MINUTES

TRAFFIC COMMISSION

Monday, April 27, 2009

City Hall, Room 310

5:30 pm

 

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:  Vice Chairperson Brad Hopp, Alderman Andy Nicholson (arrived at 5:40 P.M.), Charles Karow, Mark Schuster, Matt Kuepers, and Lieutenant Brad Florence

 

MEMBERS ABSENT:     None

 

OTHERS PRESENT:      Recording Secretary and Traffic Engineer Dave Hansen

 

GENERAL BUSINESS

 

1.         Approval of the minutes from the March 30, 2009 Traffic Commission meeting.

 

A motion was made by C. Karow, seconded by M. Schuster, and carried to approve the minutes from the March 30, 2009 Traffic Commission meeting.

 

2.         Election of Officers to the Traffic Commission due to the resignation of Chairperson Judy Kuiper.

 

            A motion was made by M. Schuster, seconded by Lt. Florence and carried to appoint Brad Hopp as Chairman of the Traffic Commission.

 

A second motion was made by B. Hopp, seconded by M. Schuster and carried to appoint Matt Kuepers as Vice-Chairman of the Traffic Commission.

 

3.         Review of the 2007 first quarter serious/fatal traffic crashes within the City of Green Bay.

 

Lt. Florence clarified the initial request to be a review of the 2008 fourth quarter and 2009 first quarter serious/fatal traffic crashes within the City of Green Bay.  He handed out the reports, summarizing 1 fatal and 2 serious injury crashes in the fourth quarter 2008 report and 1 serious injury crash in the first quarter of 2009.

 

Crash #1, 2008 4th Qtr:  Serious Injury crash.  Wed Oct 8, 2008, 9:29 PM, 1200 E Mason St (just west of Irwin Ave).  Female pedestrian, age 59, serious injury, male vehicle motorist, age 39, no injury.  Pedestrian was crossing E Mason St midblock wearing dark clothes, rain conditions, nighttime, and had been reported drinking during the day.  Westbound motorist in curb lane hit pedestrian.  Both parties determined at fault. 

 

Crash #2, 2008 4th Qtr:  Fatal crash.  Fri Nov 21, 2008, 8:49 PM, Superior Rd at Baird Creek Rd, female operator, age 40, traveling northbound on Superior Rd failed to negotiate the left-turn onto Baird Creek Rd, drove through guardrail, and struck a tree.  Motorist pronounced dead at the scene.  Motorist BAC = 0.182%.  Speed and no seat belt also contributed to fatality.

 

Crash #3, 2008 4th Qtr:  Serious Injury crash.  Thu Nov 27, 2008, 1:54 AM, 2843 Newberry Ave.  Eastbound vehicle traveling at 79 mph in 25 mph zone, occupied by 4 people, failed to negotiate slight right curve in the road and struck a tree at 63 mph.  Driver, 23 year old male, sustained life-threatening injuries.  Front passenger, 23 year old male, and rear side passenger, 23 year old male, sustained serious injuries.  Driver’s side rear passenger, 20-year old male, sustained less serious injuries.  Speed, no seat belt usage, and alcohol were contributing factors.  Motorist and 1 passenger issued citations.

 

Crash #1, 2009 1st Qtr:  Serious Injury crash.  Mon Feb 23, 2009, 7:54 AM, Pine St at Monroe Ave.  Westbound commercial garbage truck was turning left (southbound) onto Monroe Ave when it struck and ran over a westbound pedestrian in the south crosswalk.  Driver, male, age 47, drove 1 block before realizing pedestrian, female, age 49, was hit.  Pedestrian suffered extremely serious injuries.  No alcohol was detected but drug screen results are pending.

 

            A motion was made by M. Schuster, seconded by M. Kuepers, and carried that the 2008 fourth quarter and the 2009 first quarter serious/fatal traffic crash reports within the City of Green Bay be received and placed on file.

 

INITIAL REQUESTS

 

4.         Request by Ald. Theisen on behalf of a resident for a crossing guard study at the intersection of Monroe Avenue and Porlier Street.

           

            Lt. Florence stated that Crossing Guard Administrator Jean Rakers received a phone call from a parent requesting a crossing guard at Monroe/Porlier by Aldo Leopold School.  J. Rakers explained to her that the City offers a crossing guard that works both the Monroe/Eliza and Quincy/Eliza intersections, 1 block south of Monroe/Porlier.  The parent said that location is not convenient.  Lt. Florence clarified that there also is a crossing guard at Cass/Monroe.

 

            Dave Hansen, City Traffic Engineer, stated that a crossing guard study was done in May 1996.  The crossing guard warrant was not met at that time.  He discussed the details of that report.  He forecasted that a few things have changed at the intersection, but likely not enough to warrant a crossing guard.  He discussed the details of this forecast. 

 

            A discussion took place about the proximity of 2 crossing guards to Monroe/Porlier, the number of children crossing, that children should cross where a crossing guard is provided, that walking through the neighborhood to existing crossing guard locations is an option, that Monroe/Porlier is signal controlled with pedestrian indications, and the work tasks to complete a crossing guard study. 

 

            A motion was made by M. Kuepers, seconded by C. Karow, and carried that the request for a crossing guard study at the intersection of Monroe Avenue and Porlier Street be referred to DPW for study.

 

5.         Request by Ald. VanderLeest for an update on the plan to install crosswalks and sidewalks in conjunction with Brown County at the intersection of Hazelwood Lane and Wood Lane.

 

            D. Hansen stated that half of the intersection exists within the Village of Ashwaubenon.  DPW is waiting for an answer from the Village whether they will install curb ramps and sidewalks on the east and south approaches.  If all parties agree to the installation, it makes sense to have 1 contractor perform all the work.

 

            A discussion took place that curb ramps and crosswalks should only be installed at the intersection if they connect (or would connect) to sidewalk on Wood Ln or Hazelwood Ln.  The Lombardi/41interchange project was discussed with respect to proposed bike/ped paths. 

 

            A motion was made by Ald. Nicholson, seconded by Lt. Florence, and carried that the request for an update on the plan to install crosswalks and sidewalks in conjunction with Brown County at the intersection of Hazelwood Lane and Wood Lane be postponed until the next Traffic Commission meeting on June 1, 2009.

 

6.         Request by Ald. VanderLeest, on behalf of Mary Mitchell (1105 Downer Street) to install AUTISTIC CHILD AREA signs at the beginning and end of Downer Street.

 

            D. Hansen stated that these signs would be of similar category to DEAF CHILD, BLIND CHILD, and wheelchair symbol advance warning signs, where DPW-Traffic has established a policy that they only install them when ordered by Traffic Commission and Council.  He stated they also keep a log of their need by contacting the requestors every two years for need of sign.  D. Hansen stated he researched this type of sign, and it’s very rare in other states.  He questioned whether such signs would confuse some motorists with the words “autistic child” because they might not know how to detect or react to an autistic child, versus “blind child” or “deaf child”, where it is obvious how motorists should react to them. 

           

            A motion was made by Ald. Nicholson, seconded by Lt. Florence, and carried to install AUTISTIC CHILD AREA signs in both directions near 1105 Downer Street.

 

7.         Request by Ald. VanderLeest to conduct a sidewalk study along Hobart Drive.  (Referred from Improvement & Services Committee held on March 24, 2009)

 

            D. Hansen showed a map showing existing sidewalk locations.  According to Ald. VanderLeest, there are reports of high pedestrian activity from the apartments and mobile home park on Hobart Dr.  M. Kuepers stated he has seen this type of pedestrian activity.  MacArthur Elementary also generates pedestrian traffic.  Some pedestrians are walking to the W Mason St South Frontage Road. 

 

            A motion was made by M. Schuster, seconded by C. Karow, and carried that the request to conduct a sidewalk study along Hobart Drive be referred to staff for study.

 

TERMINATION OF TRIAL PERIODS

 

8.         That, on a 90-day trial, to establish a NO STOPPING OR STANDING zone on the east side of Broadway from Dousman Street to a point 180 feet north of Dousman Street.

 

            A motion was made by Ald. Nicholson, seconded by C. Karow, and carried that a NO STOPPING OR STANDING zone on the east side of Broadway from Dousman Street to a point 180 feet north of Dousman Street be established and adopted by ordinance.

 

9.         That, on a 90-day trial, to remove the NO PARKING zone on the east side of Adams Street from a point 60 feet south of Pine Street to Pine Street.

 

            A motion was made by Ald. Nicholson, seconded by C. Karow, and carried that the removal of the NO PARKING zone on the east side of Adams Street from a point 60 feet south of Pine Street to Pine Street be adopted by ordinance.

 

10.       That, on a 90-day trial, to establish a NO PARKING zone on the east side of Adams Street from a point 100 feet south of Pine Street to Pine Street.

 

            A motion was made by Ald. Nicholson, seconded by C. Karow, and carried that a NO PARKING zone on the east side of Adams Street from a point 100 feet south of Pine Street to Pine Street be established and adopted by ordinance.

 

There being no other items of discussion, a motion was made by Ald. Nicholson, seconded by Lt. Florence, and carried to adjourn from the regular orders of business.  The meeting ended at 5:59 P.M.  The next Traffic Commission meeting is scheduled for Monday, June 1, 2009, in Room 310 at 5:30 P.M.