Agenda Packets - 2003/04/07 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Item No. 9 Type of Business: WK WK: Work Session; PH: Public Hearing; CA: Consent Agenda; CB: Council Business City of Mounds View Staff Report To: Honorable Mayor and City Council From: Greg Lee, Director of Public Works Item Title/Subject: Speed Reduction Issues / Use of Traffic Signage Meeting Date: April 7, 2003 Background: Periodically the City receives requests from residents and other sources to address issues associated with vehicular movement. The main complaint generally is associated with excess vehicle speeds or the perception thereof. In most cases, the general public, having experienced a real or perceived issue with vehicular movement, erroneously draws a conclusion that the problem can be solved by traffic control or informational signage. When informed of a particular traffic movement situation, Staff investigates the details of the complaint and then devises a solution, if one is feasible. In some cases, additional signage is warranted to address the problem: however, in most cases it is not. The incorrect use of traffic control or informational signage often creates more problems and is ineffective in addressing the original issue. Incorrect use of traffic signage also costs taxpayers for the installation and maintenance and may also clutter the boulevards with unnecessary visual stimuli distractions. Despite the fact that additional signage may not be the solution to many traffic movement problems and despite that their misuse causes wasted tax monies and visual degradation of City spaces, why, then, are they continually misused? Many government entities fail to provide adequate public education because it is much easier to put up a sign if someone requests it – knowing full well that numerous studies may have deemed it ineffective and perhaps wasteful. Staff believes that we should be working for real and effective solutions to address traffic movement issues. For this reason, Staff would like to discuss several common requests for additional signage and develop a City policy to handle them in a manner that truly addresses the problem and not just pacifies the party filing a complaint.