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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01.18.22 Work Session minutesCOUNCIL WORK SESSION January 18, 2022 4:00 p.m. Harold E. Getty Council Chambers Members present: Boesen, Nichols, Amos, Chiles, Grieder, Wilder and Feuss. Absent: Nichols. Mr. Amos participated in the meeting via Zoom. 106864 - Boesen/Chiles that the Agenda, as proposed, be approved. Voice -vote Ayes: Six. Motion carried. 106865 - Boesen/Chiles that the minutes of December 20, 2021, as proposed, be approved. Voice -vote Ayes: Six. Motion carried. Objective: Operations update from the Finance Department. Michelle Weidner, Chief Financial Officer, provided an overview of Finance Department operations, along with contract administration for parking services and convention center management. The city council discussed Finance Department operations with the Chief Financial Officer. Objective: Discussion of the 4th Street, 5th Street, and 6th Street conversion study. Jamie Knutson, City Engineer, introduced AECOM who conducted a study about converting 4th, 5th, and 6th Streets to two-way streets. Mark Durban, AECOM, shared that they have been working with the city for a few years on a study for reconfiguring 4th, 5th, and 6th Streets. He shared that the presentation would touch on the project scope, alternatives, bicycle accommodations, and traffic analysis. They shared a few alternatives for switching the one ways to two ways. Alternative 1 included the following options: A roundabout at Six Corners, Street Reconstruction at Walnut and Franklin Streets, bike lanes on 4th Street from Six Corners to Grant Street with no left turn lane, parking on one side of the street, and two lanes with a center left turn lane for 5th and 6th Streets. Mr. Chiles questioned how traffic would flow during roundabout construction. Mark Durban explained that those are issues farther down the road once construction would begin, but at this point it's a matter of whether to include the roundabout in the study. He added that they have successfully routed traffic for large construction projects similar to this. Mr. Boesen questioned if there is a reason why the study includes extending the reconfiguration all the way out to six corners. Mark Durban explained that in the past, there had been some traffic and safety issues around Randolph and 6th Street and there was an interest in looking at slowing traffic down in the church row neighborhood. Mr. Boesen expressed cost concerns for extending the roundabout at Six Corners. Mark Durban explained that Alternative 2 would include a two-way conversion from south bound Washington Street to East High School, one-way traffic will remain on W. 4th and W. 5th from Six Corners to southbound Washington Street, two lanes with center left turn lanes on 5th Street and 6th Street. Alternative 3 removes bike lanes and parking on 4th Street, and both 5th and 6th Streets will be two lanes with center left turn lanes. Alternative 4 includes no bike lanes on 4th Street from Six Corners to Grant, no parking on both sides, and both 5th and 6th Streets will be two lanes with center left turn lanes. Page 2 Mr. Feuss questioned the potential for growth in this area and the current reality for parking on 4th and 5th and side streets as well. Mark Durban explained that the design in 1988 showed higher growth than what is out there today. Today there is more capacity out there than what we see traffic wise. One thing they will look at is the baseline traffic flows and comparative analysis of two-way traffic flows for the different alternatives. Traffic is lower on 4th Street than Kimball or 9th Street. Mr. Durban then gave an overview of bicycle accommodations. The map shows that the space currently exists for much of the proposed locations of bike lanes, they would need to be marked into the road and connected to existing trails. On 6th Street Bridge, they would be able to accommodate two lanes of traffic and include a bike lane with space left for sidewalk as well. Mr. Boesen questioned if traffic patterns by time of day have been taken into consideration with the study. Mark Durban confirmed and explained that the time of traffic flow from Washington to Franklin, they did a comparative analysis, and there has been some slight increase, approximately 30 seconds, to switching to two lanes. Mr. Grieder shared that he liked Alternative 1, with bike lanes, and parking. Mr. Boesen questioned how much bike traffic is on the roads currently. Mark Durban shared that there is not a lot of existing data on bike traffic and accidents along the corridor. Mr. Nichols questioned if there is any preliminary financial data on staging the project or doing it all at once. Mark Durban commented that it is a bit premature to talk figures. Ms. Wilder shared that she likes Alternative 1 with bike lanes on the other side of the parked cars to help keep bicyclists safe. Mr. Chiles shared that he is in favor of Alternative 1. Mr. Feuss questioned what work has been done with the schools and what has been done to help alleviate the risk for children crossing the street. Mark Durban shared that they have reached out to the principal at Irving and the schools to have them included in the reconfiguration conversation. He added that signaling at Baltimore and Western have helped with pedestrian safety at these intersections around the school. Mr. Feuss commented that option 1 is ideal but cost potentially an issue. He state that there could be some possible funds from the federal infrastructure bill. Mr. Boesen commented that he is odd man out because he is not in favor of mixing biking and parking on the street. He added that he would like to see some figures on the project and that additional funding would be needed. Mark Durban added that a public information meeting would be held in February. 106866 - Grieder/Boesen that the meeting be adjourned at 4:53 p.m. Voice -vote Ayes: Six. Motion carried. Page 3 7(eCCey Ee&chfe Kelley Felchle City Clerk