SAFETY ADVISORY AND TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE
The Safety Advisory and Transportation Committee Meeting was held on October 13, 2004, at 7:10 p.m. with Chairman Ritter presiding. Members present were Mr. Pitts and Mr. Lakeman. Mr. Carey and Mr. Simmons were absent. Mr. Ruane and Mayor Speed were also present.
The invocation was given by Mr. Ruane, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
AGENDA ADDITIONS/DELETIONS
Mr. Lakeman moved for approval of the agenda, seconded by Mr. Pitts and unanimously carried.
Proposed Letter to the General Assembly Requesting Sound Amplification Systems in Vehicles be Prohibited (Continuation from Committee Meeting of June 16, 2004 - Discussion - Proposed State Legislation, S.B. 165, An Act to Amend Title 21 of the Delaware Code Relating to Unlawful Use of Sound Devices and Section 14-8 of the Dover Code)
During their Regular Meeting of June 16, 2004, members reviewed proposed S.B. 165, which would create a motor vehicle crime for playing one’s stereo too loudly, as well as Section 14-8 of the Dover Code. After much consideration, members suggested amendments to Section 14-8 of the Dover Code (subsequently adopted on July 26, 2004), and requested that, if the City Solicitor determined that certain stereos could be prohibited in motor vehicles, staff draft a letter to the General Assembly requesting that they consider this possibility, and that the letter be brought back to the committee for their review and recommendation.
Members reviewed the draft letter to the General Assembly and recommended that the letter, which should be submitted by Chairman Ritter rather than the City Clerk, be forwarded to City Council for approval.
Mr. Pitts moved to forward the draft letter, as amended, to Council for approval, seconded by Mr. Lakeman and unanimously carried.
Report by Police Chief - Cost Estimate for Quality of Life Task Force (Requested at Special Committee Meeting of September 22, 2004)
Chief Horvath provided the following cost estimate to provide one officer for the Quality of life Task Force:
Cost Per Full Time Officer 2004 2005 2006
Current Annual Entry-Level Base Salary $35,963.00 $39,850.00 $43,642.00
Annual Fringe Benefits
Social Security (6.20%) $2,230.00 $2,471.00 $2,706.00
Medicare (1.45%)$521.00$578.00$633.00
Health Insurance (31.98%)$11,494.00$13,126.00$14,807.00
Life Insurance (.40%) $144.00 $159.00 $175.00
Vacation (00%) $00 $00 $00
Sick Leave (00%) $00 $00 $00
Retirement (12.36%) $4,445.00 $4,925.00 $5,394.00
Worker’s Comp. (5.90%) $2,122.00 $2,321.00 $2,575.00
Unemployment Ins. (0.34%) $122.00 $135.00 $148.00
Other (Disability) (0.36%) $129.00 $143.00 $157.00
Other (Vision) (0.11%) $40.00 $44.00 $48.00
Total Fringe Benefits $21,252.00 $23,932.00 $26,643.00
Total Salary and Benefits $57,215.00 $63,782.00 $70,285.00
Chief Horvath noted that these costs were for one officer and the cost for a four (4) officer task force would be as follows:
$57,215.00 Salary and Benefits X 4 Officers = $228,860 in 2004
$53,782.00 Salary and Benefits X 4 Officers = $255,128 in 2005
$70,285.00 Salary and Benefits X 4 Officers = $281,140 in 2006
Chief Horvath noted the following results of the six (6) officer Quality of Life Task Force enforcement for most of July and the first part of August 2004:
OFFENSE July August Total
Loud Music. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 345. . . . . . . . 40. . . . . . . 385
Traffic Arrest. . . . . . . . . . . . . 183. . . . . . . . 43. . . . . . . 226
Drug Related Arrests. . . . . . . . 11. . . . . . . . . 0. . . . . . . . 11
Criminal Arrests. . . . . . . . . . . .11. . . . . . . . . 5. . . . . . . . 16
Fugitive. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12. . . . . . . . . 0. . . . . . . . 12
Bike on Sidewalk. . . . . . . . . . . .7. . . . . . . . . 0. . . . . . . . . 7
Scooter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1. . . . . . . . . 0. . . . . . . . . 1
Alcohol Violations. . . . . . . . . .15. . . . . . . . . 0. . . . . . . . 15
City Park Violations. . . . . . . . .20. . . . . . . . . 0. . . . . . . . 20
Parking Violations. . . . . . . . . .35. . . . . . . . 45. . . . . . . . 80
Peddler. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0. . . . . . . . . 0. . . . . . . . . 0
Prostitution. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9. . . . . . . . . 0. . . . . . . . . 9
Incarcerations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7. . . . . . . . . 0. . . . . . . . . 7
Responding to Mr. Lakeman, Chief Horvath stated that the fine for the loud music is $100. He noted that it has been their experience that the Judges are suspending or reducing the fines; therefore, the Police Chiefs’ Council is documenting those incidences for review.
Mr. Ritter stated that no less than 60% of the revenue received from the Electronic Red Light Safety Program must be obligated to Public and Traffic Safety, which should be considered in the budget process.
It was the consensus of the committee to defer this item for two (2) to four (4) weeks in order for Mr. DePrima, City Manager, to provide an update of the Electronic Red Light Safety program, including projected revenue and expenses, and the locations of the remaining cameras.
Review of Bicycle and Pedestrian Needs for Dover (Chris Asay)
Mr. Chris Asay, 516 Carol Street, provided the following information as an overview of the bicycle and pedestrian needs in Dover:
Intersection of Saulsbury Road & Route 8 Needs Pedestrian and Bicycle Facilities
Crosswalks, signals, and painted bike lanes are need in the intersection. Painted bike lanes are needed on Saulsbury Road heading south from Route 8 to Water Street and on the north side of Route 8 between Weston Drive and Carver Road approaching the intersection with Saulsbury Road. The latter is a 2-block gap in the extensive bike lane along Route 8 from the railroad tracks east to Greentree Village. (Currently there is a project in the DelDOT pipeline process to modify the Saulsbury/Rt 8 intersection to prevent left turns from Saulsbury Road into the gas stations & into Subway. This presents an excellent opportunity to upgrade the bike/ped situation at the same time, if we are able to communicate our priorities to DelDOT in a timely manner.)
Mr. Laing, DelDOT Municipal Liaison, stated that this is a very difficult intersection due to the number of east/west and north/south lanes. He also noted that the State encourages trucks to use this route when traveling to the industrial areas.
Bike & Pedestrian Connection Between Schutte Park and Crossgates Neighborhoods
Mr. Asay noted that this connection would involve crossing the railroad tracks and constructing a trail through woods along Puncheon Run. (This plan was being developed by DelDOT; however, it has been delayed pending a decision on the route of the West Dover Connector.)
College Road, East of McKee Road Needs Pedestrian and Bicycle Facilities
Narrow, shoulder-less road should be widened and sidewalks and painted bike lanes should be added. This is an important connecting route to downtown Dover from the Fox Hall neighborhoods. (An upgrade of this road has been on the list of proposed projects list of the Dover/Kent MPO since last year.)
Mr. Laing reported that, although space is limited, sidewalks are being constructed on this road.
Dover-Kenton Road, from Walker Road to Denny’s Road
Narrow road should be widened and sidewalks and painted bike lanes should be added. This is an important connecting route to downtown Dover from the Fox Hall West neighborhoods, and proposed housing developments. (An upgrade of this road is now on the Dover/Kent MPO list of proposed projects.)
Mr. Laing felt that this area would be reviewed in the near future.
Bicycle and Pedestrian Connections Along Businesses on East Side of Route 13, From Bucson Drive To The Dover Mall.
A north-south route paralleling Route 13 which connects neighborhoods and businesses and does not put bike riders on the shoulder of the highway is needed. (Portions of this proposal are on the Dover/Kent MPO list of proposed projects.)
Mr. Laing reported that the area from Towne Point to the Dover Mall is scheduled for review.
Physical Barriers to Bicycle and Pedestrian Use in Dover
Mr. Asay noted that the City’s goal is to have Dover residents, wherever possible, replace short trips using the automobile with trips made by walking or using a bicycle. This will not only reduce automobile traffic congestion, air pollution, and street maintenance costs, but, through the physical exercise involved in walking and bicycling, improve the general physical and mental health of the citizens. While few people will choose to walk or bike just so that others driving autos will experience less traffic congestion, a significant portion of our population is actively motivated to improve their own health and well-being, and would be willing to consider walking and bicycle riding to achieve those ends.
In order to encourage citizens to walk or use their bicycles, routes must appear comfortable and safe, primarily from automobile traffic. A route will only be considered “safe” if it appears safe along its entirety. Citizens can be encouraged to walk by providing continuous sidewalks with crosswalks at busy intersections, such as the intersection of North Street and Mifflin Road. To encourage citizens to use a bicycle, designated bicycle routes, either painted on the road shoulder (such as those along South State Street Extension) or off-road routes (such as that along parts of Saulsbury Road) are necessary. Many neighborhood streets in Dover are ideal for bicycle and pedestrian use since they have low volumes of auto traffic, good pavement quality, and continuous sidewalks on both sides of the road.
There are two major barriers to east-west movement in Dover: The railroad tracks and the St. Jones River. Flanking these are two secondary barriers, Saulsbury Road and Route 13. All four (4) of these barriers interrupt the networks of small neighborhood roads so that the city is divided into three major parts, with other small pockets of neighborhoods. In addition, Silver Lake and its tributaries divides the central portion of the city from its northern parts in a line between the North State Street bridge over Silver Lake and McKee Road. Similarly, Puncheon Run divides central neighborhoods from the southern neighborhoods.
There are limited access ways across the barriers, all of which are dominated by automobile traffic, making bike and pedestrian use difficult, if not dangerous. On the east side of Dover, Route 13 is also a major north-south-running barrier. On the west side of Dover is Saulsbury Road, with higher speed and volume of auto traffic.
Barrier crossing points are key areas requiring facilities to encourage bicycles and pedestrians. Boldly striped pedestrian crosswalks, pedestrian crossing lights and painted bike lanes are the most common facilities. As an alternative, crossings for bikes and pedestrians that are completely separate from automobile traffic are another option. An example of this would be the dam and the bridge, both at Silver Lake Park, which allow bikes and pedestrians to cross the St. Jones River. All of the above-mentioned major barrier crossings are part of state-owned highways. It is imperative that the City of Dover maintain consistent and persistent communication with DelDOT and their project “pipeline” process to meet these objectives. The Planning Department should refer to this overall concept so that, as development continues in this community, modifications relating to bike and pedestrian use can be made whenever the opportunity presents itself.
Responding to Mr. Pitts, Mr. Asay stated that the first four (4) projects are part of DelDOT’s road upgrades. He suggested that making them a higher priority for the City would accelerate the process.
Updates
West Dover Connector (Mr. Gary Laing, DelDOT Municipal Liaison)
Mr. Laing reported that a meeting of the working group will be held on Wednesday, October 20, 2004 at 5:30 p.m. at the Modern Maturity Center. They will be reviewing material from the first two meetings and selecting a display for the Public Workshop, which is tentatively scheduled for November 10, 2004. Mr. Ritter requested Mr. Laing to provide the workshop information to the City Clerk’s Office so that it could be forwarded to the committee.
Traffic Studies - SR1/Route 8 and East Dover Housing Development Projects
Mr. Laing stated that the report would probably be available in November. He noted additional staff has been assigned to the help review the studies.
Statewide Bicycle Facility Master Plan - Report on Public Workshop held on September 29, 2004 (Chris Asay)
Mr. Asay reported that the Master Plan proposed for three (3) north/south State bike routes and several east/west Regional bike routes. It was Mr. Asay’s feeling that cyclists would not want to ride along a major highway. Responding to Mr. Ritter, Mr. Asay stated a State sponsored Bike to Work Week may encourage use of the bike routes. Mr. Laing stated that the State has a Master Plan for bike routes in all three counties; however, they will probably be used more for recreation than for everyday use.
Responding to Mr. Ritter, Mr. Asay requested the Safety Advisory and Transportation Committee to relay to DelDOT that the five (5) areas of concern are a priority for the City of Dover. Mayor Speed advised members that some of the items were already prioritized and provided to the Dover/Kent Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO). Mr. Ruane reminded members that Mr. Asay was requested by the committee to highlight the areas of need for bicycles and pedestrians and he is only suggesting that the City relay that they would like pedestrian and bicycle improvements included in DelDOT projects.
Mr. Galvin suggested that Mr. Asay and Mr. Speicher of the Planning and Inspections Department work together to produce display maps clarifying the areas of concern. Mr. Ritter suggested that Mr. Galvin contact the City Clerk’s Office when the information is ready for presentation.
Mr. Ruane requested that an update on the City’s revised East Loockerman Street Gateway Project be presented at the next meeting.
Mr. Lakeman moved for adjournment, seconded by Mr. Pitts and unanimously carried.
Meeting Adjourned at 8:50 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Robert G. Ritter, Jr.
Chairman
RGR/rfm
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