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01/06/1997 - North Greenwood Community MeetingNORTH GREENWOOD COMMUNITY MEETING CITY OF CLEARWATER January 6, 1997 Present: Kathy S. Rice Deputy City Manager Rich Baier City Engineer Dan Mayer Research Environmentalist Terry Finch Environmental Programs Supervisor Brenda Moses Board Reporter The meeting was called to order at 6:35 p.m. by Reverend William Graham at the Main Library, Adler Room, 100 North Osceola Avenue, Clearwater. 1. Welcome and Introductions City Research Environmentalist Dan Mayer introduced himself and welcomed residents to this meeting. He acknowledged he had met some of the residents who had attended the North Greenwood Community Task Team meetings. 2. Identification of Action Plan Items (Engineering Department) Mr. Mayer reviewed handouts regarding action items and timelines the City has established for the North Greenwood community. Many of these items were derived from meetings held by the North Greenwood Community Task Team. Mr. Mayer reviewed issues and start and end dates anticipated for each issue. He noted some of the processes have already been started. Target dates for other items will need to be flexible due to permitting and other issues. A. Environmental The first 5 items related to environmental issues including 1) Beginning the development of a watershed management plan for Stevenson’s Creek, including dredge feasibility studies and public participation workshops; 2) Begin to address salvage yard runoff into Stevenson’s Creek. The City will determine level of community concern and work in cooperation with County and State agencies as necessary to solve problems; 3) Define community education programs in light of existing programs and opportunities created through community outreach; 4) Address opportunities to retrofit stormwater outfalls for water quality improvement through an evaluation of the existing storm water drainage system. Present a budget representing costs of pursuing defined retrofit opportunities; and 5) Complete an inventory of septic systems to determine number, location and feasibility of connection to City sanitary sewer system with a proposed budget of connection costs. B. Facilities Improvement Items 6, 7 and 9 related to facilities improvement including 1) Complete approved landscape and buffering plan for reclaimed water tank; 2) Design 30 space parking lot along Russell Street; and 3) Inventory and remove, where permission has been granted, Brazilian Pepper along Stevenson’s Creek, downstream of Betty Lane. C. Public Safety Items 8 and 10 included 1) Solicit support from Pinellas County for removal of asbestos siding. Assist neighborhood in inventorying extent of problem and resources needed; and 2) Evaluate traffic flow and public safety conditions in North Greenwood areas. Enhance safety and traffic flow where appropriate. A resident asked about asbestos removal in the community. It was remarked that the presence of asbestos generally first becomes apparent when housing renovations are done. There is minimal or no risk to inhabitants of homes until the renovations begin. It was noted the City will review all existing information prior to implementation of any further surveys. 3. Discussion of Traffic Safety Issues Mr. Mayer referred to a handout entitled “N. Greenwood Neighborhood Traffic Analysis, Greenwood Avenue Traffic Crash Data”, and “N. Greenwood Neighborhood Traffic Analysis, Myrtle Avenue Traffic Crash Data”. He explained the City inventories the number of accidents reported by the Police Department. The data presented encompassed the period of 1994 through October 31, 1996. A resident remarked there was no turn signal on Drew Street and Greenwood Avenue. Mr. Mayer noted the City Engineering Department will continue to review the major areas of concern for public safety and traffic safety issues in the community. Discussion ensued regarding the new Winn Dixie store being opened in the community. Mr. Mayer stated the frontage of the store will be on Cleveland Street, and a side entrance is planned on Myrtle Avenue. No egress is planned for Drew Street. The development will not extend to Drew Street. A resident expressed his concern for the traffic flow which may be generated from people traveling through the Plaza Park area to reach the new Winn Dixie. Since the Winn Dixie on Highland Avenue is scheduled for closure he feels that traffic will increase on Greenwood Avenue and Pennsylvania and Vine Streets. He noted those streets have on-street parking and are very narrow. Children play in the park and concern was expressed about their safety. City Engineer Rich Baier noted the speed limit on Pennsylvania Avenue, in the area of the park, has been lowered to 20 miles per hour. He indicated the traffic will be more concentrated on Myrtle Avenue west of the new Winn Dixie and on Greenwood Avenue. The City Engineering Department will keep residents abreast of the status of this situation. A resident requested that the City consider placing a stop sign in the middle of Park Street in the Plaza Park area because of the children’s park. In response to this request, Mr. Baier explained the process of “traffic calming”. Numerous stop signs sometimes causes people to speed up more than they normally would to make up for lost time. There are ways other than traffic signals and stop signs which would change the traffic patterns in an area. Changing the texture of a roadway by placing interlocking paver blocks, incorporating cul-de-sacs, narrowing roads, designating one-way streets, and other changes can be implemented to alter traffic patterns. Another resident noted all traffic patterns throughout Greenwood must be addressed, not just one area of the community. He stated traffic patterns affect economic development in an area and requested that the City accommodate traffic flow along busy streets, specifically along Seminole, Greenwood and Palmetto. The City will continue to monitor these issues and residents will be kept informed. A resident expressed her concern about the street blockage on Hart, Jones and Jackson Streets, and why they were blocked. Another resident said the community had ample opportunity to attend meetings prior to the street blockage. He stated to his knowledge, the majority of residents were in favor of those street blockages. He noted all the owners in that neighborhood had been contacted. Mr. Mayer asked that residents pay attention to signage in the community with regard to activities, such directional signs to the Martin Luther King Center, and other public amenities. A resident noted the bridge on Betty Lane obstructs the view of the side street traffic. It was also noted that it is difficult to enter the roadway from Overly Street. Mr. Baier said the City will inspect those areas. Mr. Mayer referred to a handout entitled “Traffic Volume Data Bank, 1992 - 1996, Traffic Engineering, City of Clearwater”. He noted the handout is a representative 24 hour traffic volume count on a map of the City for years 1992 through 1996. This information is used to determine traffic flow and pattern changes. 4. Discussion of Other Tasks Mr. Mayer emphasized the purpose of community meetings is to obtain community input and disburse information on relative issues in the neighborhood. Contributions from all groups and residents in the area are encouraged. Questions were raised about the status of Alternate 19. A resident stated the DOT’s proposal was to alter traffic flow on Myrtle Avenue from Fort Harrison Avenue, diverting traffic southbound, and having only one northbound lane. Mr. Baier said the DOT is no longer considering that plan. They are discussing plans for 2 southbound lanes, a center turn lane, and a northbound lane on Fort Harrison, and the opposite on Myrtle Avenue from Cleveland Street to Lakeview Avenue. He noted the DOT must notify the City as to their plans. In response to a question, Mr. Baier said from Highland Avenue to Northeast Coachman Road, Drew Street will be 5 lanes. From Highland Avenue west, the DOT had considered re-striping the road to 1 eastbound lane, 1 westbound lane, and 1 center bi-directional lane. However, the DOT has nothing planned for the next 5 years from Highland Avenue west. 5. Communication Plan & Schedule of Meetings Discussion ensued regarding an effective communication plan to keep residents informed of the status of action plans in the community. A resident noted there is a community organizational meeting scheduled the last Thursday of every month, and leaders from several organizations meet. It was suggested a City liaison attend those meetings and update the community. Residents were also in favor of the City publishing and distributing a monthly or quarterly newsletter to all community groups regarding the status of community issues and City action plans. 6. Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 8:00 p.m.