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10/23/2000CLEARWATER BEACH ENTRYWAY ADVISORY COMMITTEE CITY OF CLEARWATER October 23, 2000 Present: Commissioner Ed Hart Facilitator/Non Voting Chair Lucile Casey Committee Member – arrived 4:10 p.m. Hoyt Hamilton Committee Member David Hemerick Committee Member Bruce Littler Committee Member Arthur Lupien Committee Member Dan Moran Committee Member Roger Schulman Committee Member Carl Wagenfohr Committee Member Bob Bickerstaffe Alternate Bill Jonson Alternate Absent: Herb Brown Committee Member Also present: Mahshid Arasteh Public Works Administrator Paul Bertels Traffic Operations Manager Lt. John Slack Police Department Cynthia E. Goudeau City Clerk Patricia O. Sullivan Board Reporter To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not necessarily discussed in that order. The Chair called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. at City Hall. ITEM #1 – Approval of Minutes Member Moran moved to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of October 9, 2000, as submitted in written summation to each board member. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. ITEM #2 – Old Business Public Works Administrator Mahshid Arasteh said staff had forwarded to the contractor, drawings related to proposed above and below ground changes to the roundabout. The vault is not affected. The contractor indicated the changes would cost approximately $1.3-million. He will provide a breakdown of cost estimates by November 10, 2000. Ms. Arasteh said Barry Crown had indicated the value of his work for the Clearwater Beach Entryway Advisory Committee had reached $2,000. While he does not want to bill the City for his assistance, he will should additional time required be significant. In response to a question, she said he had stated moving the lanes away from the fountain will minimize the psychological canyon effect on drivers. Traffic Operations Manager Paul Bertels reported the City has spent $5,739.26 for interim striping and signage changes recommended by Mr. Crown. It was requested these costs be tracked on the spread sheet. It was stated Mr. Crown’s measurements had been verified and found to be conservative. ITEM #3 – Review Questions/Answers – Decide Which Ones to Review with Mr. Crown The committee reviewed committee questions and Mr. Crown’s replies for further discussion with him. In response to a question, Ms. Arasteh said if the roundabout is widened too much, drivers will be tempted to share lanes. Mr. Bertels said enlarging the radii will cause speeds to increase and pedestrian problems. Ms. Arasteh said moving the road, landscaping, and utilities are expensive projects. She said travel times must be balanced against safety and cost concerns. It was felt some of Mr. Crown’s answers were flippant and reflect a poor attitude toward committee concerns. It was felt Mr. Crown’s recommendation for the Mandalay entrance will back up traffic into the residential neighborhood every weekend. It was stated traffic will worsen after the beachfront condominium project is complete. Ms. Arasteh said Mr. Crown had indicated Roundabouts: An Informational Guide, published by USDOT and the Federal Highway Administration is only a guide. It was suggested the committee reach consensus regarding recommendations and present them to the Commission along with the Crown report. It was requested staff research if the original roundabout design included three centers. It was requested staff assemble a committee notebook to include minutes and all handouts. Traffic counts related to ingress/egress to Poinsettia Avenue before and after construction of the roundabout were requested. Ms. Arasteh reported Mr. Crown had said to be effective, a northbound bypass lane would have to extend east of Bridge 43. It was stated prior to the roundabout, north beach traffic flowed easily after the road widened west of Bridge 43. Ms. Arasteh said previous traffic signals may have helped accelerate northward movement. It was stated encouraging drivers to use a north beach parking garage would improve area economic development. It was noted Beach by Design recommends 5 parking garages. It was stated a parking garage must be constructed before the new bridge is completed. Ms. Arasteh said plumbing would have to be readjusted if the fountain’s two lowest layers are removed. It was recommended the committee consider changes to the fountain as a last resort. It was noted Mr. Crown had recommended lowering the fountain to reduce the canyon effect. As the fountain does not impair required sight distances, it was felt the structure does not affect safety. Ms. Arasteh felt moving the lanes away from the fountain’s base would reduce driver difficulties. It was noted many charette attendees had recommended changes to the fountain. It was stated the committee has a better understanding of related issues than the public following presentations, discussion, and the receipt of related information. It was stated many drivers fear driving on the inside lane. It was reported the majority of tourists who comment, praise the roundabout and the beauty of the fountain. Few complain of any difficulties. It was felt residents perceive the roundabout as more complicated than it is due to overwhelming signage and negative media coverage. Fewer problems would occur if drivers behaved courteously. It was stated spray from the fountain is dangerous when it drenches vehicle windshields and dampens the road. It was requested staff obtain an estimate on modifying the fountain so that spillage onto the roadway no longer occurs. Proposals related to parking lot access were reviewed. Ms. Arasteh said modifications may be impossible due to the parking lot’s location seaward of the CCCL (Coastal Construction Control Line). It was noted Mr. Crown had proposed a roundabout encircling the Days Inn in order to remove the Coronado/Gulfview signal light. Discussion ensued regarding the proposed traffic pattern. Mr. Bertels reported the City Commission had voted down staff’s 1986 recommendation to convert Coronado and Gulfview to one-way pairs due to strong business community opposition. It was noted Charlie Siemon, of Siemon and Larsen, opposes one-way pairs as he feels the traffic pattern would undermine Gulfview’s attractiveness as a resort destination. Discussion ensued regarding Siemon’s Beach by Design recommendations to remove gulf-front parking and realign Gulfview to attract a resort hotel. It was felt this plan subordinates the property rights of south beach property owners to the desired hotel. It was felt Mr. Siemon’s plan would attempt to change the beach from a family to a resort destination. It was requested staff question Mr. Siemon why one-way pairs are ineffective for a destination resort. It was stated the parking garages will add little parking as they must replace parking spaces to be lost along the beach front. Ms. Arasteh said a lighting analysis of the roundabout without the fountain lights is planned. ITEM #4 – Conference call with Barry Crown A conference call is planned for the beginning of next week’s meeting. Consensus was to discuss questions #1, 4, 6, 7, 11, 18, 20, 24, 28, and 35 with Mr. Crown. ITEM #5 – New Business – None. ITEM #6 – Next Meeting The next meeting is scheduled for October 30, 2000, at 4:00 p.m. at City Hall. Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 5:35 p.m.