) Langford to Welsh - 11,000; and, (4) Welsh to Wellborn - 9,000. ~e explained the plans for signalization of Southwest Parkway. He suggested that 00 822 WORKSHOP CITY COUNCIL MEETING WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27, 1985 PAGE 4 the city consider constructing 800 feet of sidewalk on the north side of Southwest Parkway between Glade and Langford to enhance safety in the area. He noted that the cost of this construction will be approximately $10,000.00 Mayor Halter asked for comments ~om the public. Mrs. Lucia Hodges, speaking on behalf of Laura Nixon the Presi- dent of the South Knoll PTO, spoke in favor of maintaining the bike lanes on Southwest Parkway. She pointed out that the bike lanes serve as a buffer between the sidewalk and the street for the school children. Mrs. Noami Jiroux spoke in favor of maintaining the bike lanes on Southwest Parkway. She pointed out that if the street is re- striped to five lanes it will generate more traffic and the num- ber of speeders will increase. Mr. Jerry Cooper urged the Council to maintain Southwest Parkway in its present state. He stated his opinion that the city should provide safe a~eas ~or children. He suggested that the city con- s~der purchasing the lot on the corner of Southwest Parkway and Glade to realign Glade and Southwood Drive. City Manager Bardell noted that the Planning and Zoning Commis- sion misaligned these two streets o;] purpose. Councilman Runnels questioned what will happen to the traffic volume in College Station if the city continues the policy of taking major arterials and striping them two lanes with a contin- uous left-turn lane. Capital Improvements Director Ash stated that if the city contin- ues this policy it will be restricting traffic volume consider- ably, which will cause an increased number of bottlenecks aad long lines on city streets. Councilman McIlhaney suggested that the bike lanes be maintained in the area in close proximity to the school. She noted that traffic will have to slow in that area and the buffer is needed. Councilman Boughton e~pressed her opinion that the planning of Southwest Parkway has gone too far to alter it now. She sug- gested that the Council approve the original plan to strip South- west Parkway five lanes, two continuous lanes in both directions with a continuous left-turn lane. 00 823 WORKSHOP CITY COUNCIL MEETING WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27, 1985 PAGE 5 Councilman Runnels noted that bike lanes create an illusion of safety. Councilman Boughton moved to authorize the staff to continue with the plans to restripe Southwest Parkway to five lanes, two con- tinuous lanes in both directions with a continuous left-turn lane, and to investigate all possible avenues for improving the safety along Southwest Parkway for the school children and pedes- trians. Councilman Runnels seconded the motion which was approved by a vote of 3-2 as follows: FOR: Mayor Halter, Councilmen Boughton, Runnels AGAINST: Councilmen McIlhaney, Prause Mayor Halter requested the staff to iavestigate the possibility of constructing the sidewalk that was proposed by Traffic Engi- neer Black. Agenda Item No. 4 - Discussion of settlement of the Gulf States rate case. City Manager Bardell presented the item. He stated that last fall Gulf States filed a rate case asking for $29,000,000.00 a year in additional revenue from its wholesale customers. He pointed out that through the city's attorney Platt Davis (Vinson, Elkins), direct meetings with Gulf States and the other interven- tions the city has achieved a settlement figure of $18,500,000. He further stated that this will result in a reduction of approx- imately forty percent (40%) in the rate increase which was al- lowed by F.E.R.C. last fall. He noted that this settlement should mean about a five mil (1/2 cent) reduction per KWH for the city's customers through the summer months and until the rates are adjusted to reflect the addition of the River ~end Nuclear Plant. He commended Southern Engineering for their efforts in resolving this matter. Agenda Item No. 5 - Discussion of nuisance created ~y construc- tion vehicles tracking mud-6~it~ streets. City Manager Bardell presented the item. He stated that the city has been receiving numerous complaints concerning the nuisance created by construction vehicles tracking mud on city streets. He noted that the city's current ordinance structure does not ad- dress this problem. He pointed out that in this situation it is very difficult to determine who is responsible unless the com- plainant has witnessed the incident. He suggested that the city incorporate some restrictions Jato the ordinance structure to ad- dress the problem. 00 .82 - WORKSHOP CITY COUNCIL MEETING WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27, 1985 PAGE 6 Councilman McIlhaney stated that this situation could be ad- dressed in the Stormwater Drainage Program. The Council requested the staff to investigate different alterna- tives for incorporating some regulations addressing this matter into the city's ordinance structure and to return a recommenda- tion to the Council. A~enda Item No. 6 - Adjourn. Mayor Halter adjourned the meeting at 5:55 P.M ,~/Clty ~ etary Gar~ Ha~ter, Mayor 006825 me e ® GUEST REGISTER WORKSHOP CITY COUNCIL MEETING WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27, 1985 4.-00 P.M. 21. 22. 23. ® 24. e 25. 10. 26. 11. 27. 12. 28. 13. 29. 14. 30. 15. 31. 16. 32. 00/ .826