2011-05-24_PWETC_Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Chair DeBenedet opined that the timeliest discussion should be the organized trash collection issue. Member Vanderwall opined that the City Council not be given conclusions, since there are many different opinions within the community and the City Council was not privy to the background research and information compiled by the PWET Commission's due diligence to-date. 7. Traffic Management Policy Chair DeBenedet noted the sample Policies provided by staff as part of the agenda from the cities of Blaine, MN, Evanston, IL, and Des Plaines, IL. Member Felice noted another policy from the City of Kent, WA that she had liked, specifically their rating chart assigning points for various components. While noting that such a ranking process would create more work for staff, Member Vanderwall noted that such a rating chart would provide a good way to evaluate a project and get direct participation from a wider group of stakeholders, as well as creating more support. Member Vanderwall noted staff s previous comment on three requests for such an evaluation already pending; and questioned whether part of the question for Public Works was whether that was part of the value for consideration in a ranking process. Mr. Schwartz noted the increasing number of requests being fielded for additional enforcement, traffic calming measures, and other traffic management concerns. Ms. Bloom opined that, if a policy was in place, the City would field even more requests, since the typical staff response for those requests now is that there are insufficient funds to implement such measures unless a street reconstruction was being done. Discussion ensued on how and when the point system would be used; whether extra points would be applied if construction was planned or in progress; whether traffic calming measures are a good investment and safe, or whether they are bicycle-friendly and would not force them into traffic; benefits of vertical elements and their effectiveness in slowing traffic; snow plowing and maintenance issues; advantages of signage; advantages and disadvantages of things to consider during the analysis process, as facilitated by diagrams of actual use; and how ranking would be influenced by the origination of the request. Further discussion included rationale for developing such a policy and the perceptions of how involved government should be or not be; other needs that would serve the public good but can't be accomplished due to a lack of funding and how such a policy ranked in the overall priority scheme; residential versus Page 8 of 12