REVISED SAFETY ADVISORY COMMITTEE
The Safety Advisory Committee Meeting was held on July 14, 2004, at 7:00 p.m. in the Public Assembly Room at the Police Station, with Chairman Ritter presiding. Members present were Councilmen Carey and Pitts, and Mr. Lakeman. Mr. Simmons was absent.
The Invocation was given by Chairman Ritter, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
AGENDA ADDITIONS/DELETIONS
Mr. Carey moved for approval of the agenda, seconded by Mr. Lakeman and unanimously carried.
Street Width Waiver Requests for New Developments (Chief Bashista) (Continuation from Committee Meeting of June 2, 2004 - Concerns of Robbins Hose Company - Street Width Waiver Requests for New Developments)
During the Regular Meeting of June 2, 2004, Fire Chief Bashista provided a presentation depicting areas throughout the City which, due to their street widths, present maneuverability problems for the Fire Department. He provided members with information on the size of the fire apparatus and the area required to set the apparatus in place to fight a fire.
The committee recommended that staff be authorized to develop amendments to the street width requirements, with a recommendation to the Committee provided for the July 14, 2004 meeting.
Mr. Galvin, Director of Planning and Inspections, advised members that he, Chief Bashista, and Mr. Scott Koenig, Director of Public Works, have been working on proposed street width amendments. It was noted that each department has a different perspective with respect to street widths; the Fire Chief is concerned primarily with safety, Public Works is concerned with street construction and maintenance and stormwater management issues related to impervious surface, and Planning considers the development design elements.
Mr. Galvin reviewed the Street Width Discussion Notes (Attachment #1) which outline possible street width scenarios. Chief Bashista and Mr. Koenig also expressed, at length, their concerns and ideas with regard to street widths.
Mr. Galvin stated that, although they are making progress, they would like six (6) additional weeks to finalize their proposed amendments. Mr. Ritter stated that he would like to see, at a minimum, draft proposed ordinance amendments at the end of the six (6) weeks. He noted that more time could be allotted if it was necessary at that time.
City Inspector Report - Student Housing (Continuation from Committee Meeting of June 30, 2004 - Update - Police Department Complaints/Code Enforcement Issues - Governors Avenue)
During the Regular Meeting of June 30, 2004, it was noted that the ordinance developed with regard to student housing indicated that landlords were to be notified when offenses occurred and those offenses were to be tracked by address. It was also noted that the landlords were to include a stipulation in their leases that eviction would occur after two (2) violations within a three (3) month period. It was suggested that the list of arrests be compared with the student housing list to see if there is a connection between the two. Staff was requested to provide an update on student housing data for the last year.
Mr. Ron Coburn, City of Dover Housing Inspector, advised members that annual rental housing inspections are conducted. He provided information on student housing (definition of, permitted conditional uses, and nonconforming uses), a list of known student housing and corresponding noise ordinance violation complaints related to those properties, and a copy of the City’s Noise Ordinance (Attachment #2). He noted that there were eight (8) complaints, resulting in one (1) eviction.
Chief Horvath, Dover Police Department, advised members that 27 underage consumption arrests and nine (9) loud music arrests were made. He noted that the Inspections Department had been advised of the arrests made related to rental housing. Chief Horvath noted that the current ordinance stipulates that a second offense of disorderly conduct, noise violation, and drug related offenses within a three (3) month period would result in termination of the lease. He suggested that the committee may want to consider changing the time frame from three (3) months to nine (9) months to cover the school year. Chief Horvath also suggested including underage consumption as a cause for termination. He cautioned members that eviction for underage consumption would also apply to parents living at the property.
Chief Horvath provided an update on the actions of the recently created Quality of Life Task Force within the last six (6) days, as follows:
146 loud music arrests 50 traffic arrests 8 drug related arrest
6 criminal arrests 8 wanted persons 7 bicycles/1 scooter on sidewalk
3 alcohol violations 6 city park violations 8 parking violations
2 prostitution arrests 5 incarcerations
Chief Horvath noted that, additionally, 70 loud music arrests were made in the Weed and Seed area.
Mr. Ritter requested staff to request a legal opinion regarding an ordinance amendment to include underage consumption as a conviction resulting in termination of a lease, as well as changing the length of time between convictions from three (3) months to nine (9) months to coincide with the school year.
Presentation by RK&K Engineers - North Street/State Street Intersection Study
During the Regular Transportation Review Committee Meeting of January 13, 2004, Ms. Juanita Wieczoreck, Dover/Kent County MPO, indicated that the MPO had funds budgeted for a study; however, it would require 20 percent in matching funds, probably less than $5,000, from State or local funds. She noted that she would need written verification that the City had obtained the matching funds before she could proceed with the study.
During the Regular Council Meeting of February 2, 2004, the City Manager was authorized to send a letter to the Dover/Kent County MPO stating that the City of Dover would like to conduct a traffic study of the intersection of North and State Streets, to include the possibility of eliminating left-hand turns onto North Street and addressing the safety issues at the intersection.
Mr. Ray Harbeson and Mr. Adam Weiser of Rummel, Klepper & Kahl, LLP (RK&K), Consulting Engineers, provided a presentation of the Traffic Engineering Study of North Street at State Street (as on file in the Office of the City Clerk).
Mr. Harbeson advised members that the purpose of the traffic engineering study was to evaluate the effects of left turn movements at the intersection of North Street and State Street. He noted that, as a result of drivers experiencing delays caused by someone waiting to turn left from State Street onto North Street, the City had received requests for left turns to be restricted at the intersection. Mr. Harbeson stated that the intersection also experiences a high frequency of accidents, ranking it number one on the City’s list of intersections to be considered for red light photo enforcement.
Mr. Harbeson stated that the study included evaluating the safety of the intersection, as well as the intersection’s capacity. An area including several intersections surrounding the North and State Street intersection were studied and existing accident and traffic operation data was analyzed. As a result, RK&K has provided the following options for improvement:
■ Option 1: Maintain the existing left turns at the intersection of North Street and State Street
Currently, the traffic analysis results do not show a need for left turns to be restricted at this intersection. The analyses indicate that the intersection is currently operating at the acceptable Level of Service (B) in all three peak periods with corresponding average delays of 16 seconds per vehicle or less. Left turns do not appear to contribute to the accident problem and the left turns provide access to the North Street parking lots for Downtown business.
■ Option 2: Install mast arm poles for the traffic signals at the intersection
Accident statistics show that the major cause of accidents at the intersection of North Street and State Street is a failure to obey the existing traffic signals. The primary reason for disregarding the traffic signal appears to be poor visibility of the signals from all approaches to the intersection. To address concerns about aesthetics, colonial style mast arm poles could be used within this historic area of Downtown Dover.
■ Option 3: Install traffic signals with oversized lenses
This recommendation can be incorporated alone or with the installation of mast arms.
■ Option 4: Install light emitting diode (LED) traffic signal lenses on the existing signals
LED lenses are much brighter than standard traffic signal light bulbs, which are currently in use at the intersection of North Street and State Street. The State has already converted all of its red and green traffic lights to LED signal lenses.
■ Option 5: Provide new or updated signage displaying left turn restrictions for trucks, especially on State Street
Currently, there are signs on North Street approaching the intersection, but there are no signs on State Street. If the mast arms are installed, signs can be installed directly on the mast arm indicating the turning restriction for trucks.
Mr. Harbeson suggested that the traffic study be revisited in the future. Increases in traffic over time appear to warrant a second look to determine if increased left turn volumes combined with increased through volumes result in greater delay/queues in the future. Additionally, if mast arms are installed, a follow-up accident study should be completed as part of DelDOT’s traffic signal upgrade project being undertaken during the next two-year period.
Mr. DePrima advised members that a meeting was being scheduled between the City and DelDOT to discuss the possibility of incorporating some of the suggestions in DelDOT’s signalization project. He noted that his goal was to upgrade the remaining city-owned traffic signals and turn their ownership over to DelDOT.
Ms. Wieczoreck noted that the total cost of the study was $10,000, of which the City’s cost share amount was $2,000.
Mr. Carey moved to acknowledge receipt of the completed study, seconded by Mr. Lakeman and unanimously carried.
Presentation of Sidewalk Repair and Replacement Program
Mr. Koenig advised members that repair or replacement of State maintained sidewalks occurs during their repaving projects. He noted that the State is currently retrofitting all of the intersections with truncated domes and a rippled paver to provide visual and textural differences for people with disabilities. The City, in order to be compatible with the State, will begin installing them as well.
Mr. Koenig reviewed the Concrete Repair List (Attachment #3) and discussed completed and pending sidewalk repairs. He stated that, in addition to repairing existing sidewalks, it is the goal of the City to close any gaps to create a uniform sidewalk network. Mr. Koenig noted that flexibility is built into the sidewalk schedule to accommodate requests made by users with disabilities.
Responding to Mr. Ritter, Mr. Koenig stated that sidewalk installation on Washington Street in front of the Silver Lake property was scheduled for this year.
Mr. Ritter requested an update on the sidewalk repair and replacement program in three (3) months.
Mr. Carey moved for adjournment, seconded by Mr. Pitts and unanimously carried.
Meeting Adjourned at 9:40 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Robert G. Ritter, Jr.
Chairman
RGR/tm
Attachments to Original Minutes
Attachment #1 - Street Width Discussion Notes
Attachment #2 - Student Housing Information
Attachment #3 - Concrete Repair List