I3. Res. 5981 Hedges School Zone AmendmentCITY 7tialM.
KALISPELL
MEMORANDUM
To: Doug Russell, City Manager
Cc: Charlie Harball, City Attorney
From: Susie Turner, PE, Public Works Director; Doug Overman, Police Chief
Re: Hedges School Zone and Speed Designation
Meeting Date: July 6, 2020
BACKGROUND:
In a recent speed study completed along 4th Avenue East by the Public Works Department, it was
noted traffic within the school zone was exceeding the posted speed limit. Roughly 85% of the
vehicles were speeding in the school zone. There are currently school zone signs designating the
school zone and speed on 4th Avenue East. To improve the visibility of these signs, the City
received grant funding to purchase and install driver feedback signs showing oncoming traffic
their speed.
Research was performed and it was discovered the school zone boundary for Hedges, as defined
in Ordinance 1514, does not meet the current Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices
(MUTCD) standards. The MUTCD requires the school zone to extend a minimum distance of
200 feet from the school grounds, a school crossing, or other school related activities.
PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS:
The following description updates the school zone boundaries for Hedges School to meet the
current MUTCD standards. The speed limit designation through the school zone will be 15 mph
from lam to 5pm, Monday through Friday. The attached Exhibit A provides a graphic
representation of the proposed updated school zone.
• Along 9th St E from 185 feet west of the 9th St E and 3rd Ave E Intersection to 185 feet
east of the 9th St E and 7th Ave E intersection.
• Along 8th St E from 185 feet west of the 8th St E and 3rd Ave E intersection to 185 feet
east of the 8th St E and 7th Ave E intersection.
• Along 4th Ave E from 185 feet north of the 7th St E and 41h Ave E intersection to 185 feet
south of the loth St E and 4th Ave E intersection.
• Along 5th Ave E from 185 feet north of the 7th St E and 5th Ave E intersection to the
intersection of 8th St E and 5th Ave E.
• Along 5th Ave E from the intersection of 9th St E and 5th Ave E to 185 feet south of the
intersection of loth St E and 51h Ave E.
• Along 6th Ave E from 185 feet north of the 7th St E and 6th Ave E intersection to 185 feet
south of the 61h Ave E and loth St E intersection.
201 1' Avenue E
PO BOX 1997 City of Kalispell www.kalispell.com
Kalispell, MT 59903
RECOMMENDATION:
In the capacity of the Kalispell Police Chief, in collaboration with the Public Works Department,
we recommend the school zone boundary and speed limit for Hedges School be updated by
approving Resolution 5981. Upon approval, Public Works would sign the school zone area as
shown in exhibit attached.
ATTACHMENTS: Resolution 5981 with Exhibit A attached
RESOLUTION NO. 5981
A RESOLUTION DESIGNATING CERTAIN PORTIONS OF KALISPELL STREETS
ABUTTING THE SCHOOL PROPERTIES OF HEDGES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AS
SCHOOL ZONES AND SETTING APPROPRIATE SPEED LINHTS THEREON FOR
VEHICULAR TRAFFIC.
WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of MCA §61-8-310 the City of Kalispell may designate
portions of streets adjacent to and approaching schools within the City of Kalispell
as school zones and to regulate the speed of vehicular traffic traveling thereon; and
WHEREAS, it is prudent from time to time to study traffic patterns around schools to determine
if the established school zones and designated speed limits are set to provide the
level of safety appropriate to roadways near the activity of children; and
WHEREAS, for this purpose, the City of Kalispell Department of Public Works has conducted
the necessary traffic studies on certain portions of streets adjacent to and
approaching the Hedges Elementary School; and
WHEREAS, based upon this research and traffic study, the Department of Public Works
determined that the currently signed school zone boundary for Hedges does not
meet the current Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) standards
and that to meet the standards the school zone should extend a minimum distance
of 200 feet from the school grounds, a school crossing, or other school related
activities; and
WHEREAS, based upon this information, the Kalispell Chief of Police seeks to establish the
school zones and speed limits to comply with the MUTCD as set forth in Exhibit
"A" attached hereto and incorporated fully herein by this reference; and
WHEREAS, the Kalispell City Council hereby finds that it is in the best interests of the public
safety of its citizens and guests to establish those school zones and speed limits as
requested.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
KALISPELL AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. That the streets approaching and abutting Hedges Elementary School, as set
forth in Exhibit "A", attached hereto and incorporated fully herein, shall be
designated as a school zone and the speed limit therein shall be signed and
enforced to be 15 mph from lam to 5pm, Monday through Friday.
SECTION 2. That this resolution shall become effective on the date that all necessary
signage is in place.
PASSED AND APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL AND SIGNED BY THE MAYOR OF
THE CITY OF KALISPELL, THIS 6TH DAY OF JULY, 2020.
Mark Johnson
Mayor
ATTEST:
Aimee Brunckhorst, CMC
City Clerk
EXHIBIT "A"
The following description updates the school zone boundaries for Hedges School to meet the
current MUTCD standards. The speed limit designation through the school zone will be 15 mph
from lam to 5pm, Monday through Friday. The attached Exhibit A provides a graphic
representation of the proposed updated school zone.
• Along 9th St E from 185 feet west of the 9th St E and 3rd Ave E Intersection to 185 feet
east of the 9th St E and 7th Ave E intersection.
• Along 8th St E from 185 feet west of the 8th St E and 3rd Ave E intersection to 185 feet
east of the 8th St E and 7th Ave E intersection.
• Along 4th Ave E from 185 feet north of the 7th St E and 4th Ave E intersection to 185 feet
south of the IOth St E and 4th Ave E intersection.
• Along 51h Ave E from 185 feet north of the 7th St E and 5th Ave E intersection to the
intersection of 8th St E and 5th Ave E.
• Along 5th Ave E from the intersection of 91h St E and 51h Ave E to 185 feet south of the
intersection of IOth St E and 51h Ave E.
• Along 6th Ave E from 185 feet north of the 7th St E and 6th Ave E intersection to 185 feet
south of the 61h Ave E and IOth St E intersection.