01-28-87 Safety Comm MinutesSAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING /
January 27, 1987
The Committee net in the Conference Room at 4:00 P.M. Present were Chairman
Schindler, Committee Member Wayne Saverud, Mayor Kennedy, Police Chief
Stefanic, Fire Chief Larson, DPW Hamer, Becky Mattson, of Mattson
Realty, Pam Berry, School Bus Representative and Gary Rose, School District
#5.
Ms Mattson previously sent a letter to Mayor Kennedy requesting an
alternative to the No Parking signs, such as No Unloading of Children to
avoid prohibiting normal public parking on their,'property just west of 93#.
They have a variance, have been parking on school property. The Supt. of
Schools agreed to this many years ago.
She inquired about indention and yellow curb lines on N. Wyoming and was
told by DPW Hammer that a Street & Alley committee meeting discussed the
parking/loading of Russell School students -it was decided to restrict
parking and the indention was for school bus loading. He stated that there
have not been any accidents in the area due to present design and is
reluctant to make any changes. (Map attached)
The Mattson wish to rent or sell their property aiid want clarification'on
the parking question first. Chief Stefanic suggested a sign such as no
stopping or standing on school days. Discussion of area problems, time
limit. The School District at one time was interested in selling a 10'
strip. Gary Rose suggested that Ms Mattson contact school authorities again
• about this, the Board may or may not be interested, but she should get it on
the next School Board agenda. Ms Mattson agreed to do this.
School Bus Contractors-Mgp��at?on�,.4th Avenue yiest Safety P-r-oblem
Ms Berry defined the parking/loading problem at Elrod/Flathead High School
which will become even worse with high school construction. They have
requested that 4th Avenue W, between 6th and 2nd Streets be one way going
north.
Gary Rose stated that construction will start on Wednesday, 2/4, soon 26
parking spaces will be temporarily lost in front of the high school,south
side, 7th to 8th Streets -this may be as long as a year. C. Saverud asked if
better use of the spaces might be made by redesigning slightly to
incorporate boulevards to accomodate parking for residents of the area.
DPW Hammer said if this parking lot street is going to be closed down, there
is no ream for it to be one-way. Chief Stefanic explained that the streets
are one way because of all the high school traffic coming in spurts -everyone
is either arriving or leaving; if two way, it would create even more
problems.
Chief Larson said fire trucks generally go down 4th Street West and a change
on 7th would not really affect his department, he anticipates no access
problem. Fire hydrants are located on the school grounds. The fire
department has been having a problem with student parking in the lot south
of the gym, but curb locks have now taken care of that.
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C. Saverud suggested that DPW Hammer or someone do a traffic analysis to
include Elrod with the assumption that 4th Avenue is not going to be
available to some to a long range traffic recommendation before anything is
_ decided, taking reconstructed Fifth Avenue also into consideraton. A
temporary measure during construction may be to eliminate parking on one
side of the street.
C. Schindler asked Pam if it would help if we looked at doing something on
this one block and she replied that it would help. Chief Stefanic expressed
a problem with making all or part of 4th Avenue to accomodate this. Aside
from the bus driver's concerns, twice a day, five days a week, etc. a
permanent no parking designation would be an alltime inconvenience to
residents and does not feel it would be fair to make this a permanent
change. It was decided to make the parking limitation only during school
hours on school days. Boulevard and other options were discussed. Ms Berry
will be back in touch with Chief Stefanic. School District #5 will give
notice of the street closure.
Miscellaneous
Chief Stefanic reported many complaints of intersection problems and
sppeding on Montana Street. After discussion the committee decided to
recommend stop signs on Montana at lst and 4th Avenues W.N. at the next
Council meeting.
Chief Stefanic reports the 1986 D.U.I. Program consisted of 55 arrests, 48
other violations, fines grossed $17,000 and the cost of operating the
program was $15,000.
Another Safety Committee meeting will be scheduled in the next week.
is The meeting adjourned at approximately 5:30.
Markie Sabol
Recording Secretary
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