MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COMMISSION/CITY MANAGER WORKSHOP, CITY OF HALLANDALE BEACH, FLORIDA, HELD ON MONDAY, MARCH 28, 2011 AT 6:00 P.M., CITY COMMISSION CHAMBERS 400 S. FEDERAL HIGHWAY HALLANDALE BEACH, FL 33009
1. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Cooper called the meeting to order at 6:08 P.M.
2. ROLL CALL
Commissioners Lewy, London and Ross, Vice Mayor Sanders, Mayor Cooper, City Manager Antonio, and City Attorney Jove – All Present
Joe Corradino, City’s Traffic Consultant, The Corradino Group, and Linda Laskin, Representative, Broward County Traffic Engineering Division, were also in attendance at the meeting.
3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
4. CITY BUSINESS
A. Discussion of Traffic Calming Devices (Staff: Utilities & Engineering) (See Backup) AR#004/11
City Manager Antonio, provided background information on the Item and turned the presentation over to staff. Rick Labinsky, City Engineer, gave a presentation outlining the following, and answered questions posed by the City Commission:
Purpose of Workshop Types of Traffic Calming Devices (TCDs) Available Considerations Recommendations and Analysis NE 8th & NE 10th Avenue Considerations Review of Existing Policy
The City Commission discussed staff’s presentation and reached consensus on the following:
Consensus
- Reduce Speed Limits at neighborhood streets from 30 mph to 25 mph: staff to research which streets could be affected by this change and submit a “blanket” request to Broward County, Engineering Division.
- Speed Humps/Tables: staff to revise the City’s practices regarding their spacing (depending on the length of the road), building, marking, and signage, and provide recommendation to synchronize – these are to be included in the revision to Administrative Policy 2015.015/R1.
- Staff to include in revisions to Administrative Policy 2015.015/R1: policy to place walkways, speed calming devices of playground areas.
- Staff to evaluate the feasibility, costs, and effectiveness of narrowing neighborhood streets and/or widening sidewalks as a speed calming device tool.
The City Commission discussed NE 8th and NE 10th Avenue considerations.
MOTION BY COMMISSIONER LEWY TO DISCONTINUE/ELIMINATE THE PROJECT FOR THE STREET CONVERSION OF NE 8TH AND NE 10TH AVENUES FROM ONE TO TWO-WAY STREETS.
Commissioner London seconded the Motion for discussion.
Mayor Cooper opened the floor for public comments.
Arnold Cooper, 100 Golden Isles Drive, Hallandale Beach, spoke in support of light synchronization, the need for more accurate signalization, and the use of auxiliary police officers.
Robert Selz, 717 Layne Blvd., Hallandale Beach, spoke in opposition of converting NE 8th and 10th Avenues from one-way to two-way streets, as well as the need for increased pedestrian safety measures through the installation of traffic calming devices.
Ivonne Aznarez, 226 NE 10th Avenue, Hallandale Beach, spoke in support of closure of the Gulfstream Way exit road and suggested installation of traffic calming devices at the entrance of NE 10th Avenue.
Angie Wolfe, 1007 NE 5th Street, Hallandale Beach, spoke in opposition of converting NE 8th and NE 10th Avenues to two-way streets, and in support of narrowing streets as a traffic calming measure.
Jan Hansen, Representative, Gulfstream Park, 501 S. Federal Highway, Hallandale Beach, spoke in support of the installation of traffic calming devices. However, he indicated that further research and analysis is necessary concerning the elimination of the traffic light at NE 10th Avenue and Gulfstream Way.
Etty Simms, 1000 NE 5th Street, Hallandale Beach, spoke in support of eliminating the northbound thru movement from the signal at NE 10th Avenue to reduce cut-thru traffic; and the need for stop signs.
Arturo O’Neil, 502 Holiday Drive, Hallandale Beach, spoke on the need for additional community input through surveys, and in opposition of converting NE 8th and NE 10th Avenues to two-way streets.
Catherine Kim-Owens, Diplomat Parkway, Hallandale Beach, spoke on the need for traffic studies to be conducted during the peak months of January thru April and asked for further research to be done regarding light synchronization.
MARCH 28, 2011 2 Jacqueline Crucet, 1024 NE 5th Street, Hallandale Beach, spoke in opposition of converting NE 8th and NE 10th Avenues to two-way streets and in support of the installation of traffic calming devices throughout the City. She further addressed the need for more landscaping along NE 10th Avenue and in support of eliminating the northbound thru traffic on NE 10th Avenue.
Dave Smith, 22 Coconut Avenue, Hallandale Beach, spoke in support of Arnold Cooper’s comments regarding auxiliary police officers at traffic lights, the need for additional signage indicating the location of existing traffic calming devices, the need for signage on US-1, northbound, indicating lane merging.
Linda Cox, 23 NW 10th Street, Hallandale Beach, spoke in support of converting Dixie Highway to a two-way street and the need for more police patrol along NW 10 th Street due to increase cut thru and commercial traffic.
Scott Conner, Design Professional, Hollywood, spoke in support of installing appropriate signage, increased landscaping, narrowing lanes.
Mayor Cooper closed the floor for public comment.
Consensus
- NW 10th Street: add to Areas of Traffic Concern List.
- While evaluating Areas of Traffic Concern, Engineering staff is to coordinate with Police Department to also perform an evaluation/provide data on police traffic enforcement activities.
MOTION BY COMMISSIONER LEWY TO CALL THE QUESTION.
Commissioner Ross requested the maker of the Motion to withdraw his Motion to allow for continuance of the discussion.
Commissioner Lewy withdrew his Motion.
After further discussion by the City Commission, Mayor Cooper called the Question.
MOTION BY COMMISSIONER LEWY, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER LONDON, TO CANCEL THE PROJECT FOR THE STREET CONVERSION OF NE 8TH AND 10TH AVENUES FROM ONE WAY TO TWO-WAY STREETS. The Motion carried on a 3/2 Voice vote (Commissioner Ross and Mayor Cooper voted No).
Commissioner London left the meeting at 9:13 P.M.
Consensus
- NE 8th & NE 10th Ave. Considerations: staff to evaluate the impacts of options B) Eliminate the northbound thru movement from the signal at NE 10th avenue to reduce cut-thru traffic; and C) Eliminate the southbound and northbound left turns
MARCH 28, 2011 3 at NE 8th Avenue, leaving only a westbound left for Sage Plaza or eliminate the signal altogether, as presented in the White Paper.
- Adopt Speed Tables, either solid or split – as the standard traffic calming device tool to be utilized at neighborhood streets, and to evaluate other Areas of Traffic Concern on an individual basis.
- Pending Requests for the installation of traffic calming devices at SW 2nd Ave. and County Line Rd. – staff to move forward with the process.
- Administrative Policy 2015.015/R1 – staff is to review existing policy holistically and revise as needed and based on workshop’s discussion.
MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ROSS, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER LEWY, TO ADJOURN THE MEETING. The Motion carried on a 4/0 Voice vote (Commissioner London left the meeting prior to the vote).
5. OTHER
There being no further business before the City Commission, Mayor Cooper adjourned the meeting at 9:17 P.M.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,
______Mayor
ATTEST:
______City Clerk
RECORDING SECRETARY: Sheena James, Deputy City Clerk
APPROVED BY COMMISSION: April 13, 2011
MARCH 28, 2011 4