TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE UNAPPROVED
MARCH 18, 2008
REGULAR MEETING
Session
08-03, a Regular Meeting of the Transportation Advisory Committee was called to
order at 5:30 p.m. on March 18, 2008 by Chair Marquardt at the Homer City Hall
Cowles Council Chambers located at 491 E. Pioneer Avenue, Homer, Alaska.
PRESENT: COMMITTEEMEMBERS MARQUARDT, SMITH,
ZAK,
VELSKO
Chair
Marquardt asked for a motion to approve the agenda.
SMITH/ZAK
– MOVED TO APPROVE THE AGENDA.
There was
no discussion.
The
agenda was approved by consensus of the Committee.
None.
None.
There was no further discussion.
None.
Committeemember Smith reported how the meeting went with the City
Council presentation and results of the changes they suggested to design
criteria manual. Mr. Smith stated that it did not go very well; that Public
Works Director Meyer submitted a memo that did not support the Committee
recommended changes. Another factor that did not bode well was Councilmember
Chesley was telephonic and could not be heard by the audience and Council, so
unable to give support or endorsement for their changes. Committeemember Smith
further stated that after the meeting Police Chief Robl spoke with him
regarding the cul de sac radius and how he agreed with Public Works Director Meyer.
Committeemember Smith reported that he related to Chief Robl that the Homer
Police Department was not the only users that were considered when the
Committee discussed and proposed the new cul de sac radius measurement. That
the Committee spent months reviewing these subjects and took all interests into
account. Committeemember Smith commented that the Council’s response would be
no, without the support of the Public Works Director, Police Chief Robl and the
added support of Councilmember Chesley. City Council did recommend sending this
back to the Transportation Committee and have them work with the Public Works
Director to reach a compromise on the proposed changes before killing it
totally though. Committeemember Smith responded that he did have a nice chat
with the Public Works Director the next day and believes that they can come to
a compromise on their recommended changes.
There was further comments from the other Committeemembers regarding
previous changes, projects etc.
None.
B. 2008 Future Agenda Items
The Committee discussed the importance of various roads, intersection and street related issues that could use some changes or improvements to accommodate for the growing and changing circumstances in the area.
The Committee addressed the importance of the Public Works Director attending each meeting. If Council will not endorse anything the Committee recommends without the Public Works Director’s support, why have the Committee. It was discussed that the Public Works Director or his representative should be made a member of the Committee just like the Councilmember. It was agreed that a Memorandum should be sent to council regarding the non- attendance of the Public Works Director over the last several months.
The Committeemembers discussed topics that they felt were important and should be addressed at some time in the near future. They each offered positive aspects or reasons why they should address each of the recommended topics. The following list of agenda items in no prioritized order for the year will be:
1. Analysis and Prioritization of Calcium Chloride Application to City Gravel Roads
2. Parking and Drainage on the Spit – How is it working?
3. The curve at Ocean /Spit Road at the Wagon Wheel
4. Review of 2006 Transportation Plan – Motorized
5. Public Transportation - Options
6. Participation of the Public Works Director – more direction and interaction at the monthly meetings.
a. Re: Non attendance during the previous 3-4 months when discussion of the changes to the design criteria manual and then schedule conflict prohibiting his presence at the March meeting to discuss the resolution that Council returned to the TAC to work out with the PW Director
7. Design Criteria Manual Changes
8. Shared Private Driveways – functional access versus legal access via standards
9. Discussion with Alaska Department of Transportation signage on the Spit such as use pullouts for animal viewing; No stopping in roadways; crosswalks.
10. Review of the Non Motorized Transportation Plan, including the proposed Kachemak Trail. City and area trails.
11. Review Vehicle Use and/or Access to the Beaches.
12. Future impacts regarding possible heavy traffic vehicle use to the Spit.
13. Only one access to Homer, possible future second access.
SMITH/VELSKO - MOVE TO ADOPT PROPOSED 2008 LIST IN NON-PRIORITIZED ORDER AS COMMITTEE AGENDA TOPICS FOR 2008-2009.
VOTE.
YES. NON-OBJECTION. UNANIMOUS CONSENT.
There was
no additional discussion.
Motion
carried.
B. Off-site Subdivision Improvements
There was a brief discussion regarding the topic and whether to discuss the subject. The Committeemembers had no knowledge of the topic. Mr. Chesley added this subject to the agenda; who recently resigned and was relocating to Virginia. The Committee agreed to table this topic since there was no information available.
NEW BUSINESS
A. Intent to Continue Serving on the Committee
Chair Marquardt requested the
status of each member’s term and when they could expect a replacement
Councilmember. The Committee held a brief discussion on the processes that will
occur with the new appointment and elections in October.
Chair Marquardt encouraged
Committeemember Smith to continue his service on the Committee and not to be
discouraged by the outcome of the changes to the Design Criteria Manual.
Committeemember Smith commented
that he would like to continue but had expected being asked by the Mayor to
continue his service since a previous Mayor appointed him. He felt the decision
to continue should be up to the Mayor. That the Mayor should appoint someone he
wants on the Committee. Committeemember Smith did state that it is a bit
frustrating since the Committee has zero ability to be proactive on a potential
issue. He held the opinion that the Committee is expected to review items when
requested in a very timely manner, but when the Committee spends considerable
time on what they feel is a very important issue, to have the Council basically
say it will not be approved without the support of the Public Works Director;
makes this Committee very ineffective. Mr. Smith stated that he believes after
a conversation with Public Works Director they can come to a compromise
regarding the changes. He related that there has been no documentation from the
Fire Chief and the Police Chief to show why they are against these changes. Mr.
Smith reiterated that there are multiple factors not just them that the
Committee considered.
Chair Marquardt agreed that he
would like to see some documentation such as industry standards to strengthen
the negative response from the Police Chief. He further stated that they should
send an invitation to Police Chief Robl and Fire Chief Painter along with
Public Works Director Meyer to attend the April meeting to discuss the changes
in detail.
Committeemember Smith commented
that he has thought long and hard over his decision and after serving three
years wanted to allow someone else the opportunity.
There was additional discussion
regarding the directives and responsibilities of the Transportation Committee,
that it has made a lot of progress and has had a number of successes such as
the Motorized and Non-motorized Transportation Plan. It was agreed that
consistent involvement from the staff appointed to this Committee was required
for their efforts to be taken seriously.
Committeemember Smith stated that
the vacancy should be advertised and if there were no applications then he
would consider re-applying.
There was no further discussion.
B.
Chair and
Vice Chair Elections
Chair Marquardt requested a
motion to postpone this action until the May meeting.
VELSKO/MARQUARDT – MOVED TO
POSTPONE ELECTION FOR CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR POSITION UNTIL A FULL COMMITTEE IS
AVAILABLE.
There was a brief discussion
regarding when the possibility of having a full Committee would be and when
should the meetings be chaired by a senior member.
VOTE. YES. NON-OBJECTION.
UNANIMOUS CONSENT.
Motion carried.
The Committee held a brief
discussion regarding the outcome of the presentation to Council regarding the
proposed changes to the Design Criteria Manual. Also, discussed was what the
Committee could do to provide more advocacies for items proposed by the
Committee. The Committee thanked Mr. Smith for his efforts and time he put in
to the proposed changes and the memorandum to Council and felt that it was very
well written.
None.
Deputy City Clerk Krause
recommended that the Committee re-work the recommended changes to the Design
Criteria Manual by compromise the suggested revisions of the Public Works
Director and the Chief of Police and submit those changes with background
information, drawings, and/or technical materials to show the justification for
the recommended changes. That with visuals referencing changes is always
better.
There were none.
COMMENTS OF THE
COUNCILMEMBER
None.
Chair Marquardt wanted to see the
next meeting devoted to the changes to the Design Criteria Manual and
attendance by all parties.
Renee
Krause, Deputy City Clerk I