2000-01-26 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Minutes of the Meeting of June 24, 1999 Page 11 Robert Siedlecki, 8535 Baltimore Street, stated he uses 89th Avenue to go to Northtown Shopping Center -nd the grocery store. He stated if the road was closed, it would bring traffic down Baltimore Street to the rontage road so it would not benefit his block. He stated he does not support the closure. Robert Hapy, 8800 Baltimore Street, stated his agreement that there was a lot of cut-thru traffic on Baltimore Street that travels at a very high speed. He stated they experience high traffic levels all day but it was higher during peak hours. Mr. Hapy stated this was a problem and he does not want the traffic on his street either. He stated he did not support the petition that was circulated. He stated he would be inconvenienced since they use 89th Avenue and understand it will push traffic to other roads, but he supported the closure. Mr. Hapy stated that drivers of a licensed vehicle have the right to traverse on any street they want but this was a behavior that needs to be changed. He suggested that the placement of a barrier would do that and discourage cut-thru traffic, reduce the speed, and the level of traffic. A resident, who resides at 8811 Goodhue Street, agreed the barricade would lessen the traffic to Davenport and Baltimore Streets but it would increase the traffic to the service road and Goodhue Street. He asked if sidewalks or bike trails were an option to increase the safety of children. He suggested that a police presence might help lower the speed of the vehicles. He also suggested that parents take the responsibility to keep kids out of the road. He stated that closing a road for only two blocks will not benefit everyone and it will only detour the traffic to another street. A resident, who resides at 8783 Davenport Street, stated they were home last night but the survey was not presented to them or several of their neighbors. She stated she participated in the Initiative group for 7 months and they did think about the safety of all neighborhood children, not just those on Davenport and Baltimore Streets. She stated it was a safety versus a convenience issue and she supported the temporary closure to see what happens. Mayor Ryan stated that between the input provided tonight, telephone calls, and letters, the Council has an understanding of the issues. He commented on the growing problems with traffic levels and rate of speed. He stated that other closures have resulted in forcing that traffic to other streets and speed bumps must be paid for by those living on the street. Councilmember Swanson asked why the temporary closure term was one year instead of a shorter period of time. The Community Development Director explained the original request was for a permanent closure that was reduced to one year. He suggested that a period of three months would probably provide an indication of whether the total number of trips were reduced or simply diverted. The City Engineer stated that he does not know that a one-year period was a "magic number" but it may take two to three weeks to erect a barrier during which time monitoring could be conducted. Then, during the barricade, additional monitoring can be conducted. Councilmember Swanson stated he believes a massive traffic problem exists and it appeared the entire neighborhood recognized that but had different ideas about the solution. The City Engineer suggested allowing monitoring until the second Council meeting in October. Action 99-325 (AI 11.13) - ~oved by Councilmember Swanson, seconded by Councilmember Rose, that Resolution No. 99-190, Authorizing the Temporary Closure of 89th Avenue NE, City of Blaine," be amended to indicate submittal of the report not later than the second Council meeting in October, 1999.