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City Council Work Session, September 28, 2015 Page 1 <br />MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION <br />September 28, 2015 <br />5:00 o’clock p.m. <br />_______________________________________________________________ <br />PRESENT: Mayor Lili Tod McMillan, Council Members Jim Cornick, Jr, Aaron <br />Printup, Lizz Levang, and Denny Walsh. Representing Staff were Finance Director <br />Ron Olson, Police Chief Correy Farniok, Public Works Director/Engineer Adam <br />Edwards, Community Development Director Jeremy Barnhart, and City Clerk Diane <br />Tiegs <br /> <br />1. Hwy. 12 Safety Audit and Improvement – Chief Farniok <br />Chief Farniok updated Council on the Hwy 12 Safety Audit. The State Patrol’s slogan and <br />goal for the project is “12 for 12” – working for 12 months without a fatal crash on Hwy. <br />12. <br /> <br />The section of roadway through Orono to Maple Plain has several safety <br />recommendations which include more signage and a center median to increase <br />awareness. The number of head-on crashes with multiple and serious injuries and head <br />on crashes indicate that a barrier would be the most effective. A barrier would have <br />intermittent openings to allow public safety response vehicles access between ramps. <br /> <br />The traffic on Hwy. 12 has no stoplight transition when traveling from downtown to the <br />west to change the mindset of the commuters to slow down to the rural traffic pace. <br />MnDOT has admitted the road was never intended to service the amount of traffic and <br />improvements need to be made. <br /> <br />Council Member Levang asked if more information will be published to promote the “12 <br />for 12” safety goal. Farniok stated that in November more information will be rolled out <br />by the State along with the help of media involvement to promote the safety project. <br /> <br />2. Traffic Management Policy – Public Works/City Engineer Edwards <br />The Public Works Department receives numerous requests for street alterations. <br />Generally the requests are for speed humps, speed tables, speed reduction signs and <br />various signage requests, no parking, and street lights. The City Ordinance is rather <br />broad and it would be best to develop a policy that is clearly defined. Edwards reviewed <br />other communities’ ordinances and drafted a policy for Council to review. The Council <br />should consider implementing a defined policy which is easier to adjust rather than an <br />ordinance. Council discussed scenarios of possible requests and how the policy would <br />direct the action to be taken. <br /> <br />From the Police Department’s perspective Chief Farniok stated many times a resident <br />that doesn’t get the response wanted will then call the police to try and force the issue.