2008 0416 Special City Commission Meeting

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Summary Minutes: Special City Commission Meeting April 16, 2008 Sunny Isles Beach, Florida City Manager Szerlag introduced Gus Pego ofFDOT, and our Consultant/Traffic Engineer, Eric Penfield of Keith & Schnars. Gus Pego said that the City and FDOT share a concern - pedestrian safety. He stated that the school will change traffic patterns, but that does not necessarily warrant a traffic light as there are other strategies that can be pursued that do not invade the rights ofthe property owner. He said there are spacing standards for signals and that he is concerned about installing a signal so close to this intersection as it could create problems for pedestrians crossing 183rd Street. He wanted to advise the City of FDOT's concerns regarding the signal spacing and the negative impacts associated with having a signal spaced too close. He offered to provide more details for recommended counter measures to eliminate the operational problems. Eric Penfield, Keith & Schnars, agreed that the City needs to conduct a signal warrant study for the location. However, he also referenced a signal study that was done two years ago by the Trump Development. The data revealed that there is the potential to have enough volume on side streets to warrant a signal at the location. He said from a system-wide standpoint the signal would accommodate the traffic volume from the Trump and from the shopping center and it would address the issue oflimited site distance. He noted that when walking eastbound on that sidewalk on the south side of 183rd Street there is a blind spot for drivers coming out of the shopping center. Overall, the signal will serve multiple purposes: provide safety and effectiveness at the driveway at the shopping center and Trump, and improve safety on 183rd Street, particularly for the school kids. Dennis Concerto, Senior Project Manager from Miami-Dade County Public Schools, said they have looked at the scenario and they also have a concern with the safety of the children coming across the street from the east side of Collins A venue to the school. They have configured the bus routes to ensure they do not stop on Collins Avenue in front of the shopping center. Parents will also be using the same route except from the south, and will turn on Atlantic Boulevard going north to make a turn on 182nd to drop the students off. The parent drop-off is along 182nd Street between Atlantic and North Bay Road. With that parking lot exiting onto 183rd Street, it is a blind spot, and they do have concerns that children walking through there are at the mercy of the drivers. He added that Dr. Martin Karp, School Board Member for this District, supports having a traffic signal there and that the School Board has done a traffic study around the site, which he will provide to Mr. Penfield. Sharon James, Legislative Aide to Senator Gwen Margolis, advised that Senator Margolis wished to express her concern over this for the safety of the schoolchildren. She added that the Senator is very anxious to resolve this matter prior to the opening of the school. Bob Welsh, Education/Schools Committee Chairperson, asked FDOT to take off their engineering hats and look at what could happen to kids walking on 183rd Street with cars coming out of a blind driveway. Commissioner Goodman said that FDOT should give the City a little more latitude on Collins Avenue. Vice Mayor Thaler said that FDOT has stated that they want to move traffic, but unless something drastic is done there, the traffic is going to stop every single morning on 2