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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_Miscellaneous_08/01/1997_Public Safety Committee F Tf vP �� G � s a � � VILLAGE OF TEQUESTA � PosC Office 130� 3273 • 3�7 Tcqucs[a Dri� e ��� � o` "I'eques[a, Floiida 33469-0273 •( 761) ���-C2C� �, ; � o Fax (56:1) 57�-6203 b � ` . � . 4 v '° co t � VILLAGE OF TEQUESTA PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES AUGUST 1,1997 I. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL The Tequesta Public Safety Committee held a regularly scheduled meeting at the Village Hall, 357 Tequesta Drive, Tequesta, Florida, on Friday, August 1, 1997. The meeting was called to order at 4:34 P.M. by Chair Mayor Elizabeth A. Schauer. A roll call was taken by Betty Laur, the Recording Secretary. In attendance were: Chair Elizabeth A. Schauer and Committeemembers Co-Chair Alec Cameron and Co-Chair Joseph N. Capretta. Village Staff present were: Village Manager Thomas G. Bradford, Village Clerk Joann Manganiello, and Department Heads. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Co-Chair Capretta made a motion to approve the agenda as submitted. The motion was seconded by Co-Chair Cameron. The vote on the motion was: Elizabeth A. Schauer - for Alec Cameron - for Joseph N. Capretta - for The motion was therefore passed and adopted and the agenda was approved as submitted. III. COMMUNICATIONS FROM CITIZENS Pert Towne, 364 Fairway North, commented that there was a very dangerous situation at Village Square Shopping Center Kecl�cicd 1'u/�c°r Public Safety Committee Meeting Minutes August 1, 1997 Page 2 caused by the landscaping which had been extended too far �ast fram U.S. 4ne, and at the horseshoe area a� the bridal shop, which restricted traffic circulation. Ms. Towne commented that she believed ernergency vehicles could not make the turn at the road by the Chevran gas station or by Verner's restaurant. Ms. Towne explained that the only solution she could think of would be to shorten the curbing coming out from U.S. One and moving the horseshoe in front of the bridal shap back further, which would be expensive. Ms. Towne predicted a head-on accident during the season with lawsuits against the shopping center owners who had created the dangerous situation and against the Village for approving it. Ms. Towne requested that this matter be looked into, and stated that she was trying to brin.g attention. to what she considered a dangerous situation. V. REVIEW OF PROPOSED TRAE'FIC CALMTNG DEVICES FOR COLINTRY CLUB DRTVE Village Manager Bradford explained that at a prior meeting staff had been requested to consult the civil engineer to look at specific locations on Country Club Drive where different traffic calming devices could be installed. Harry Benoit of Gee & Jenson had been consulted and had prepared a presentation. Mr. Benoit distributed a handout depicting various traffic calming devices and landscapin.g at proposed locations. An aerial photagraph of Country Club Drive at 1" = 50' scale was shown. The following locations had been chosen as proposed sites for traffic calming devices: ■ Chicane approximately 700 feet from '�equesta Drive ■ Traffic island just beyond Bimini Road ■ Modified T intersection at Tradewinds Circle ■ T intersection at the street that was formerly Country Club Circle ■ 4-way stop at North Place Public Safety Committee Meeting Minutes August 1, 1997 Page 3 ----------------------- ■ Traffic island midway between Narth Place and the County Line ■ Existing island at County Line Mr. Benoit commented regardi:ng landscaping, and explained that canopy trees would not work since they would interfere with the flow of truck traffic. Co-Chair Capretta inquired whether any one device was more effective than the others to slow traffic, to which Mr. Benoit responded that this was a new technology and that he caas not aware of any studies of that nature. Mr. Benoit verified that all of the devices would accommodate emergency vehicles and large trucks. Co-Chair Capretta discussed making the existinq island at the County Line into a roundabout by enlarging the center, installing curbs, and adding landscaping. Mr. Benoit explained that the island would be curbed but nat the outside edge; and that chicanes and T intersections would have curbs. Co-Chair Capretta asked whether any information was available regarding placing a 4-way stop at the entrance to Turtle Creek, to which Police Chief Allison responded that a study had been done in the prior year of how many cars were at each of the four sides of the intersection. Co-�Chair Capretta commented that he favored making the existing island at the county line into a roundabout as a first step, since people would have �o immediately slow down, and recommended that a sign also be placed at that location posting the speed limit. Co-Chair Capretta also recommended a traffic calming device at the Turtle Creek north gate as the second step. Co-Chair Capretta stated that Teques�a Circle would probably lend itself to a modified T intersection. Mr. Benoit explained that he had tried to place the devices at a reasonable distance so that people could not get up much speed before encountering another one. Mr. Benoit cammented that most of the estimated cost of the devices was for the landscaping, excluding the 4-way stop. Landscaping could be more or less than proposed; however, landscaping was a critical aspect because it would provide a visual barrier to tell the driver he needed to change direction. Mr. Benoit explained that he believed the most Public Safety Committee Meeting Minutes August 1, 1997 Page 4 ----------------------- effective way to slow traffic would be to place the devices along the entire length of the road. Mr. Benoit questioned whether there was room at the existing island by the County Line to make a roundabout, but stated that he had not measured that site. Co-Chair Capretta stated he did not favor speed humps for Country Club Drive because they were unattractive; and stated that a concept was being discussed which would apply to other Village roads. Mr. Benoit discussed the cost of a T intersection at Tequesta CirGle, estimated at $31,000--$21,400 of which was for landscaping. Mr. Benoit explained that the proposed plans had been drawn to a standard that could be used for any street in the Village. Co-Chair Capretta discussed the traffic dats on Spruce Street in West Palm Beach, and commented that unless a car slowed, the curbs on all sides could cause a�afety problern. Mr. Capretta stated that he was convinced that design would determine effectiveness. Mr. Benoit commented tha� speed humps and bumps could cause damage to emergency vehicles and slow response times. Co-Chair Capretta commented that installing traffic calming devices at all of the proposed locations plus adding trees along the street would create the appearance of a tunnel and could create an atmosphere of slowing traffic. Mr. Benoit commented that would take a long time to develop, that canopy trees would have to be set back so as not to interfere with large trucks, and that it would take 15 years for the canopy to grow to provide the effect that Mr. Capretta was discussing. Chair Schauer questioned the cost estimate for a 4-way stop at Country Club Drive and North Place, to which Mr. Benoit responded that the $14,000 estimate was to realign North Place so that it would be more or less directly across the street on the north side. Chair Schauer questioned the feasibility of using 3-way stop signs at other intersections such as where Mr. Benoit had proposed a T intersection. Mr. Benoit commented that the Village traffic engineer had suggested that the T intersection could also be a 3-way s�op, and commented that there were two suitable locations Public Safety Committee Meeting Minutes August 1, �997 Page 5 on Country Club Drive for 3-way stops--at Tradewinds Circle and Tequesta Circle. Village Manager Bradford commented that he thought the Village traffic engineer had recommended against 3-way stops. Chair Schauer commented that it would be less costly to put up stop signs than to install all of the landsc�ping associated with the other devices. Co-Chair Capretta suggested placing six stop signs along Countr� Club Drive, which would place a sign approximately each 1/4 mile. Co-Chair Capretta stated his prefe�ence to install one or two traffic calming devices before the season to see how they would work. Mr. Benoit suggested that all the devices not be �nstalled at once, and that if one or two slowed traffic sufficiently that more would not need to be installed. Mr. Benoit verified that irrigation was included in the cost estimated presented. Co-Chair Cameron recommended placing ane device midway on each of the two lang straightaway sections of Country Club Drive. Co-Chair Capretta suggested devices at Tradewinds, Turtle Creek and County Line Raad. Co-Chair Cameron explained that he had previously been unimpressed with the speed hump at Paddock Point; however, had recently heard comments from residents living nearby that t�e speed hump had irnproved traffic conditions. Co-Chair Capretta commented that if there was a street where someone must drive slowly for 1-1/2 miles that a driver would go any other way to avoid that street; and that the goal for Country Club Drive was to slow and calm traffic and �eep measuring to see the effect. Village Manager Bradford questioned whether a curb could be placed on a traffic island at the outside edge at the roadside, to which Mr. Benoit responded that any af the traffic calming devices could have curbs, which would increase the cost slightly. The Village Manager commented that he was not convinced a T intersection or a chicane would slow traffic much without a stop sign. Chair Schauer stated that was why she had suggested a stop sign. Village Manager Bradford commented that he would favor a 4-way stop at North Place and a traffic island on one or both straightaways. Public Safety Committee Meeting Minutes August 1, 1997 Page 6 ----------------------- Co-Chair Capretta advised Police Chief Allison that he would like the Chief to recommend two or three other s�reets with problems similar to those on Country Club Drive. Co-Chair Capretta stated he did not support installing traf�ic calming devices if the application was only for Country Club Drive, and xequested that Chief Allison provide that information at the next m.eeting of this Committee. Co-Chair Cameron commented that he believed chicanes and T intersections would slow drivers unfamiliar with the street but did not think they would slow those who knew the road. Wade Griest, Dover Road, commented that traffic calming devices had been very effective in Northwood but tha� could not be compared to Country Club Drive because Northwood could be avoided by using Dixie Highwa�. Mr. Griest expressed concern that more Vill,age time and money had been spent on Country Club Drive than on any other street in Tequesta. Mr. Griest commented regarding Ms. Towne's earlier comment that he understood the shopping center owners were planning to cut back five feet at the north entrance and were in the process of deciding what to do at the ather entrance. Richard Berube, 4 Country Club Circle, commented that he did not believe stop signs would solve the problem on Country Club Drive, explained that noise was a problem on the road, commented that chicanes could be designed that could slow traffic, and stressed that during the season traffic needed to move, not be stopped by stop signs. Mr. Benoit clarified that a flume was a paved waterway to take water off the road and would work to protect landscaping. Co-Chair Cameron commented that in the Northwoocl area the traffic dots had been installed to get traffic off the streets, not to slow traffic, which was not the same problem as in Tequesta. Sidewalks and their distance from a chicane were discussed. Mr. Benoit explained that sidewalks should be relocated behind the landscaping for safety, which had not been included in the cost estimate, but which was not expensive. Village Manager Bradford commented that if a device were Public Safety Committee Meeting Minutes August 1, 1997 Page 7 ----------------------- placed at the North Place intersection, Tequesta Country Club would have to relocate their sign, and if a decision was made to place a traffic calming device a`t that location he woul.d inform them. Co-Chair Capretta commented that people were concerned over rising traffic and that he wanted to make people find an alternative route, which he felt would keep a bad problem from becoming horrible. Ca-Chair Capretta stated that the Village must make sure traffic was enforced at the North gate. Co-Chair Capretta expressed his desire for staff to work on a roundabout at the county line, creating a severe turn and adding a sign that speed limits are strictly enforced; and in.stalling a 4-way stop at Turtle Creek as a first step. The effectiveness of these two should be tested, and an eventual installation cauld be done at Tradewinds if needed. Chair 5chauer expressed her desire for a 4-way stop at Cauntry Club Drive and North Place to see how it would work. Chair Schauer recommended discussion of this matter with the full Village Council to get the other Cou.ncilmembers' opinions. Co-Chair Capretta agreed with making a recommendation to the Village Council at their next meeting for only a 4-way stop at the entrance to Turtle Creek and the north gate and to straighten the gates, and commented that by that time Mr. Benoit could have an estimate for the roundabout at the county line. Chair Schauer and Co-Chair Cameron stated their support. Chair Schauer requested that Chief A].lison have his data ready for that meeting. Peggy Virhoven, Point Drive, expressed her opinion that the only cars passing on Country Club Drive were kids, who would also tailgate other cars, and questioned whether there were traffic devices that would regis�er speed and photograph licen.se plates. Village Manager Bradford responded that was a very costly technology, currently not legal in the State of Florida. Joe Hall, 159 Country Club Drive, suggested slowing traffic Public Safety Committee Meeting Minutes August 1, 1997 Page 8 coming into Tequesta from Martin County, but nat to slow the traffic going out. Mr. Hall stated that although he did not want any traffic calming devices on Country Club Drive, that they were needed and whatever was the best idea to slow and discourage traffic should be done. Ed Resnick, 342 Country Club Drive, expressed his opinion that traffic caiming devices must have curbs on all sides to make their limiting effect greater. Mr. Resnick stated that he supported the objective of diverting traffic by making it unattractive to drive down Country Club Drive. Mr. Resnick supported a 4-way stop if the cost was not exorbitant, but stated he saw no reason to align the two streets. Mr. Resnick stated he was not in favor of stop signs all along the street, but did favor possibly two stop signs along with other traffic calming devices. Mr. Resnick expressed his appreciation for the Committee's work on this matter. Police Chief Allison verified that additional. warning signs would need to be installed near a chicane. Mr. Berube commented that traffic was being discouraged on Country C1ub Drive, however, there was no viable alternative route, and the road must be kept usable for people coming to the Village to shop. Mr. Berube explained that although he did not want stop signs, he would agree to on.e since the cost would be less than any of the other traffic calming devices. In response to Mr. Berube's concern regarding possible sewer installations that might tear up the roadway, Chair Schauer explained that the Judge should make a decision an sewering in August. Co-Chair Capretta made a motion that the Publi� Safety Committee recommend to the Village Council that a plan be developed for a 4-way stop at the Turtle Creek north gate and to look at the cost of increasing the roundabout at the caunty line; and to get a report from Police Chief Allison on other roads in town that have traffic safety problems to be presented at the next Village Council meeting. Co-Chair Cameron seconded the motion, The vote on the mation was: Elizabeth A. Schauer - for Public Safety Committee Meeting Minutes August 1, 1997 Page 9 ----------------------- Alec Cameron - for Joseph N. Capretta - for The motion was therefore passed and adopted. V. REVIEW OF TRAFFIC SURVEY GRAPHS Village Manager Bradford explained that this Committee and particularly Co-Chair Capretta had desired the recording of traffic data on key streets in a consistent farmat over time. Village Manager Bradford questioned whether the Committee liked the format as presented. The Committeemembers agreed that they all liked the format. Co- Chair Capretta commented that data should be collected over time as to the amaunt o� traffic at peak times and on and off season. Co-Chair Capretta eommented that if data showed Country Club Drive traffic could be kept at a reasonable level, that would be fine; and that the data was needed to let the Village know what was happening. Traffic on Willow Road was discussed. Village Manager Bradford commented that Wil1�w Road could be a candidate for traffic calming. Chair Schauer commented there were more children playing on Willow Road than on Country Club Drive. PoZice Sergeant Garlo commented that Willow Road was used as a cut-through and that the Police Department was maintaining data on �hat road, as well as data comparing traffic on Golfview Drive to River Drive. Chair Schauer commented that Martin County and Palm Beach County had recently had traffic counters on Old Dixie High.way and Coun�y Line Road. Tt was the consensus of the Committee that bath traffic volume and speed information be collected on a monthly basis and reportecl to the Committee quarterly. VT. REVSEW OF PROPOSED TEQUESTA POLICE DEPARTMENT PUBLIC 1�E LAT IONS PLAN Village Manager Bradford reported tha� complaints were received from time to time regarding interaction of police Public Safety Committee Meeting Minu�es Augu�t i, 1997 Page 10 ----------------------- officers with residents, and that a procedure had been instituted to guarantee that police officers received proper training in contact procedures. Police Chief Allison indicated that his employees knew he did not tolerate rude, abusive, or unprofessional language in citizen contact situations and that all complaints would be investigated. Chief Allison reported a drastic reduction in citizen complaints as a result of training and internal procedure changes, and expressed his opinion that quality control auditing would ensure that employees were acting as trained and following established procedures. Chief Allison also indicated that there was a perception problem in establishing what constitutes rude language, since some residents interpreted an officer's business-like approach as being unfriendly and rude. Chief Allison explained that the eight-point process would be discussed in talks made by the Police Department so that residents would know what to expect when stopped by an officer. Co-Chair Capretta reported an incident where residentshad reacted negatively to an officer calling for backup. Co- � Chair Capretta explained that a lot of violators were elderly and very sensitive as to how they were treated; and commented that a woman had contacted him after she had been stopped for running a stop sign and felt she had been treated badly by the officer. Co-Chair Capretta stated tha� wisecracks �ere not appreciated, and recommended that Chief Allison go out and follow one of his own police cars and ask people how they were treated after they were stopped. Co- Chair Capretta stated he believed in strict law enforcement but that the officers should be very polite, and that all complaints should be followed up by talking with people since people would talk but were not always willing to put comments into writing. Co-Chair Capretta requested that surveys be sent ta people wha did not get tickets as well as to those who did, and commented that he believed Chief Allison would find that residents' comments would vary with each officer. Co-Chair Capretta asked that the officers be told �hat the people in Tequesta supported their police officers very well and wanted security, but did not appreciat� wisecracks. Chief �llison commented that if he was told the officer's name in the incidents related by Co- Public Safety Committee Meeting Minutes August 1, 1997 Page 11 ----------------------- Chair Capretta that he would pursue aggressive action, and that all complaints were taken very seriously. VI. ANY OTHER MATTERS There were no other matters to be discussed. VII. ADJOURNMENT Co-Chair Capretta made a motion to adjourn. The motion was seconded by Co-Chair Cameron. The vote on the motion was: Elizabeth A. Schauer - for Alec Cameron - for Joseph N. Capretta - for There being no further business before the Committee, the meeting was therefore adjourned at 6:04 P.M. Respectfully submitted, ;'� � .; _ �� � , - � � .c_ -�c. �L _. ;�:.�,. :;; .� � ,f�r� Bet`�aur Recording Secretary ATTEST: � Jo nn Manganie o Village Clerk DATE APPROVED: ��"s.-� _� o�, i�, i g 9�