Minutes of the Centerville City Council meeting held Tuesday, February 16, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. in the Centerville City Council Chambers, 250 North Main, Centerville, Utah.

MEMBERS PRESENT
  Mayor                       Ronald G. Russell
 
Council Members   Justin Y. Allen
                                    Ken Averett
                                    Paul A. Cutler
                                    Lawrence Wright (arrived at 8:30 p.m.)
     
MEMBERS ABSENT  Sherri Lyn Lindstrom

STAFF OR OTHER CITY   Steve Thacker, City Manager
 OFFICIALS PRESENT      Blaine Lutz, Assistant City Manager/Finance Director
                                             Neal Worsley, Police Chief 
                                             Gary Litster, Police Officer
                                             Lisa Romney, City Attorney (arrived approx. 8:15 p.m.)
                                              Karrie Carlson, Recording Secretary

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

INVOCATION   Councilman  Paul A. Cutler

PRESENTATIONS AND COMMENDATIONS

Mayor Russell and Police Chief Neal Worsley announced that Jason Read has been selected as the Centerville Elks Club Police Officer of the Year and Gary Lister has been recognized by the Elks Club for his work as a D.A.R.E. Officer. Officer Lister was presented with a plaque and honored for his outstanding service to the youth in the city with the D.A.R.E. program. Chief Worsley commended Officer Read for his work as a Patrol Officer and cited several instances which demonstrated Officer Read’s competency. Officer Read was unable to attend the meeting due to illness.

OPEN SESSION
                       
No one present wished to comment.

MINUTES REVIEW AND ACCEPTANCE

The minutes of the February 2, 2010 Council meeting were reviewed. Councilman Allen made a motion to approve the minutes. The motion was seconded by Councilman Cutler and passed by unanimous vote (3-0).

PURCHASE OF 2011 FORD SUPER DUTY F350 TRUCK FOR PUBLIC WORKS WATER DIVISION

a. Cabin Chassis from Larry H. Miller in the amount of $26,987 at state bid price

b. Utility bed for 2011 Ford Super Duty F350 in the amount of $7,816 from Signature Equipment

Councilman Cutler made a motion to approve the purchase of a Cabin Chassis for 2011 Ford Super Duty F350 from Larry H. Miller for the state bid price of $26,987 and the purchase of a utility bed in the amount of $7,816 from Signature Equipment. The motion was seconded by Councilman Allen and passed by unanimous roll-call vote (3-0)
 
TRAFFIC/PEDESTRIAN SAFETY STUDY REPORT RE: 400 WEST STREET

Steve Thacker, City Manager, reviewed the findings of the Traffic/Pedestrian Safety Report regarding 400 West Street. This study was done to address concerns expressed by Stewart Elementary School representatives and residents in the vicinity of Chase Lane and 400 West. Although the pedestrian safety concerns expressed have focused primarily on the 400 West/Chase Lane intersection, the scope of the study was expanded to review pedestrian safety on 400 West between Parrish Lane and about 1600 North. The scope area encompasses all the pedestrian access routes used by Stewart Elementary School students who live west of 400 West Street. The scope of the study was also expanded to include safety for the various modes of transportation along the roadway i.e., bicyclists and vehicles as well as pedestrians. The report recommends the following actions:

1. A new crossing at the north side of 1375 North to address the students and needs of the park.
2. Add approach striping at the 400 West crossings of Chase, 1200 North and 1375 North (if installed).
3. Improved lighting at all designated east-west crossings along 400 West – Chase, 1200 North and 1375 North (if installed).
4. A reconstruction of the NE corner of Chase Lane and 400 West to allow the stop bar to be relocated further west to address the sight distance problem for westbound traffic looking southbound.

Chief Worsley was present to respond to questions and comments from the Council regarding the recommended actions. The Council also reviewed the recommendations from a draft of the Student Neighborhood Access Plan (SNAP) for Stewart Elementary School. In this plan the Stewart Elementary Community Council members asked for the following:

1. Increased police enforcement of traffic laws on 400 West and Chase Lane.
2. A crosswalk at 400 West and Chase Lane.
3. Signage or warnings for school crossings at 400 West and Chase Lane.
4.  Add a crossing guard at 400 West and Chase Lane.
5. Add a stoplight or 4-way stop at 400 West and Chase Lane.
6. Add a school crosswalk at 400 West and 1375 North.
7. Place signage or warnings for school crossings at 400 West and 1375 North.

The City’s consultant concluded that conditions do not warrant or justify a crossing guard or a 4-way stop at Chase Lane/400 West. Staff recognizes that the counts of students crossing at Chase Lane would likely be higher during warmer months, and are willing to conduct another count in the spring.

Pauline Bowen, Stewart Elementary Community Council Chair – Ms. Bowen urged the Council to implement a flashing pedestrian sign if a stop light or 4-way stop is not warranted. She indicated that there are some solar signs that may work for this area or a constant flashing sign would be another alternative.

Grant Sorensen, Centerville Resident – Mr. Sorensen has lived in this area for twenty-five years and would really like to see some sort of a traffic calming device put in place at 400 West and Chase Lane. He inquired why the 4-way stop was removed from this intersection. Chief Worsley explained that this intersection was never a 4-way stop, but that the stop direction was changed several years ago because of a previous traffic study.

Jarom, Boy Scout - Asked how solar powered flashing pedestrian lights would operate at night time. The Council and Chief Worsley explained a solar light would be powered by a battery during night-time hours.

The Council directed staff to move forward with the first three action items from the traffic study and to bring back cost estimates for the reconstruction of the NE corner of Chase Lane and 400 West as well as for flashing lights.

I-15 INTERCHANGE LANDSCAPING CONCEPTUAL PLAN

Curtis Tanner, landscape architect, gave the Council a presentation of the conceptual landscaping plans and related cost estimates. Mr. Tanner was hired by the City in October 2009. It was understood at the time that funding for theses landscaping improvements would likely not happen for a number of years. The Council, however, agreed it would be prudent to have a conceptual plan in place and to know the estimated cost. This action will hopefully improve the City’s chances of securing funding at some future time, including the possibility of applying for a Federal Transportation Enhancement grant, which has been used to fund landscaping improvements for other I-15 interchanges in Utah.

One of Mr. Tanner’s tasks was to make site visits to existing interchanges with landscaping improvements and meet with those involved in the design and construction of those landscaping improvements. A report of this task was provided to the Council members in their backup material. Mr. Tanner prepared three conceptual designs and reviewed those with staff. One was selected as the preferred plan. Mr. Tanner has prepared drawings relating to the preferred plan and these were included in the backup material. He also had color renderings for Council to view. While preparing Alternate 3 (preferred plan), he made modifications to minimize the investment that would be lost if the landscaping improvements were made before the SPUI (single point urban interchange) was built. There was not much cost difference between the three alternates; all three have cost estimates of approximately $1 million.