The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About2019-10-31 Info Packet City Council I nformation Packet October 31, 2019 IP1.Council Tentative Meeting S chedule November 4 Work Session IP2.Work Session Agenda IP3.Email from J ames McCoy: Request Resolution E ndorsing the Energy I nnovation and Carbon Dividend A ct [Previously distributed 10/14 L ate Handouts] IP4.Pending City Council Work S ession Topics Miscellaneous IP5.Memo from Transportation P lanner and City E ngineer: Dubuque S treet Speed L imit IP6.Civil S ervice E xamination: Custodian - Government Buildings IP7.Civil S ervice E xamination: Mass Transit Operator IP8.Civil S ervice E xamination: Media P roduction A ssistant Draft Minutes IP9.Public A rt Advisory Committee: S eptember 5 IP10.Senior Center Commission: S eptember 15 October 31, 2019 City of Iowa City Page 1 Item Number: 1. October 31, 2019 Council Ten tative Meeting Sched u l e AT TAC HM E NT S : Description Council Tentative Meeting S chedule City Council Tentative Meeting Schedule Subject to change October 31, 2019 Date Time Meeting Location Monday, November 4, 2019 5:00 PM Special Formal/Executive Session Emma J. Harvat Hall Work Session 7:00 PM Special Formal Meeting Tuesday, November 19, 2019 5:00 PM Work Session Emma J. Harvat Hall 7:00 PM Formal Meeting Tuesday, December 3, 2019 5:00 PM Work Session Emma J. Harvat Hall 7:00 PM Formal Meeting Tuesday, December 17, 2019 5:00 PM Work Session Emma J. Harvat Hall 7:00 PM Formal Meeting Thursday, January 2, 2020 8:00 AM Special Formal (Organizational Meeting) Emma J. Harvat Hall Saturday, January 4, 2020 7:30 AM Breakfast on a Budget Reception Emma J. Harvat Hall 8:00 AM Budget Work Session Tuesday, January 7, 2020 3:00 PM Budget Work Session (CIP)Emma J. Harvat Hall 7:00 PM Formal Meeting Monday, January 13, 2020 4:00 PM Reception City of North Liberty 4:30 PM Joint Entities Meeting TBD Tuesday, January 21, 2020 5:00 PM Work Session Emma J. Harvat Hall 7:00 PM Formal Meeting Tuesday, February 4, 2020 5:00 PM Work Session Emma J. Harvat Hall 7:00 PM Formal Meeting Tuesday, February 11, 2020 7:00 PM Joint Meeting with UISG 125 N. Madison Street Black Box Theater-Room #360 Tuesday, February 18, 2020 5:00 PM Work Session Emma J. Harvat Hall 7:00 PM Formal Meeting Tuesday, March 3, 2020 5:00 PM Work Session Emma J. Harvat Hall 7:00 PM Formal Meeting Tuesday, March 24, 2020 5:00 PM Work Session Emma J. Harvat Hall 7:00 PM Formal Meeting Tuesday, April 7, 2020 5:00 PM Work Session Emma J. Harvat Hall 7:00 PM Formal Meeting Tuesday, April 21, 2020 5:00 PM Work Session Emma J. Harvat Hall 7:00 PM Formal Meeting Item Number: 2. October 31, 2019 Work Session Agen d a AT TAC HM E NT S : Description Work Session Agenda Item Number: 3. October 31, 2019 Email from James Mc Coy: Request Resol u tion Endorsing the En ergy Innovation and Carbon Divid end Act [Previously d istributed 10/14 Late Handou ts] AT TAC HM E NT S : Description Email from J ames McCoy: Request Resolution E ndorsing the Energy I nnovation and Carbon Dividend A ct [Previously distributed 10/14 L ate Handouts] Item Number: 4. October 31, 2019 Pen d ing City Cou n cil Work Session Topics AT TAC HM E NT S : Description Pending City Council Work S ession Topics PENDING CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION TOPICS October 31, 2019 Other Topics: 1. Evaluate need for a Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) 2. Consider a plan for rubberized surfacing at park playgrounds and develop strategies to address equity gaps noted in the Parks Master Plan and plan for the equitable distribution of destination parks within an easy and safe distance of all residents. (Parks Commission to discuss in July) 3. Review of staff’s growth boundary analysis (Johnson County Fringe Area Agreement Update) 4. Discuss amending City Code to require staff and rezoning applicants of large-scale developments to consider the effects of the proposed projects on future carbon emissions and absorption capacity, and to take actions that will help achieve the City’s carbon emission reduction goals 5. Discuss alcohol usage policies in City parks 6. Possible joint work session with Planning and Zoning Commission on the South District Form Based Code (Fall 2019) 7. Discuss possible changes to residential zoning classifications to allow and/or require a greater diversity of housing types (i.e. missing middle) Item Number: 5. October 31, 2019 Memo from Transportation Plan n er and City En g ineer: Dubuque Street Speed Limit AT TAC HM E NT S : Description Memo from Transportation P lanner and City E ngineer: Dubuque S treet Speed L imit Date: October 31, 2019 To: Geoff Fruin; City Manager From: Kent Ralston; Transportation Planner Jason Havel; City Engineer Re: Dubuque Street Speed Limit Introduction: At the August 6, 2019 City Council meeting, the Council directed staff to perf orm additional analysis on the appropriate posted speed limit on Dubuque Street - approximately between Kimball Road and Ridge Road. History/Background: As part of the recently completed Dubuque Street “Gateway Project”, the posted speed limit on Dubuque Street was reduced to 25 mph from 35 mph approximately between Kimball Road and Ridge Road, while other speed limits within the project area remained the same before and after the project. The posted speed of 25 mph between Kimball Road and Ridge Road was established as part of the ‘design elements’ formally adopted by the City Council in 2014 (Resolution No. 14-265). In addition to the posted speed limit, the agreed upon design elements also established the corridor alignment, location and width of sidewalks, location of crosswalks, parkway and lane widths, and roadway design speed. Clarity on each of these elements was necessary to begin final design and engineering for the project. Given the corridor’s relatively high pedestrian volumes, the intent of the design elements was, in part, to reduce vehicle speeds and produce a more pedestrian friendly environment. However, despite the City’s efforts, vehicle speeds remain higher than desired. As shown in the table below, data collected the week of September 9, 2019 indicate that 85th percentile speeds range between 35.9 mph and 41.4 depending on location. During the data collection period, the posted speed limit on Dubuque Street was 25 mph at the study locations. 85th percentile speeds indicate the speed at which 85% of vehicles are traveling at (or below) and is a widely accepted standard by which posted speeds are established. That said, other factors such as number and type of pedestrian crossings, collision history, sight distances, roadway design parameters and access control are also taken into account when setting speed limits. In addition to collecting vehicle speed data, staff also observed pedestrian activity in the corridor. Data shows that on average over 200 pedestrians use the sidewalks on the east and west sides of Dubuque Street per day. However, observations indicate that during peak travel October 31, 2019 Page 2 hours, fewer pedestrians than expected actually utilize the mid-block crossing adjacent to the Mayflower dormitory (10 pedestrian crossings in the AM peak hour, 8 pedestrian crossings during the Noon peak hour, and 21 pedestrians crossing in the PM peak hour). Based on observations, the majority of pedestrians appear to be using the newly installed sidewalk on the east side of Dubuque Street and the controlled crossing at the Park Road intersection. Staff also reviewed the collision history since completion of the project and there have been no reported bike or pedestrian collisions to-date. A review of vehicle collision data also shows that there has not been a discernable change in the number or severity of vehicle collisions before and after project completion. Staff verified the approved design speed for the corridor at 30 mph with the consultant responsible for the project design. However, due to the limited vertical and horizontal curvature of the road, good access control and sight distance, the consultant has confirmed that the design of the corridor can safely accommodate a posted speed limit of 35 mph. Discussion of Solutions: Given that Dubuque Street is a major arterial corridor carrying more than 20,000 vehicles per day (Iowa DOT 2014), adding physical measures to calm traffic is not recommended. However, without some form of physical traffic calming paired with heavy traffic enforcement, it is very unlikely that 85th percentile speeds will be reduced in a significant way. Therefore, potential solutions include significantly increasing police presence during peak travel hours, or increasing the posted speed limit to reflect current 85th percentile speeds. The speed limit on Dubuque Street, between Kimball Road and Ridge Road, is currently codified as 35 mph, but signs are currently posted at 25 mph. Posting the speed limit at 35 mph would require changing the signs but would not require a code change or Council action. Should Council want to further pursue a posted speed limit of 25 mph in this section of Dubuque Street, staff would recommend engaging the design consultant to do an evaluation of the appropriate speed for the corridor. If the consultant could provide an engineering and traffic analysis justifying a 25 mph speed limit, posting the speed limit at 25 mph would require a code change, including Council action to approve the change. Recommendation: Based on the vehicle data collected, pedestrian observations, and confirmation that the design of the roadway can safely support a posted speed limit of 35 mph, staff recommends posting the speed limit at 35 mph on Dubuque Street between Kimball Road and Ridge Road, as was posted prior to completion of the Dubuque Street Project. This action will not require a formal Council vote. Should the City Council wish to undertake further engineering study related to speeds, staff recommends changing the posted speed limit signs to 35mph during that interim period to match current code language. Assuming Council concurrence with this recommendation, staff will conduct a brief evaluation after the change in speed signage is made and consider whether any additional pedestrian accommodations are needed (e.g. warning lights, signage, striping, etc.). Item Number: 6. October 31, 2019 Civil Service Examin ation : Cu stod ian - G overnmen t Buil d ings AT TAC HM E NT S : Description Civil S ervice E xamination: Custodian - Government Buildings Item Number: 7. October 31, 2019 Civil Service Examin ation : Mass Transit O p erator AT TAC HM E NT S : Description Civil S ervice E xamination: Mass Transit Operator Item Number: 8. October 31, 2019 Civil Service Examin ation : Media Prod u ction Assistan t AT TAC HM E NT S : Description Civil S ervice E xamination: Media P roduction A ssistant Item Number: 9. October 31, 2019 Public Art Advisory Committee: September 5 AT TAC HM E NT S : Description Public A rt Advisory Committee: S eptember 5 Item Number: 10. October 31, 2019 Sen ior Cen ter Commission: September 15 AT TAC HM E NT S : Description Senior Center Commission: S eptember 15