Flushing City Council
Minutes
A Special Meeting of the Flushing City Council was called to order on Monday, January 17, 2005 at 7:30 p.m. by Mayor Janice L. Gensel, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag and invocation.
Present: Richard L. Bade
Janice L. Gensel
Jay E. Johnson
Raymond Peck
Teresa K. Salem
Michael T. Szukhent
Absent: John C. Gault
Others Present: Dennis J. Bow, City Manager
Nancy G. Parks, City Clerk/Treasurer
Edward G. Henneke, City Attorney
Excused Absence – Motion by Szukhent, seconded by Peck, to excuse the absence of Councilperson Gault.
Yea: Bade, Johnson, Peck, Salem, Szukhent, Gensel
Nay: None
Motion Carried.
MEETING OPEN TO THE PUBLIC:
The following individuals addressed City Council:
Elva
Cook Jane
Forbes Andrea
Banks
1459 Flushing Rd. 608 Hut West 515 Lynn St.
PUBLIC HEARINGS:
Lynn Street Closure Public Hearing - During the last eight months of 2004, city administration collected data to determine the impact of a traffic modification on Lynn Street, 300 feet south of Arthur. The initial study began in May and lasted for approximately four weeks, which included the end of the school year. During that period, traffic patterns were reviewed in the Lynn Street and Aberdeen area to determine if the volume of traffic would reduce over time if a portion of Lynn Street were closed to through traffic. That traffic reduction, as anticipated, did occur.
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In addition, the city continued to monitor the traffic activity of Lynn Street, and the fall paving project provided a no-through street solution to problems that the City was encountering with traffic volumes, and excessive speed on Lynn Street. The additional monitoring, since September of 2004, proved that the traffic volumes have significantly dropped on Lynn Street and Aberdeen Drive, and were at their highest point shortly after the traffic modification, and were reduced to less than 200 cars per day along Aberdeen Drive by the end of the year. Twenty-four hour traffic studies on Aberdeen Drive, and other similar streets, have shown the following results:
Total
24
Hour
Street Peak Traffic
Luce St. 74 808
River Woods Dr. 79 719
Warren Ave. 58 620
Terrace St. at Autumn 53 438
Aberdeen Dr. 25 194
In addition, speeds along Aberdeen Drive were measured and, as of December 28, 2004, are found to be in compliance with the posted 25 mph on Aberdeen Drive.
The results of several monitoring efforts are not indicative of any traffic problems now occurring in that area.
Although administration attempted public notification through meetings with residents along Lynn Street, regarding the traffic study and potential change to the traffic pattern, residents on Aberdeen Drive and Oak Street were not notified of those meetings. We felt that, with the lack of traffic changes that they would experience on their streets, the impact that they initially experienced would quickly dissipate and those residents would not permanently take issue with these changes.
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During the last few months, that has not been the case, as, on three occasions, residents representing Aberdeen Drive have requested that the City reconsider the decision to change the traffic pattern on Lynn Street. Some have contended that the Charter requires a Public Hearing to be held in these instances. Although the City would interpret the provisions of Section 4.6 of the Charter to infer that that Section applies to a vacation or other procedure where the City divests itself of permanent use of the road right-of-way, part of that Section provision, referencing discontinuance of a part thereof, may lead some to believe that the provisions of Section 4.6 (a), regarding a public hearing should be held when making traffic changes of this type.
In order to accommodate those perceptions, administration published a Notice for a Public Hearing and introduced a Resolution for Council consideration for the permanent revision of traffic routing on Lynn Street.
The Mayor opened the public hearing to the audience:
James Thomas, 210 Oak St. – stated that he felt Lynn Street was a State highway, and that State highways cannot be closed without permission of the State highway department and/or the people that live there. He feels the closing was done illegally, and he wants the street opened up again.
Bob Clement, 257 Aberdeen Court – stated that the grassy berm across Lynn Street has tire tracks all over it, and the grass is all torn up. He felt that the traffic count taken on New Year’s Eve was not indicative of the actual traffic volume. He asked what had been done regarding the speeding problem on Oak Street.
Harvey Workman, 248 Aberdeen – says he is not affected by the traffic, but questioned why the public hearing is being held after the fact, and that Council should make a commitment to do a better job the next time.
Teresa Weatherwax, 220 Lynn Street – said that she walks on Lynn Street everyday and, since the street has been closed, it is much safer to walk on. She doesn’t feel that traffic in the area has increased, but has slowed down.
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Diane Thomas, 210 Oak Street – said she has lived on Oak Street since 1990 and, up until this year, she has never had to sit and wait to get out of her driveway. She stated that she has called the police to report speeders, but they do not respond. She stated that only residents of the area and residents who have business in the area should be using Oak Street. She feels stop signs are needed to slow down traffic.
Lila Lien, 229 Aberdeen Crt. – doesn’t feel that traffic has slowed down on Lynn Street. She feels that stop signs on Arthur Street would help in slowing traffic.
Dan Weatherwax, 220 Lynn Street – suggested that a solution might be to close Lynn Street off at Seymour Road. He feels that it is the kids that are speeding.
Elva Cook, 1459 Flushing Road – stated that Lynn Street is zoned light industrial, and there are two Councilpersons owning property on this street. This is mainly a speeding problem; we have lots of cops and the City needs the money. She said the decision should go before the judge.
Teresa Faith, 135 Aberdeen Drive – feels the speed on Lynn Street would have increased when the street was paved whether or not there were stop signs.
Jane Forbes, 608 Hut West – in responding to Mr. Clement’s statement, regarding traffic tickets being issued, said that in a prior meeting it was stated that we don’t want Flushing to be known as a city of speed traps, so we won’t do that.
Ted Szukhent, 485 Hut West – is a business owner on Lynn Street, and he feels traffic has gone down in volume and in speed since the closing of the street.
The Mayor closed this portion of the public hearing.
Lynn Street Traffic Revision – Motion by Johnson, seconded by Bade, to adopt City of Flushing Resolution No. 05-0117 – Lynn Street Traffic Revision.
Yea: Bade, Johnson, Peck, Salem, Gensel
Nay: Szukhent
Motion Carried.
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Closed Session – Motion by Szukhent, seconded by Peck, that pursuant to the Open Meetings Act compiled laws 15.268(c) to go into closed session to consider strategy connected with negotiations of the DPW collective bargaining agreement.
Yea: Bade, Johnson, Peck, Salem, Szukhent, Gensel
Nay: None
Motion Carried.
Adjourn: 8:36 p.m.
Reconvene: 9:00 p.m.
Adjournment – Motion by Szukhent, seconded by Bade, to adjourn.
Yea: Bade, Johnson, Peck, Salem, Szukhent, Gensel
Nay: None
Motion Carried.
Adjourn: 9:01 p.m.
_____________________________ ______________________________
Janice L. Gensel, Mayor Nancy G. Parks, City Clerk/Treasurer