2008 0619 Regular City Commission Meeting

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Summary Minutes: Regular City Commission Meeting June 19, 2008 City of Sunny Isles Beach, Florida 12. DISCUSSION ITEMS 12A. Discussion/Presentation on the GovQA Customer Relations System in Sunny Isles Beach on www.sibfl.net. Action: Administrative Services Director Alyce Hanson and Information Technology Director Edel Fonseca presented a power-point on GovQA, which went live on June 9, 2008. Citizens can log onto the website's Homepage, and go to "Ask City Hall", where there are more than 160 questions and answers available, and they can report a request or a problem. Public Speakers: none 12B. Discussion regarding the Proposed Signal Warrant Analysis SR AIA1ColIins Avenue and Trump Tower/RK Village Plaza Driveways Prepared by Keith and Schnars, P.A. Action: City Manager Szerlag noted that Traffic Engineer Eric Penfield conducted his report concluding that we did not meet warrants, however he will advise us to apply for a variance. Public Speakers: Traffic Engineer Eric Penfield; Herb Gralick Mayor Edelcup expressed his displeasure with the report, saying that it is not what the Commission asked for at the April 15, 2008 meeting. He said we expected our Consultant to take an advocate role to support what the Commission wanted, that there is a necessity for a traffic light there which mayor may not meet warrants but meets the common sense criteria of what we were trying to achieve by closing the northern exit of the 183 rd Street shopping center owned by Mr. Katz and opening an exit onto Collins A venue where people can make a left turn to go north. This study has no way of assuming what the traffic flow would be if that north side exit were closed, and therefore the traffic counts that were done are probably only a portion of the traffic that would have to go out that way if in fact the north side is closed, and we need a report addressing that. Traffic Engineer Eric Penfield did a power-point presentation on the process associated with performing a signal warrant analysis. He noted that a signal may increase crashes and cause delays on Collins A venue. He said a traffic signal cannot be installed unless it meets one or two warrants. The area meets one warrant, a pedestrian warrant, because of construction workers. However, this would only be temporary, until their construction project is completed. Once the school opens they can more closely confirm how kids go back and forth to school in this area. Mayor Edelcup interjected that the City needs to get a variance for the traffic light as soon as possible because the school opens in August. Commissioner Brezin added that there is nothing to address the strength and importance of why we need it to save our kids. Commissioner Goodman said there is a traffic light in front of the Pinnacle for pedestrians, and asked if that light could be moved to the location in question. City Manager Szerlag advised that FDOT required a traffic signal warrant analysis before they would decide to install a traffic light at the location. That was Step 1, and Mr. Penfield provided that, and Step 2 is to request a variance. The Commission asked Mr. Penfield ifhe felt he could vigorously advocate the City's position with FDOT. Mr. Penfield replied yes he could do that. Vice Mayor Thaler asked for the timeframe, and Mr. Penfield said that considering the permitting, approval, and manufacturing, we are looking at 12 months or 12