SAFETY ADVISORY AND TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE
The Safety Advisory and Transportation Committee Meeting was held on March 27, 2007, at 6:00 p.m. with Chairman Hogan presiding. Members present were Mr. Carey, Mr. McGiffin, and Mr. Link. Mr. Lakeman was absent. Councilman Ruane was also present.
AGENDA ADDITIONS/DELETIONS
Mr. Hogan noted that Mr. Cole, Director of Public Relations, was unable to attend the meeting and requested that item #1, DelDOT Presentation, be removed from the agenda.
Mr. Carey moved for approval of the agenda, as amended, seconded by Mr. Link and unanimously carried.
Signalization Update (Gary Laing)
Mr. Laing, Municipal Liaison for DelDOT, advised members that the Signalization Project continues and is moving to the next phase. Division Street should be completed by April 6, 2007, and the next phase is to move on to Governors Avenue. There are three (3) intersections on Governors Avenue: Loockerman, North, and Water Streets. Work will begin with the North Street intersection and then after Dover Days they will move to Loockerman Street and then Water Street.
Mr. Laing stated that concerns have been expressed by the downtown merchants about how the project at Governors Avenue and Loockerman Street will affect them. There has been a tremendous amount of misinformation given to the merchants. He advised members that DelDOT representatives visited all merchants, door to door, from State Street to the Duncan Center, and distributed flyers inviting everyone to a meeting scheduled for March 28th at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall. This meeting is to allow the project managers to explain the signalization project, present factual information, and alleviate concerns. Mr. Laing stated that the rumor was that DelDOT would be closing Loockerman Street from State Street to Governors Avenue. He stated that although there will be signage indicating that the intersection is closed, he assured members that patrons will be able to get downtown.
Mr. Laing stated that on average, it takes approximately a three (3) week period to complete each intersection. A partial closure would extend the time to complete the intersection. There has been some consideration of working on this project during the night; however, they are not able to obtain concrete at that time. There are other issues involving night work, such as noise violations, etc.
Mr. Laing reminded members that this project will improve signal coordination and allow for monitoring and adjustments to signal timings, as well as provide new traffic signal equipment.
Prioritization of Transportation Projects
Mr. Hogan provided members with copies of last year’s prioritization of transportation projects approved by Council during their Regular Meeting of February 13, 2006. It was noted that the list was updated to include additional projects, as follows: 1) Water Street Railroad Crossing - Eden Hill Farm; and 2) Intermodal Transportation Terminal (approved by Council during their Regular Meeting of April 10, 2006).
In reviewing the list, staff provided members with the status of the projects to assist in determining which projects should remain on the list for this year.
Since the Governors Avenue Corridor and Downtown Dover Signalization Upgrades are near completion, Mr. Hogan suggested that these projects remain on the list as priority items #1 and #2. Members felt that the Intermodal Transportation Terminal (Bus Station) should be listed as priority item #3.
Mr. DePrima advised members that there has been discussion regarding a Route 13 North Service Road Corridor which would be a connector road from Scarborough Road, east of Route 13, from the toll plaza through to Dover Downs, behind the Mall and Wilmington College. Responding, Ms. Juanita Wieczoreck, Director of the Dover/Kent County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), advised members that there is an on-going study of the area from Lepore Drive to Scarborough Road to review improving interparcel connections in an attempt to get local traffic off of Route 13. The Study actually includes both the east and west sides of Route 13 and the Crawford Carroll Avenue Extension Project.
Responding to Mr. Hogan, Mr. DePrima stated that the US Route 13 Service Road Corridor Study would be an additional project and that the Crawford Carroll Avenue Extension project would remain separate. It was suggested that the US Route 13 Service Road Corridor Study be listed as priority item #9.
Mr. Carey suggested that the College Road Corridor Upgrades be moved to priority item #5 (from Kenton Road to Saulsbury Road).
Ms. Wieczoreck noted that the Loockerman Street/Forrest Avenue Improvements Project is at a different point in the development than the College Road Corridor Upgrades Project, which is more in line with the progress of the US Route 13 Service Road Corridor Study or the Crawford Carroll Avenue Extension. She suggested that members tier the projects according to where they are with DelDOT.
Ms. Wieczoreck advised members that the only project on the prioritization list that is not in the transportation improvement program is the bus terminal.
Mr. Carey moved to recommend approval of the Transportation Project Prioritization List as developed (Attachment #1), as a recommendation to MPO and DelDOT. The motion was seconded by Mr. McGiffin and unanimously carried.
Discussion - Full-Time Emergency Management Coordinator
During a Special Committee Meeting on October 10, 2006, members accepted the City Manager’s Report on the Reichhold Chemical Incident. Mr. DePrima stated that one of the key recommendations of the report was to consider whether it is time for the City of Dover to have a full-time Homeland Security/Emergency Management employee. He advised members that Lt. Bernat of the Dover Police Department currently serves as the City’s Emergency Operations Manager. Mr. DePrima stated that Lt. Bernat could address some of the issues with his position serving in this capacity on a part-time basis and from within the Police Department. In addition, the City’s Public Services Director has been discussing the possibility of having an employee serve as the City’s Emergency Management Coordinator within the Fire Marshall’s Office.
Lt. Bernat advised members that he serves the Dover Police Department as the Selective Enforcement Unit Commander, which oversees the motorcycle unit, community policing (including the quality of life unit), parking enforcement, animal control, and special events. These responsibilities are in addition to emergency management for the City of Dover. It was his opinion that the citizens of Dover have high expectations for emergency preparedness and that the citizens would be better served if there was a full-time position devoted to emergency preparedness. He felt that the position should be a civilian. Lt. Bernat stated that some of the other cities similar in size to Dover, such as Newark, have their emergency preparedness director under the Director of Building. He stated that Annapolis, Maryland, also a capital city with relatively the same population, has a retired Police Captain serving as their Homeland Security Director as a civilian; for the City of Hagerstown, Maryland, there is a civilian Emergency Management Director for Washington County, which includes an Emergency Planner who oversees nine (9) other cities.
Responding to Mr. McGiffin, Lt. Bernat indicated that such an employee should be familiar with Public Works, explaining that emergency situations often call for action involving public utilities (water, electric, streets, etc.).
After much discussion, Mr. Hogan suggested that staff bring forward a more detailed proposal for a full-time Emergency Management Coordinator, inclusive of a job description and salary costs.
Mr. Carey moved to recommend acceptance of the concept for the City of Dover to have a full-time Homeland Security/Emergency Management employee and authorizing staff to provide a formal written proposal for the committee’s review, inclusive of details as discussed by members. The motion was seconded by Mr. McGiffin and unanimously carried.
Miscellaneous - Dover MPO Update
For informational purposes, Ms. Wieczoreck, Director of the Dover/Kent County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), provided members with the Delaware Route 8 Concept Plan and Operations Study (Attachment #2). She advised members that the next meeting of the Project Advisory Group of the Dover MPO is scheduled for April 18, 2007.
Ms. Wieczoreck stated that there will also be a Kenton Road Study Public Workshop held on April 2, 2007 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the DelDOT Administration Building. She stated that DelDOT is holding another public hearing on the Draft 2008 Capital Transportation Program on April 19, 2007 at DelTech, Room 400A, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. She suggested that this hearing may be an opportunity for the City to relay the Transportation Prioritization Project list to DelDOT.
Mr. DePrima suggested that an Update by the Dover MPO be a regular item on the committee agenda.
Mr. Carey requested that Ms. Wieczoreck contact DelDOT to erect a “No U-turn” sign on Route 8, east-bound, at the intersection of Route 8 and Kenton Road.
Mr. Carey moved for adjournment, seconded by Mr. McGiffin and unanimously carried.
Meeting Adjourned at 7:02 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Kenneth L. Hogan
Chairman
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Attachment
Attachment #1 - Prioritization of Transportation Projects List
Attachment to Original Minutes and File Copy
Attachment #2 - Delaware Route 8 Concept Plan and Operations Study