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MINUTES OF THE ' <br /> ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING <br /> Monday,August 12,2013 <br /> 7:00 o'clock p.m. <br /> (Il. ORONO PUBLIC SCHOOLS—STOP SIGN REQUEST, Continued) <br /> Struve stated what tends to happen is a bus will come out and block the intersection to allow the other <br /> buses to exit,which will hopefully stop that practice. <br /> Anderson commented she has seen it stacked from the earlier stop sign closer to 12 all the way to County <br /> Road 6 and that it is something that will need to be monitored. Anderson stated there is also a problem <br /> with students attempting to cross that road. <br /> Levang asked what the distance is between County Road 6 and the new stop sign and then between the <br /> new stop sign and the south stop sign. Levang commented there appears there will be a lot of stopping in <br /> a fairly short area and asked whether there would be time to get up to full speed between those stop signs. <br /> Police Chief Farniok indicated there is a succession of stop signs to accommodate the crosswalk and that <br /> the City is not allowed install a stop sign only during certain periods of the day. Farniok stated the stop <br /> sign would be more effective just in the mornings and afternoons but that cannot be done. <br /> Farniok stated they have seen a migration of students crossing from the west side to the east side and that <br /> he has attempted to work with the school district to help alleviate that situation. The students tend to <br /> cross over to the middle school to catch the bus there since they do not want to sit on the school bus for <br /> those extra minutes. In addition,the buses have to cross from the west side to the east side,which creates <br /> more congestion and is a concern as well. Farniok indicated they are observing more and more conflict <br /> with the students crossing and more and more near misses. As a result,the drivers are becoming more <br /> aggressive by swerving into oncoming traffic to avoid the students. <br /> Farniok stated the City will need to look at ways to make this area safer and that one of the concerns is <br /> whether traffic will back up to County Road 6. Farniok stated the message needs to get out to the <br /> students to use the buses but that they will monitor the situation if a new stop sign is added. <br /> Levang asked whether something could be done to highlight the crosswalks. <br /> Farniok indicated flashing lights could be placed at that area but the student would have to activate it. <br /> Struve stated the distance from the stop sign at the south entrance to the north entrance is approximately <br /> 560 feet. Where the proposed 4-way stop is being discussed to County Road 6 is approximately 800 feet. <br /> Levang commented it is rather unlikely that people will be able to accelerate to a high speed in that short <br /> distance. <br /> Farniok stated it would also bring more safety when there are events at the school. Due to the situation <br /> with the students crossing,Farniok stated in his view this is a step worth looking at. <br /> Struve stated adding two stop signs at$100 would be relatively inexpensive and the LED flashing lights <br /> would cost about$15,000. Struve stated the next step would be up to the school district to possibly <br /> pursue installing some of those activated flashing lights. <br /> McMillan asked who would be monitoring County Road 6. <br /> Page 28 of 37 <br />