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Exh 3DAGENDA ITEM 3D FEBRUARY 10, 2003 STAFF REPORT City of Atlantic Beach Commission Meeting AGENDA ITEM: Speed Bumps in the 300 Block of Plaza DATE: February 3, 2003 SUBMITTED BY: David E. Thompson, Chief of Police/DPS BACKGROUND: The 300 block of Plaza Road is being repaved as part of the Core City project. Several residents living in that block have asked the City not to replace the speed bumps that were located there in the past. Other residents have asked that the speed bumps be replaced back to the same design as in the past. The plans for repaving the. street call for three (3) speed "humps" on Eastbound and Westbound traffic lanes. Since there are diverse opinions among interested parties, the City Commission asked the Police Department to provide some information relative to the speed bumps in the 300 block of Plaza Road. History: In 1989-91, the Police Department received complaints of speeding vehicles in the 300 block of Plaza Road. The Police Department did not have a computerized traffic counter at that time, so they positioned police officers in unmarked cars, running radar on the traffic at that location. Police officers recognized that there was no significant history of traffic crashes at that location, but surprisingly, they determined that there was significant speeding. The 300 block of Plaza Road was a highly traveled roadway for people traveling to and from Eastcoast Drive, Ocean Boulevard, and other areas near the oceanfront. The traffic was also prone to travel well above the posted speed limit. Vehicles were clocked at speeds well over 40 MPH. Both the frequency of speeding and the excessive speeds were cause for concern. The Police Department found that using marked patrol cazs was ineffective. The police cazs were too visible to work in such a small area, and the motorists would see the police cars running radar and slow down. The Police Department used unmazked cazs for radaz, a,~ and the results were productive. Many citations were issued for speeding. However, that type of speed enforcement is labor intensive, and it was not practical to continue it on a long termed basis. A request was submitted to the City Commission for speed strips in the 300 block of Plaza Road. The Police Department advised the City Commission of the pitfalls of ~k- installing speed strips and bumps, but the Police Department did not oppose the recommendation to install speed strips. Speed strips are typically much smaller than speed bumps. They cause a rumbling sensation, but they don't damage cazs. AGENDA ITENT 3D FEBRUARY 10, 2003 Speed strips were installed, and problems arose quickly. Some citizens wanted higher speed bumps and some wanted lower speed bumps. Some wanted the speed bumps removed, and others wanted to add more speed bumps. The speed strips were increased in size, and several vehicles were damaged as a result. The speed bumps were eventually lowered slightly, and they stayed in place until the Core City Project. Citizens on neighboring streets complained of increased traffic, and they wanted speed bumps installed on their streets. Neighbors complained of increased noise created by vehicles driving over the speed bumps. Some motorists ran up onto curbs in an attempt to get around the speed bumps. Some motorists increased their speeds between the speed bumps, prompting requests for additional speed bumps. Emergency vehicles learned to avoid driving through the 300 block of Plaza Road. Police, Fire, and EMS vehicles sought other routes to their destinations so that they could avoid the speed bumps. In the final analysis, people adjusted to the speed bumps by making changes in their driving patterns. Sometimes this resulted in a safer street. Sometimes it actually increased the speeds on the street. Often, it affected neighboring streets. Current Situation: The Police Department has no up-to-date data on speeding in the 300 block of Plaza Road. Traffic crashes in the 300 block of Plaza Road aze rare occurrences. Motorists have adjusted their traffic and driving patterns, anticipating the speed bumps in the 300 block of Plaza Road. The replacement of the speed bumps is not likely to cause any new problems for motorists. The proposal from the engineers on the Core City Project have designed speed "humps" to be installed in the 300 block of Plaza Road. The speed "humps" aze much larger and longer than speed "bumps", and we have seen them used effectively in other communities. The "humps" have an incline up to a raised level surface 10 feet long, and they have a decline on the other side that takes the vehicle back to grade for the roadway. This "hump" is not neazly as jarring or irritating as a traditional speed bump. If a vehicle slows down for the "hump", then the vehicle may actually have a smooth ride all the way over the "hump." If a vehicle hits a speed "hump" at or above the speed limit, the vehicle may be significantly damaged. For this reason, it is necessary to provide signs and painted markers to warn approaching motorists of the speed "hump." AGENDA ITEM 3D FEBRUARY lU, 2003 BUDGET: Unknown RECOMMENDATIONS: None The Police Department is unaware of any current crash data or speed data that would necessitate speed "bumps" or speed "humps" for public safety in the 300 block of Plaza Road. ATTACHMENTS: Minutes and Staff Report from August 12, 1991 City Commissi REVIEWED BY CITY MANAGER: AGENDAIITEM NUMBER: AGENDA ITEM 3D FEBRUARY 10, 2003 PAGE NINE MINUTES "~ AUGUST 12, 1991 Motion: Accept the bid of Tree darks of Jacksonville, in the amount of #5,800.00 to furnish and plant forty palm trees in the median on ,Atlantic Boulevard, said price to include watering and one pear warrantq, sub3ect to the Chamber of Camoterce providing at least X4,800.00 of the cost No discussion before the vote. The motion carried unanimously. 7. B.esolutions: A. 8esolution No. 91-23 Mayor Gulliford presented in full, in writing, Resolution No. 91-23, A RESOLUTION APPOINTING THE CLERKS, DEPUTIES, AND INSPECTORS FOR THE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH BIENNIAL ELECTION, AND SETTING THEIR COMPENSATION Motion: Approve passage of Resolution No. 91--23 No discussion before the vote. The motion carried unanimously. B. Resolution No. 9i-24 ~. Mayor Gulliford presented in full, in writing, Resolution No. 91-24. A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH AUTHORIZING GLENN E. COHEN, ESQUIRE, TO INITIATE LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IN REGARD TO THE CITY'S PURCHASE OF THE OAK HARBOR WATER AND SEWER TREATMENT PLANT, TO RECOVER POSSIBLE DAMAGES SUFFERED BY THE CITY IN CONNECTION THEREWITH, PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE Motion: Approve passage of Resolution No. 91-24 In brief discussion, Commissioner Weldon inquired how Mr. Cohen had been selected and Stephen Hou1d said Mr. Cohen was well known to both him and Mr. Jensen and was an excellent litigator. 'The question was called and the motion carried on a 4 - 1 vote with Commissioner Edwards voting nay. 8. Few Business; A. Discussion and related action regarding citq owned hones on Francis Avenue This item was acted upon earlier in the evening. C. Discussion and related action regarding speed bumps on the 300 block of Plaza Chief Thompson reported about two years ago the residents on the ~ 300 block of Plaza had requested stop signs in an effort to curb speeding on that block. He reported there was an ongoing problem with speeding in that block and even though the Police Department NAME OF COMMRS. M S V Y V N COO1C Y Eeiwards a z. Tucker a i~Ieldon g a Gulliford a Coak a a Edwards a Tacker a x Weldon x Gulliford g Cook a Edwards a Tucker a a iieldon a a Gulliford a AGENDA ITEM 3D FEBRUARY 10, 2003 PAGE TEN MINUTES ~~ AUGUST 12, 1991 had written several citations, the problem still existed. He suggested the City Commission may wish to consider the request for speed strips. Megan Reily, 370. Plaza, said the high volume of commercial and private vehicles using this block of Plaza made it hazardous to the safety and welfare of children, joggers, etc. in the area. She presented a diagram illustrating a suggested design for the speed strips and indicating the areas where the residents had requested the speed strips be placed. Michael Fogg, 366 Plaza, also supported the request for speed strips and urged the City Commission to grant their request. Mr. Fogg provided a copy of a petition which had been presented the the Citiy Commission in 1989 requesting stop signs in the area. Ziotion: Approve the request subject to approval of the design of the speed strips by the the Police Chief No further discussion. The motion carried unanimously. B. Discussion and related action regarding drainage problems: (1) Drainage on Third Street ,~..Mr. Kosoy reported the Public Works Department had discovered a clogged drainage line. This had been cleared and drainage in the area had significantly improved. (2) Jerome Sternberg, 1244 Linkside Drive Mr. Kosoy reported he, the City Manager,~and the Building Official had met with Louis MacDonnel, the developer of the adjoining property. It was decided the most appropriate course of action would be for the city to expedite drainage improvements at the water plant to relieve the drainage problem at the rear of the properties. It was hoped a drainage plan could be prepared within the aext few weeks. (3} Edgar, George, Yark ~ Levy Streets Mr. Kosoy reported Connelly and Wicker had prepared plans for drainage improvements at the northern end of the Edgar/George Street area and also drainage improvements on Levy Road. Neither of these plans would address the entire area. Connelly and Wicker had presented a proposal to undertake a complete. study of the area for $2,000.00 and he felt this approach would be better than partial drainage projects at the north and south ends of the area. (4) Seminole Road area ~'Mr. Kosoy reported that the Seminole Road drainage project in the °~~° vicinity of 19th Street was under design and would relieve many of the problems on the east side of Seminole Road. NAME OF COMMHS. M S V Y V N Cook $ Edwards s s Tucker z iTeldan g g Gulli.f ord a .; R ' ~d- ~_~,~ y ~. y. ~. .... }. Y." ' ,~ CITY OF AT~ANIIC BEACH ^? CITY COMMISSION MEETING STAFF REPORT ,; .~ ~'y~16ENDR ITETt: SPEED STRIP REQUESTS ON PLAZA DRIVE ' 4{ - .- SUBpITTED 8Y: DAVID E. THOMPSON. CH,T.EF OF POLICE ~ DATF: G7/18/91 AGENDA ITEM 3D FEBRUARY 10, 2003 ,~ gACKGR0UN0: Citiz~rns living in the 300 block of Plaza Drive have requested the * installation of speed strips on the roadway in front of their houses.. In 1988. a petition was presented to the Police Department concerning the " ipepding in the 300 block of Plaza Drive. A traffic study conducted by the r.' Poi1Ce 0apartmcr,r indicated that there was in tact a problem with vehicles •~~~lxcweding the speed limit on that stretcF. of roadway. .4 Cffieers were assigned to that area, and they wrote numerous traffic citations `'for sy~epding violations. Officers used marked and unmarked cars to identity and c3:te speeders. R~Cent ubservationsvhave demonstrated that there continues to be a speeding ':prablam tit that lotat,ion. The roadway is heavily traveled as a through street. '~~ and the block is very long. Vehicles park on both sides of the roadway, anC visibility far pedestrian crossing is poor. ~~ Y+uu may al¢o note that there are sidewalks on both sides of the roadway, and ,.•~ there is a pedestrian Crossing an the r,~estend of the street. ti "=i{; ~...., _ °! ~'~COMt1Et10ATI0N: The City Commission may want to .consider the request for speed strips suggested by citizens living in the ,300 block ofi .Plaza Orive. _~ ` ' '3 iIFTACHMtNTS: `' ~ ~~ AEVIE4f: BY CITY MANAGER: -del--~'-- ~, ~. ~ "~~~ s AGENDA i1•EM ND. F" ~S : i ~~ ~ ~~ ;., f ['~ '~~ :,q°'~ ~~ ., ~_ ",~.~ . .f ~ ;' . a .;',` ~ ;F' .7: ~~ . `:,~ ,, ..ae ~c.