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03/19/2001CLEARWATER BEACH ENTRYWAY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING CITY OF CLEARWATER March 19, 2001 Present: Commissioner Ed Hart Facilitator/Non Voting Chair Herb Brown Committee Member – arrived 4:09 p.m. Lucile Casey Committee Member Hoyt Hamilton Committee Member Bruce Littler Committee Member Roger Schulman Committee Member Carl Wagenfohr Committee Member Bob Bickerstaffe Committee Member Absent: Arthur Lupien Committee Member Dan Moran Committee Member Bill Jonson Alternate Also present: Mahshid Arasteh Public Works Administrator Gary Johnson Public Works Director – arrived 4:07 p.m. Paul Bertels Traffic Operations Manager Lt. Mike Waters Police Department – departed 5:11 p.m. Cynthia E. Goudeau City Clerk Patricia O. Sullivan Board Reporter The Chair called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. at City Hall. To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not necessarily discussed in that order. ITEM #1 - Approval of Minutes Member Casey moved to approve the minutes of the regular meetings of February 5, and March 5, 2001, as submitted in written summation to each board member. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. ITEM #2 - Old Business - None. ITEM #3 - Discussion Items a) Roundabout Report Review AND b) Executive Summary & Specific Recommendations Commissioner Hart said next week he will present to the committee a summary draft to meet the Mayor’s request that the committee submit a report by the end of the month. A minority statement will be attached. The committee previously had determined the final report could not be prepared until after data collected during Spring Break is analyzed. It was noted any future changes related to Beach by Design, such as the location of parking garages, must be coordinated with traffic movement through the roundabout. Frustration was expressed that alternatives to Crown Report recommendations had not been presented. Concern was expressed the City must be certain incorporating Crown Report recommendations into the roundabout is worth the financial investment of approximately $1.5-million. It was suggested a police presence would slow traffic and improve safety. It was felt motorists can not read all of the signage along the causeway entrance to the roundabout. In a show of hands, Members Brown, Casey, Hamilton, Littler, and Bickerstaffe opposed and Members Wagenfohr and Schulman supported adopting Crown Report recommendations. It was suggested staff’s recommendation to remove striping from the roundabout be tried after Spring Break. Public Works Administrator Mahshid Arasteh expressed concern regarding the marking of lanes entering the roundabout. It was noted in Vail, Colorado, up to three lanes at one point access the unmarked lanes of the roundabout. It was stated the Vail roundabout has a larger circumference and fewer pedestrians. It was noted traffic through Clearwater’s roundabout is much greater than anticipated. It was stated cold weather is responsible for this year’s traffic decrease. Member Littler moved that problems related to the roundabout are so complex, the committee believes the cost benefits of spending between $1.3- and $1.5-million to implement the Crown Report recommendations have not been demonstrated. The motion was duly seconded. Members Brown, Casey, Hamilton, Littler, and Bickerstaffe voted “Aye”; Members Schulman and Wagenfohr voted “Nay.” Motion carried. It was stated the committee’s recommendation would indicate the importance of anticipating the effects of future construction related to Beach by Design, the location of future parking garages, and the final decision related to three development proposals. Member Littler moved to recommend that the City Commission retain a Beach Entryway Advisory Committee to review problems with the roundabout in light of major changes to occur as the beach is redeveloped. The motion was duly seconded. It was felt committee members act as liaisons between the community and City regarding issues related to the roundabout. It was stated the committee can provide information to the City Commission when action is needed. It was indicated the beach suffers few traffic problems during most of the year. It was stated the roundabout works much better to move traffic than did the previous road configuration and traffic signals. It was felt the decrease in roundabout accidents has resulted from installing candlesticks in the roundabout at the causeway. It was suggested the roundabout may be more efficient than the previous intersection but it is less safe. Upon the vote being taken, the motion carried unanimously. Lt. Waters stated a reduction in the number of Police Aides on the beach is a result of a department budget reduction. Discussion ensued regarding the matrix listing committee comments. It was felt the committee had rejected a proposal to increase funding for police enforcement as the committee cannot dictate these issues to the City Commission and had felt increased funding should not be directed only to the beach. It was stated it still is too dark in the roundabout at night. Lt. Waters reported traffic moved smoothly when staff disconnected the signal at the crosswalk on Coronado Avenue while they were present. Staff was able to change the signal light when a handicapped person required that accommodation. The department paid overtime for these services. It was estimated only 10% of motorists use their turn signals in the roundabout. Lt. Waters said the major point of conflict is at the Coronado exit. Concern was expressed trucks speed through the roundabout. It was requested committee members rate the issues listed in the comments matrix and forward it to staff this week along with alternative suggestions. c) Other Concerns Roadway Design for Motorcycle Safety A page from the National Safety Foundation report on roadway characteristics important for motorcycle safety was distributed. Concern was expressed regarding hazards in the roundabout including slick materials used to paint directional arrows on the pavement that interfere with traction and fluid spills, such as water from the fountain, which can cause a loss of traction and result in a crash. Fountain Operation Concern was expressed the annual cost to operate the fountain is $0.25-million and that the fountain uses 1-million gallons of water monthly due to spillage and evaporation. Ms. Arasteh suggested reclaimed water could be used. Public Works Director Gary Johnson said staff will report on costs related to the fountain, including the cost to raze and replace it with landscaping. It was felt enlarging the roundabout by narrowing the fountain area would not be helpful. It was requested staff estimate the cost of widening the roundabout by six feet. Ms. Arasteh indicated the Crown Report could be used as a guide for that cost as implementing those recommendations would widen most of the roundabout by five feet or more. ITEM #4 – New Business - None. ITEM #5 – Next Meeting The next meeting is scheduled for March 26, 2001. Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 5:21 p.m.