CONSENT AGENDA - Jean M. Keely, City Engineer
Title
EXTEND SEASONAL PARKING RESTRICTIONS ON 121ST AVENUE FROM 3RD STREET TO 7TH STREET
Background
The City Council and staff have received complaints in this area about speeding vehicles, parking issues on 121st Avenue due to the proximity of Happy Acres Park to the south and the need for a midblock crosswalk on 121st Avenue. These issues were reviewed by the Traffic Commission at their July 12, 2017 meeting and one recommendation to extend seasonal parking restrictions was forwarded to City Council for consideration.
The Crescent Ponds neighborhood started developing in 2006 and connected to the existing street stub on 7th Street to the south. 121st Avenue will connect to Jefferson Street in the future with development of the last vacant parcel south of 125th Avenue. 121st Avenue is a Municipal State Aid (MSA) route that connects the surrounding residential area to the adjacent County Road system.
In 2012, the City Council authorized seasonal parking restrictions on the north side of 121st Avenue between 3rd Street and 7th Street, from 4:30 PM to 8:30 PM, Monday through Thursday, May 1 to July 31, except for legal holidays. The seasonal parking restrictions were requested by the neighborhood due to activities held in Happy Acres Park. There is a parking lot at the south end of the park, but some park goers prefer to park on 121st Avenue due to the close proximity to the northern ball fields.
The City has received a complaint from a resident on 121st Avenue that there are events held at Happy Acres Park that fall outside of the seasonal parking restrictions. The City Council forwarded this complaint to the Traffic Commission for consideration of year round parking restrictions in place of the existing seasonal restrictions. The Traffic Commission discussed this issue and voted unanimously to recommend that the City Council authorize extension of the seasonal parking restrictions from April 1st to November 1st. A letter will be sent to the adjacent property owners that the City Council will be considering the extension of parking restrictions at their August 3, 2017 Council meeting.
The City has also received complaints of speeding on 121st Avenue and 7th Street. Traffic counts and speeds were recorded on 121st Avenue east of 3rd Street in 2009. There was 938 vehicles per day and the 85th percentile speed was 29 MPH. Traffic counts and speeds were also checked in 2015 on 121st Avenue, both east and west of 7th Street. There were 1336 vehicles per day on 121st Avenue west of 7th Street and the 85th percentile speed was 31 MPH. There were 474 vehicles per day on 121st Avenue east of 7th Street and the 85th percentile speed was 30 MPH. During the same days as the 2015 counts on 121st Avenue, 7th Street was monitored for traffic counts and speed. The results on 7th Street south of 121st Avenue were 1133 vehicles per day and the 85th percentile speed was 27 MPH. The Traffic Commission discussed that the traffic counts did not indicate a speeding problem in the area and made no recommendation for further action on this issue.
One additional request was received by the City for a midblock crosswalk to be striped where a pedestrian crossing is signed on 121st Avenue between 3rd Street and 7th Street. The signed crossing goes from the sidewalk on the north side of 121st Avenue to a trail that enters Happy Acres Park to the south. The City has a Crosswalk Policy that discourages midblock crosswalks because they are generally not expected by motorists and should only be considered where special circumstances warrant their creation. The Traffic Commission discussed this request and voted 5 - 1 to add no pavement markings to this midblock location on 121st Avenue.
Recommendation
By motion, adopt the Resolution.
Body
WHEREAS, the City Council is cognizant of providing regulation of vehicular traffic in a safe and responsible manner; and
WHERAS, City Ordinance requires a Council Resolution specifying the modification of parking restrictions.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Blaine that the existing seasonal parking restrictions on 121st Avenue from 3rd Street to 7th Street, authorized by Resolution No. 12-080 on December 6, 2012, be modified from April 1st to November 1st.
PASSED by the City Council of the City of Blaine this 3rd day of August, 2017.