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01/08/2001CLEARWATER BEACH ENTRYWAY ADVISORY COMMITTEE CITY OF CLEARWATER January 8, 2001 Present: Commissioner Ed Hart Facilitator/Non Voting Chair Herb Brown Committee Member – arrived 4:12 p.m. Lucile Casey Committee Member – arrived 4:19 p.m. Hoyt Hamilton Committee Member Bruce Littler Committee Member Dan Moran Committee Member – arrived 4:18 p.m. Roger Schulman Committee Member Carl Wagenfohr Committee Member Bob Bickerstaffe Committee Member Bill Jonson Alternate – arrived 4:25 p.m. Absent: Arthur Lupien Committee Member Also present: Gary Johnson Public Works Director Paul Bertels Traffic Operations Manager Lt. Mike Waters 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 Littler moved to approve the minutes of the regular meetings of November 20, November 27, and December 11, 2000 as submitted in written summation to each board member. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. ITEM #2 – Old Business Traffic Operations Manager Paul Bertels reported the loops on approaches to the roundabout will be operating within two weeks. He said the pedestrian crossing has been moved farther south on Coronado, providing storage for 24 vehicles before traffic backs into the roundabout. It was stated during the week before New Year, no police aids were on duty and gridlock occurred near 3rd Street, due to vehicles waiting to enter the parking lot. Mr. Bertels stated one truck, stopped in the outside lane, also had caused backups. He indicated some signs had been relocated farther east of the roundabout entry. Lt. Mike Waters said the Police Department in December had received 13 calls on roundabout accidents and issued 3 reports. It was requested police reports indicate by which exit each accident occurs. ITEM #3 – Discussion Items a) Final Report to Commission Members were requested to submit their suggestions for the final report. New development agreements under consideration and Beach by Design plans may require modifications to committee recommendations to improve the roundabout. It was recommended data be gathered during Spring Break before changes are made. Staff will compile member comments and present the committee with a draft final report. It was stated none of the members had recommended removing the fountain. Concern was expressed the committee should not ignore comments from citizens who had attended the charettes and supported that action. It was recommended another charette be scheduled to provide information to the community regarding committee recommended changes. Concern was expressed proposed changes to the Mandalay Avenue entry will increase delays for north beach residents. It was stated the roundabout had improved traffic significantly during last year’s Spring Break when compared with previous years. It was stated Barry Crown feels marking lanes in the roundabout is important because American drivers are unfamiliar with the design. It was recommended lane markings be eliminated and traffic enforcement be increased. Concern was expressed removing lane markings will cause speeds to increase. It was stated foreign visitors were impressed by the roundabout and had commented on its beauty. It was recommended no changes be made to the roundabout until another season of data is gathered and Beach by Design plans are firmed. The majority of the committee agreed the final report should recommend nothing be done until: 1) Beach by Design plans are approved; 2) negotiations related to three proposed beach development projects are completed; and 3) data is gathered from the 2001 season. It was requested staff also provide roundabout data related to Super Bowl weekend. It was recommended the City Commission approve additional funds for police enforcement of pedestrian and vehicular laws. Concern was expressed ticketing visitors hurts tourism. In response to a suggestion, Lt. Waters stated Police Officers must retain discretion to issue a ticket or a warning for traffic law infractions. He anticipated a decrease in police activity on the beach will result from budget cuts. It was recommended the City provide the Police Department with adequate resources to enforce traffic laws. It was felt no problems have occurred related to pedestrian traffic. Concern was expressed Mr. Crown’s recommended changes would increase vehicular speeds through the roundabout and endanger pedestrians. Discussion ensued regarding enforcement needs. It was recommended entry speeds be enforced. It was suggested the sign that reports a vehicle’s speed would slow traffic. It was suggested many drivers are not aware the speed limit through the roundabout is 15 mph. Mr. Bertels said FDOT (Florida Department of Transportation) opposed lowering speeds for westbound traffic east of the small bridge. Support was expressed for color coordinated signage for North and South beach. It was recommended staff submit to FDOT designs for larger signs on the causeway. Concern was expressed Coronado is not the destination for most tourists and that directional signs should include Gulfview. It was recommended the City rename Coronado “Gulfview” between the roundabout and Gulfview. It was stated proposed development may use Coronado as an entrance. It was noted Gulfview may be redesigned to discourage vehicular traffic. Member Littler moved to submit the committee’s recommendation to the City Commission that no changes be made at this time, that staff should monitor roundabout traffic, that if changes are deemed necessary the committee be reformed to review them, that when Beach by Design plans are finalized the committee review changed conditions, that staff educate the public regarding use of the roundabout and enforce traffic laws, and that new signage be installed on the causeway. The motion was duly seconded. Discussion ensued. Concern was expressed the motion would disband the committee. Member Littler withdrew his motion. The seconder agreed. Member Hamilton moved to postpone major changes to the roundabout until data is obtained from one more season, but for staff to make minor changes such as changes to signage and marking lanes, and that the Committee start meeting monthly. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. Member Casey moved for members to submit their suggestions for staff to draft a summary of committee efforts, and for the committee to finalize the Committee’s Report at the meeting of February 5, 2001. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. Member Wagenfohr moved to encourage the City Commission to increase funding to the Police Department to enforce vehicle and pedestrian safety laws on the beach during peak times. The motion was duly seconded. It was felt increased Police Department funding should not be limited to the beach. Upon the vote being taken Members Casey, Moran, Schulman, and Wagenfohr voted “Aye”; Members Brown, Hamilton, Bruce Littler, and Bickerstaffe voted “Nay.” Motion failed. b) Educational Model It was stated a new educational model needs to be designed to instruct residents and visitors on the correct way to use the roundabout. The current brochure is incorrect. C-View will produce a video on correct movements through the roundabout. It was suggested the video also be aired on the County and School Board stations. It was recommended information related to using the roundabout be included in See Magazine as few visitors would view the video. It was suggested educational materials be distributed by the local Chambers of Commerce and beach hotels/motels. It was stated Bay News 9 also could broadcast related information. It was recommended educational materials also be provided to the Safety Council and Pinellas County School District for its driver education programs as turning right from the left lane is an awkward movement for most drivers. It was stated staff can develop the brochure. Mr. Bertels stated Vail, Colorado will send information regarding their roundabout if they are able to locate it. It was noted residents are now familiar with the roundabout and are more comfortable using it. Mr. Bertels said feedback from agencies across the country has been positive. The importance of using turn signals was noted. Member Wagenfohr moved to encourage staff to develop an education model with assistance from the community, to include the National Safety Council and Pinellas County Schools. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. ITEM #4 – New Business It was stated backups on the causeway to the main bridge during the Outback Bowl moved twice as fast now that the roundabout is in place. In response to a question, Mr. Bertels reported a large sand sculpture at Sand Key Park is planned for the Super Bowl. Trucks transporting the sand will access the park via Ulmerton Road, instead of via the roundabout. Members requested new parking passes. ITEM #6 – Next Meeting The next meeting is scheduled for February 5, 2001, at 4:00 p.m. at City Hall. Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 5:50 p.m.